Now that you have received completed RFPs/RFQs from two or three firms and have checked references, you can make a final decision. The following are some tips to help you make the most of your experience with a management consultant or attorney:
Forging a Successful Professional Relationship
- When formally engaging the services of a management consultant or attorney, you will need to have some type of contract or letter prepared that defines terms agreed to.
- Prepare the staff and other physicians for the arrival of the consultant(s) if the project involves working on-site. The presence of a consultant may be imposing to staff members, especially if they were unaware that problems existed in the practice.
- Cooperate with the attorney or consultant. If relevant practice information is requested, comply. For example, a consultant may want to review many years' history of insurance payments while conducting a reimbursement audit. Or, it might be necessary to pull medical records to review documentation. Assign a key staff person to be the consultant's on-site contact.
- Request ongoing progress reports. The consultant or attorney should be keeping you posted about how things are going.
- Listen to the consultant's or attorney's recommendations with an open mind. If you don't agree with something being suggested, speak up. However, be willing to compromise. The advantages a consultant or attorney brings to the situation are expertise and objectivity.
- Implement the consultant's or attorney's recommendations with a positive attitude. Impending change is daunting. An optimistic outlook conveyed by the practice's leadership can go a long way in motivating the rest of the staff towards making progress.
- If you are unhappy with the way the consultant or attorney performs, speak up. Poor communication is the most frequently-cited cause of a deteriorating relationship and unfavorable results. You not only will be doing yourself and the practice a favor, but the consultant or attorney as well. These professionals want to do a good job for their clients and should be willing to work with you. In the rare circumstances where this may not be the case, the client has some recourse.
It is easier to address problems with attorneys. You can simply file a complaint against them with the state bar association (granted the attorney is a member). The area is a little more gray when dealing with consultants. If the consultant works for a large firm, you can ask to speak with the firm manager or whomever has supervisory authority over the consultant. Obviously, you will not have that option when dealing with a very small or solo organization. Your best protection is to have everything clearly spelled out in writing before hiring the consultant or attorney.
Working with a Consultant or Attorney
Types of Services Management Consultants and Attorneys Provide
Obtaining Letters of Agreement
Forging a Successful Professional Relationship
