We are very happy to bring you this month’s edition of the CRH Medical “Banding Bulletin!” I want to invite each of you to come visit us in New Orleans for DDW Sunday through Wednesday, May 2nd -5th, 2010. We will be in the Exhibition Area in booth #2547, and in the ASGE Learning Center on Monday, May 3rd from 10am – 2:30pm and Tuesday, May 4th 11am – 1pm. Please come by and say hello, as we will be available to any of our current Partners to address any questions that you might have, as well as to provide any information necessary to those of you that would like to add our Technology and Techniques to your practice. We are also very excited that the ASGE is initiating a “Special Interest Group” in anorectal disorders at this year’s DDW, and we are hoping that this will allow for an exchange of information as the care of hemorrhoids and fissures is entering the “main stream” of a GI practice.
We are also very happy to announce that we now have more than 500 doctors across the country utilizing our technology. With this rapid expansion has come the need to increase our clinical training staff – and so I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Gorchynsky will be assuming the position of Associate Medical Director of CRH Medical. Dr. Gorchynsky joined CRH in April 2008 the Co-Medical Director for our Center in Chicago, and will now be primarily involved in our Partnership Training Program. Andy will be with us in New Orleans, and we’d love to have as many of you meet him as possible, as he will be deeply involved in our Professional Support moving forward.
Grow Your Practice! Marketing 101:
Did you know that CRH offers a complete – 100% cost free, turn-key marketing program? We’ve done all of the leg-work to research, write and develop all of the tools necessary to help you quickly build your banding practice. While simply having the tools in your office is half the battle, there is much more to marketing than awareness. If you haven’t already spoken with our resident marketing director, Alicia Johnson (800.660.2153 x1024), I encourage you to contact her today so that she can help you ensure that your practice is utilizing all that we have to offer to its fullest potential. Below is a quick recap of what we offer:
Website profile on our consumer website www.crhsystem.com:
In-office Patient Education Material:
Physician Education Materials
Front office phone staff training and other resources:
Clinical Resources – www.crhmedicalproducts.com
On a similar note, I was recently in Longview, Texas providing a refresher training course and was thrilled to see the extent to which this practice has embraced the concept of “in-office” marketing. Below is a photograph taken of the entire practice (East Texas Gastroenterology Associates) – they are clearly interested in talking to their patients about hemorrhoid treatment! We were so tickled by this idea that we wanted to share it with you! If your practice would like to participate in this in-office awareness builder and receive t-shirts and lapel pins that read “Got Hemorrhoids?” please email Alicia Johnson with your practice name and size of t-shirts needed. The first 25 practices will receive 5 (five) t-shirts and 5 (five) lapel pins! Contact her today to start this marketing buzz yourselves (deadline is May 10th)!
Helpful Hints
Patients come and ask me about laser treatment. What should be my answer?
Laser hemorrhoidectomy is actually a surgical procedure, and there MAY be a bit less discomfort over a conventional hemorrhoidectomy, but the laser is basically a cutting instrument, and the post-op issues that patients experience is more dependent upon the other maneuvers performed intraoperatively (anal stretching, suturing, resultant spasm, etc.). The use of the laser, while not adding much to the procedure, DOES add significant cost to the procedure, in large part due to the cost of the Technology.
More often, I think that people think that IRC is a “laser”, which of course, it is not. If they are asking about the IRC, it clearly is not as versatile as is rubber band ligation, as most will tell you that it is not helpful in any, but the most minor hemorrhoids (grade I and potentially the tiny grade II’s). It typically is more expensive with a much higher recurrence rate as well. There ARE some practitioners that use a laser as a means of cauterizing hemorrhoidal tissues and vessels in an outpatient clinic, and so has a limited usefulness in more advanced disease much as is demonstrated with IRC.
Know someone who would be interested in the CRH O’Regan System Partnership Program?
Use the “Share with a colleague” function on the right, or send me an email. We are happy to introduce your colleagues to the benefits of the program.
Training and Support Resources
If you or your practice have any clinical questions/concerns, are ready to expand your practice by having additional doctors trained, or simply want a follow-up training session for yourself, please do not hesitate to contact me. If your practice needs help with any other resources, below is a quick reference to the departments that are here to support you:
Marketing:
Make sure patients looking for treatment can find you! If you have not already done so, please contact Alicia Johnson (800.660.2153 x1029) today so that she can coordinate your addition to our website, and help you build your practice using our printed materials . . . all “free of charge!” – online ordering is now available!!!
Product Ordering:
Don’t be caught empty-handed. Make sure you keep plenty of product on-hand to help reduce expenses incurred by Express Shipping. If you ever have questions about your orders, please do not hesitate to contact Deborah Cotter (800.660.2153 x1011) – online ordering is now available!!!
Front Office Staff Training:
In addition to our on-site training, front office phone training is available to help your receptionists and/or appointment schedulers understand the CRH O’Regan System and be prepared to answer patient questions. Training is typically less than 30 minutes and is conducted via teleconference. Sessions can be scheduled by contacting Kelley Mamelson (800.660.2153 x1029)
Contracting and Billing:
Our contracting and billing department is available to provide assistance dealing with third party payers as it pertains to the CRH treatment protocols, obtaining maximum reimbursement and to help your staff with any coding and billing issues that may arise. Please contact Sarah Standley (800.660.2153 x1029).
Please let us know how we can help to support you and your practices moving forward – whether it be for training, consultation, operational, billing/coding or marketing support – we are here to help in any way we can!
Best regards,
Mitch
Mitchel Guttenplan, MD, FACS
Medical Director
CRH Medical Products Corporation
T: 800.660.2153 x1022 | C: 770.363.0125 | F: 770.475.9953
