One of our clients in the Baylor, Scott, White healthcare system shared this respected educational resource with us, and we thought we'd pass it along seeing we are firm believers in the adage "You are never done learning."

What could a lifetime of access to medical lectures and videos do to up your game as a medical provider? Find out for yourself by clicking HERE to read more.
Disclosure: PFMI is not affiliated with drbeen.com, no promotions are requested are given for this post, and we are merely sharing this online resource for information only.

You know the old adage: Time is money.
 
And in the medical business, you can pretty much double that notion.
 
Regardless of how large your medical business’ call volume is, your answering service should not only be there to take your calls when you cannot, but do so in a timely and professional manner.
 
And that’s what we’re all about at Physicians First Messages, Inc.
 
But I’m here to remind you that hiring the right answering service is more than just having your messages taken. There are, in fact, many options you should consider with the idea of saving your business money.
 
For instance, it’s important to review your invoice and make your answering service needs concise. Because some answering services charge according to what services are provided, you should keep your instructions specific and simple. Complicating matters usually means additional costs.
 
Second, it would be in your best interest to hire a service that only works within the medical profession. Because operators and staff will only be taking medical-related calls, they will be able to process them and your requests much faster.
 
In addition, you should always go with the best rate for your needs to avoid surcharges some answering services want to charge, such as holiday rates, e-mail and voicemail box delivery services, and the like.
 
Rather than having your answering service call you, have them text or e-mail you.
 
And finally, never have your answering service put your callers on hold, for most companies start billing you as soon as the operator takes the call.
 
Physicians First Messages is here to not only help your medical business operate smoothly, but also help you benefit the most cost-wise.
 
Sincerely,
John Calhoun,
Owner and operator

With COVID-19 continuing to top the headlines every day seems fitting that we highlight that July is #SocialWellnessAwareness month.

What is Social Wellness, anyway? Social Wellness is defined as the "ability to form and maintain relationships with others and to interact and communicate well within those relationships." Not an intuitively easy thing to do when we're limited by social distancing guidelines everywhere we turn.

These safety measures, along with regional restrictions on where/when/why you can leave your home, can have the adverse effect of causing feelings of stress and isolation from being apart from your usual network of people in your daily life. So... how does one social distance while cultivating their social wellness? 

Physicians First Messages has a few helpful tips for you:

1. Nurture your network. Nurture relationships with families and friends. Call family members regularly. Catch up with old friends in video chats. Strengthen those supportive connections who all mutually respect, love, and accept each other as you all are.

2. Sustain your self care. Even basic daily needs like eating right, getting enough sleep, exercise, & yes, beauty routines, boost your emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being by continuing those calming daily rituals. This includes enjoying those hobbies and activities that give you a boost - everything from cooking to reading to gardening to daily walks and more!

3. Focus on positives. With so much uncertainty out there these days, it can be hard to maintain a positive outlook. One way to do this is by being mindful of something many of us take for granted: watching your intake and consumption of negativity. Simply limiting the amount of news you watch and time spent on social media are shown to greatly reduce feeling of depression, isolation, and hopelessness. Yes: It's important to be informed, but we all know the adage about the dangers of having too much of a good thing, and technology is no different. 

These three simple steps will help keep you on the path to keeping your Social Wellness first and foremost not just this month, but more importantly, beyond this pandemic and throughout your life. So breathe, smile, and get out there and smell the roses!