Yeah, I did.  I broke one of those BIG rules I’ve always talked about and written about.

But I broke it exchange to satisfy a bigger rule, I think.  I guess you can be the judge.

You know I have always liked, no loved, to do my own billing, accounting, and insurance work.  It allowed me to feel in control of the financial aspect of my business, and also helped me to know just enough about where the business was going, how it was getting their, and what I needed to be doing about it.

Not anymore.

With the expansion of A New Direction Counseling, billing became more than just a few hours on a Friday morning.  It became a constant worry and frustration.  And even with all that anxiety, I still wasn’t sure if all the claims were being paid, especially for my associates, as the process started to develop new wrinkles – wrinkles that I was not effectively tracking or managing.

The stressed continued to build, and the concern for my associates only worsened.  The decision eventually became a time for dollars issue.  Yes, doing my own billing was inexpensive, only about a one session copay per month.  But I was spending way too much time on it, and not being as effective as I should be.

Having someone else (still Carepaths) take charge of the billing is expensive, more like several clients full session fees per month, but the difference is in the time.  Now, instead of spending 3-4 hours every Friday working on billing, and several hours throughout the week, sometimes on Saturday or Sunday; now I have the freedom to do what is needed, and what I am good at, during that time.  Now I can see 3-4 clients on a Friday morning, which would easily cover the cost of Carepaths billing.  Or I can take the time to exercise, chat with my peers, plan a marketing blitz.  I can have the time to work on what I am good in, rather than spending a lot more time doing what I am not as good.

Yeah, it may be more expensive; but in the comparison of where my time is being spent, it is well worth it.

That’s one of the most enjoyable parts about private practice – we get to choose where we spend out time.  We get to determine the areas that we are best qualified in (and hopefully #1 is being fully present with your clients!) and focus there, while we make smart business decisions in other areas.  It is an opportunity to check back in with our selves and our business to make sure we are growing in the right direction, and prune back where we are not.

So, did I break my own rule?  Perhaps.  But I like to think in breaking that rule, I made a fairly intelligent business decision, and just as importantly, a good decision for my own mental health, and the financial health of my associates?

What do you think?

Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about Carepaths, or any other aspect of managing your own private practice!

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