Introduction - Today most revenues are fixed and profitability will be a function of controlling costs. Participants will learn a variety of strategies and techniques for controlling costs for personnel, supplies, insurance, occupancy costs and medical records. There are no "magic bullets" and no one thing will lower costs. It is the combined value of small changes that can produce dramatic effects. These strategies and techniques are not a "starvation diet"; they are easily learned tasks that require only a commitment to organization and self-discipline. This program is designed for managers and physicians.

This Practice Management Audiocast Presentation includes ...

• This Audiocast is of a recent Live Webconference presented by Economedix;
• Your registration fee covers the ability for you and your practice to view this presentation for one year along with various course handout materials;
• The ability for ACS Fellows and practice managers to e-mail follow-up questions to Economedix Practice Management Advisors for personalized responses;
• Co-Sponsors - The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM).

Course Objectives - Completion of this Practice Management Course will provide:

• Understand the components and processes for controlling costs;
• Create tools for evaluating costs comparing them with accepted norms;
• Develop strategies for controlling expenses;
• Use templates for building a spreadsheet;
• Develop methods for reversing an out-of-control accounts payable; and
• Understand common ways to embezzle medical practices and how to prevent them.

Accreditation - The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

Credits - The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. PAHCOM has pre-approved this educational activity for 1 CEU towards the PAHCOM CMM designation. To earn the credit, participants must complete the combination Evaluation / CME - CEU Form, that is included in the course materials, and FAX this form back within seven days following the date of the teleconference.

Faculty - The faculty for the course is Mr. Tom Loughrey, MBA, CCS-P. Mr. Loughrey is Chairman of Economedix and a noted practice management consultant to physicians, medical offices and medical societies. For over a decade, Mr. Loughrey has provided consulting services to the College as a part of the Consultant’s Corner at the annual ACS Clinical Congress and regularly is engaged by ACS to speak and teach at meetings and workshops throughout the country.