ATTITUDE TOWARD DEBTORS.
A fundamental principle in being a good collector is to never lose the
good will of your patrons. So long as you are on friendly terms with a
man you can approach him and talk over the matter. It will be easy to
keep advised as to what he is doing, and when he is expecting to receive
money. The time will come sometime when he can pay at least a part or
secure your claim. We must not lose sight of the fact that in this
country poor men sometimes become rich, and rich men sometimes become
poor, and we should deal with them accordingly. It is poor business
policy to permit well-to-do clients to run up big bills, and at the same
time hound your poor patrons.
One of the easiest ways to collect a bill, when they have persistently
failed to pay, is to loan them some money. This plan is fully covered in
the following editorial from =Davis' Magazine of Medicine=.
"Let us now consider the investment of the doctor's savings. His fees
are received in small sums, generally ranging from a few dollars to a
hundred dollars at a time. He seldom has over a few hundred dollars on
hand at any one time. And failing to find a good place to invest such
sums as he has, he becomes a prey for the stock companies and the land
sharks, where he can make his investment on the installment plan. Most
physicians are earnestly seeking a safe investment for these small sums
of money, but very few have found a plan that appeals to them. Most of
the advice one gets from the journals is 'Don't' or to invest in farm
mortgages. When he looks around for a farm mortgage he finds that the
small amount of money he has to loan will not meet the requirements of
the man who desires the loan. Even should he find a small loan that he
could handle, the interest would be so low, that it would produce a very
small income after paying taxes. I believe the doctor's earnings should
net him ten per cent, and be in such form that he can realize on them in
case of emergency. To take chances on getting a greater rate of interest
would be to accept too great risk, and a less rate would be poor
business policy.
"The problem simmers down to about this: How can we invest small sums,
from twenty-five to one hundred dollars, so they will be safe, and earn
at least ten per cent interest?"
I solved this problem several years ago while engaged in general country
practice. In fact, it can be applied better in the country than in the
city. The plan is this, loan your money to your slow pay patrons. Sounds
risky, don't it? I have found it to prove a success. I learned that most
of my poor pay or slow pay patrons were always ready to borrow money,
and that they could generally secure me with chattel mortgages, or get
good men to sign their notes. The note and mortgage always covered the
amount loaned and the amount of my bill. There are few who cannot give
you suitable security, and these few should be turned over to the other
doctor who is practicing for the love and honor of the profession.
"When it is known that you have a little money loaned out, and that you
will only loan to those who have you for their physician, your practice
will steadily grow."
Be on your guard and do not permit your old accounts to become
"outlawed" by the statutes of limitations of your State. This may be
prevented in a measure by getting a small payment from time to time on
account, as the law of limitations does not apply until the lapse of the
period of time named in the law, after the last payment on the account
or note.
The exemption laws of most states are so liberal that a very small per
cent. of physician's bills could be collected by law, should the debtor
elect to take advantage of the exemption law. The only safe method is to
put it up to your client as a debt of honor, and depend upon their
inherent honesty and pride. It does no good to sue a man for a doctor
bill except in extreme cases. You will lose more than you will gain. Not
only will you in all probability lose the account and expenses, but you
will make a lot of enemies, who will injure your practice more than the
amount of the bill.
Treat your poor patrons with the same respect and courtesy that you do
rich ones. Mr. Smith will do his best to pay you, while Old Bill Smith
will not exert himself very much to balance your ledger. Then above all
treat the woman in the flowered Mother-Hubbard as if she were the Queen
of Sheba, and the off-color lady from the red-light district as you
would the President of the Purity Society. The child that is ragged and
dirty should receive the same cordial attention as the one in silks.
When the time comes that you cannot treat all your patrons as you would
like for them to treat you if your positions were reversed, it is time
for you to "Fold up your tent like the Arab and silently steal away,"
your usefulness is at an end. The day when you can make money in that
location has passed.
Be kind to little children. Women and children furnish the greater part
of our patrons. Men do not count for much in the practice of
medicine,--unless you are a G-U specialist. I have always found that
where grandma and the children liked me, that I had no trouble in
getting practice or in collecting my money.
Do not pad your accounts. Charge what you consider your services worth,
and then stick to it. Deal a square hand to all. The golden rule is just
as bright and as true today as it was thousands of years ago, and it is
not recorded that any man was ever hung that lived up to it. After you
have done your full duty =demand= that your patrons do their duty by you.
Keep after the money that is justly due you. Get money; but get it
honestly. You will be criticised by some, and cussed by others, but in
the words of Carrie Nation, "Why care for the criticism of men who
change and die?"
And finally remember, that in this world there is nothing that will pay
dividends equal to smiles--unless it is gall, and do not forget the
injunction of the prophet, "Physician, 'heel' thyself," lest in old age
the world will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter
thou--into the poor house."