Digital marketing in healthcare as well as any other industry primarily focuses on providing better user experience. Search engine rankings are an important element of a good digital marketing strategy. Every website owner tries hard to make their pages reach the top of the Google search result pages. While rankings are important, you also need more people to click on your website in search engine results. High rankings for your main keywords may bring in consistent and relevant traffic that may help your website grow. While it is extremely important to rank well, this may not bring in the desired results if people don’t actually click through to your website from the SERPs. That is where the prominent role of “Google Search Sitelinks” come in. Google sitelinks are those links below the Google search results pointing to different pages of the website that take up to 90 percent of above-the-fold screen space. Site links are a great way to improve your click-through rate (CTR) which in turn brings more website traffic, thereby strengthening your SEO. What are Sitelinks or Google Sitelinks and in what ways can these links help your website – these important aspects are discussed in the blog in detail.
What Are Google Sitelinks?
Google sitelinks first appeared in 2005 and were officially announced in 2006. By 2007, these were a regular feature in search results. In simple terms, Google sitelinks are small sub-listings appearing under the primary search results on the SERPs (search engine result pages). These are internal links to the other pages or sections of a page in the website that come under SERPs, with a short description. Often found when performing a brand search, these links help users easily navigate to relevant information around a website quickly. Sitelinks help users to click on that specific part of the website content which interests them, rather than just clicking on the main URL and navigating to other sections. In addition, these links give users a complete and better idea about the content and areas on the website, which then helps them see the relevance to their particular query.
For instance, when we search for “Managed Outsource Solutions” on Google, we get the website and some of the links below it. The four given links under “managedoutsource.com” along with the “More results from managedoutsource.com” link are called “Sitelinks”. For instance, a user searching for “Managed Outsource Solutions” may not necessarily want to view the homepage. Rather, they might directly want to read information about the range of outsourcing services offered, which is given under the heading “Outsourcing Services”.
In short, sitelinks direct users to the best results within the shortest point of time. Also, these make your website more important in search results, which in a way may directly impact the branding side as well. However, an important aspect is sitelinks do not get displayed automatically. Google only displays them when they believe that these are highly relevant and helpful for the user. Google only selects the pages that get displayed within the sitelink portion and the site owners do not have any direct control over the process. However, website owners can take steps to optimize the website and improve their appearance on the page.
Why Should You Have Google Sitelinks?
Sitelinks are one of the most common features that appear in 1.8 percent of SERPs in the Ahrefs US database. It is estimated that about 67 percent of all organic keywords for Wikipedia.org contain sitelinks. There are several prominent reasons as to why sitelinks can benefit both a website and their visitors –
Improve Click-Through-Rate (CTR) – Click-through-rate (CTR) is the topmost factor that plays an active role in successfully generating organic traffic. A good CTR directly relates to the popularity of a link and how relevant it is to a particular search query. For instance, when a person conducts a simple brand search, sitelinks offer more significant and pertinent pages that may directly take them to their desired product or services. As per a study conducted by AWR, on an average basis, the first three results account for nearly 55 percent of all clicks. From there onwards, it tends to drop rapidly. Website searchers who get instant access to the specific pages they are looking for will be tempted to click through from the search engine. Higher the number of people who click on your website in the SERPs, the more consistently your website will rank for that specific search term which in turn gets reflected in your organic traffic.
A Sign of Trust and Credibility – Sitelinks displayed on a website are a sign that Google trusts that website. However, these links may not be displayed for all websites. Google displays sitelinks only for those search results which they think will be useful to the user’s queries. A poorly optimized or untrustworthy website will not have sitelinks displayed in the SERPs.
Help Browse Deeper Pages – Generally, when a user browses a website, chances are that they will search through their home page, product or service page and blog or article pages. With sitelinks, these popular page links will show up in search results, driving more traffic to the most important pages, helping to deliver leads like inquiries or subscriptions. Therefore, along with high CTR and SEO, sitelinks also help a website benefit from higher conversions.
Increase Brand and Product Awareness – From Google’s perspective, sitelinks usually link out to the most important pages on your website, considering the number of external and internal links. In most cases, these pages are chosen based on the website’s structure, content and the search term in question. Sitelinks are often product pages, pricing pages, about us pages or blogs which help educate users more about a website or company, products or services offered without even visiting your website.
Generating Good Sitelinks for Your Website – Tips
Getting sitelinks for your website involves no direct or fixed steps. Sitelinks, whether and when they appear, how or which links are chosen are all up to Google’s algorithms. However, like any other aspect of digital marketing and SEO services, there are certain best practices that can be followed to increase the chances of getting sitelinks –
Create a Unique Name for Your Website – One of the most important steps is to create a unique brand name for your website. As Google search sitelinks are mainly found for brand searches, creating a unique brand name will help you rank in the top position. For instance, if your website is called “The Cake Company”, chances are that it will never gain first result on the first page as the term is too generic. A generic name like this will struggle to rank, as it is quite hard for Google to know whether the user is searching for a cake company in general or this specific company as such. The best way would be to choose a brand name that is unique as this makes it easier for your website to rank higher and secure Google sitelinks. Without a strong brand presence, it is difficult to rank for a fairly generic name. On the other hand, rare company names can rank well and appear on the first page. For instance, the brand name “Apple” – is a good example of the same. Based on user intent, Google will be able to recognize that the searches performed are related to the brand “Apple” rather than the fruit. Therefore, if your company is already an established one, never change the name in order to better target SEO as this is a very complex task.
Link Source – https://bloggingwizard.com/google-sitelinks/
However, this example works only for bigger and established brands and not for smaller brands as they don’t have the leniency where generic brand names are concerned. Therefore, a strong brand presence is crucial for having a high rank for your generic name. A company which is in its pre-startup phase need to choose a name that is unique as this will help better rank in brand searches.
Use Structured Data – Structured data (also known as rich snippets or schema) helps Google to better understand your website and organization. While structured data can help improve your website’s appearance in the SERPs, by displaying review or event snippets, it can also help when it comes to sitelinks. Structured data can notify Google about the specific menu to consider for sitelinks, specify about or contact page and enable a sitelinks search box.
Ranking Brand Name at #1 in Search Results – Google sitelinks are mainly assigned to the very first page of the search results. Therefore, if you are to have a chance of getting those sitelinks, you need to be ranking at #1 page at search results. Make sure to take all essential steps like creating a unique brand name, auditing back links, checking online citations (like correct name, address, phone numbers and URL), content marketing tactics (like blogging) and marketing social media profiles and keeping them active may help strengthen your brand’s online presence to a great extent. For instance, if you are searching for the term “New York Times”, the American newspaper based in New York City is the one that gets the Google sitelinks. This is due to the superior ranking of “New York Times” at position #1. Therefore, reaching the number one rank can help you to easily get the sitelinks.
Focus on Building Internal Links – Internal links help Google to identify the topmost, important pages on your website. The more number of times you link an internal page on your website, the more important that page may appear to Google. For instance, if you frequently link website page to a specific product, contact us page or About Us page, these will be good candidates for sitelinks. Google may take that as a signal for judging the importance of that page. Building internal links not only help Google crawlers navigate your website in better way, but also helps users to move through the website, while engaging with your content.
Focus on Page Titles – One of the most important elements of SEO, relevant and effective page titles help Google to provide pertinent sitelinks. Google sitelinks are generated from page titles. Therefore, make sure that each page title gives a short but detailed description of the specific content of the page. On the other hand, irrelevant titles (with no connection with the page content) will be difficult to rank and affect SEO. For instance, you shouldn’t give the title “Get to Know Us Better” to your “About Us” page because this may confuse Google and you may get duplicate sitelinks.
Focus on Clear Website Structure and Navigation – Creating a website with complicated structure is difficult for both search engines like Google to crawl and users to easily navigate. Google won’t be able to assign sitelinks if they can’t find or understand the website pages. Make sure your website have an intuitive structure and use clear headings to organize pages and divide these pages in to different sub-categories wherever possible. Use standard web pages with details like – About, Contact and Product/Services as these are easily understood by Google.
Add an XML Sitemap in Google Search Console – An XML sitemap helps Google to easily crawl across your website pages. Including sitemaps will enhance the total coverage of your web pages and determine the most important pages on your website. Generally, Google responds based on the priority and the total amount of traffic that web pages receive. Therefore, those websites who have not yet included sitemaps on the Google Search console account can create one.
Create Brand Awareness – A positive brand reputation is a factor that Google considers to determine rankings. Generating awareness about your website name may help improve your site’s authority. The more number of people know your company by name, the more number of searches you will receive which in turn may increase the chances of getting sitelinks. There are several steps that can help create brand awareness which include – Guest blogging (on popular industry sites), receiving positive reviews and testimonials, participating in online community discussions, reaching out to online news outlets and giving expert interviews.
Sitelinks are one of the most important elements Google introduced to help users find all the essential information easily and quickly. These offer tremendous potential for websites to increase the SERP, boost branding and site traffic. But, like any other important aspect, getting sitelinks doesn’t happen easily. Website owners interested to take advantage of the benefits offered by sitelinks will carefully need to monitor their own website. They should have a clear understanding about the specific queries for which the domain appears in the top positions and track to see if the sitelinks appear for the brand. A basic understanding of the above-mentioned guidelines or factors can make a big difference to the performance of your website and increase their chances of earning sitelinks creating a boost in organic traffic and brand awareness.
If you wish to improve the sitelinks for your website, consult a reliable digital marketing company. Such companies may provide advanced digital marketing services that may help increase the volume and quality of traffic to your medical website, make your services available to a wider patient base and improve your revenue.
Predictive SEO means planning and updating content that will become popular in future. In other words, you predict and provide the content or information that consumers will be looking for in the future before competitors catch up. Predictive SEO is used in many organizations for decision-making purposes. For instance, using SEO for healthcare marketing is essential to provide information easily to people who search for medical information online. A healthcare SEO company can help medical professionals use predictive SEO in healthcare marketing.
Predictive SEO techniques that content marketers use include: asking the right questions, looking to the past, recording and analyzing trending traffic, etc to create great content that will be in demand in the future. By optimizing old content and planning new content, you can retain/improve traffic to your site. Using predictive SEO can help you capture a higher rank in SERPs.
With the help of predictive analysis tools, content management teams and SEO specialists select topics and content to optimize old content and plan new content.
Finding the content to be improved
To find the content to be improved you need to use certain tools and tricks. A business2community.com article recommends using the following methods to find content that needs improvement:
Run a content audit: To check whether you are achieving your goals with the content you already have, run a condensed content audit. After that, select the right content to be improved. This can help you to improve your existing assets. Conducting an audit can provide you with insights that are actionable to inform your upcoming content updates. Tools like SEMrush’s Content Audit Tool can help you analyze thousands of webpages and blog posts fast.
Review your content assets: After running the content audit, review the pages that needed to be updated, left alone, and deleted. Your content assets should be reviewed to check whether it accomplishes the following three goals:
Connect
Entertaining and informative
Convert
If your content assets don’t accomplish at least one of these three goals, it is time to improve them. Also, achieving all three goals in your content improves your SEO efforts. Always ask yourself whether you need this content and whether it serves a purpose. If it is not needed, then delete it. And also check whether you can improve the content by adding any information. If yes, optimize it and enhance the content.
Look to the past: Look to the past and review the content that once performed well. Search with proper keywords and concepts using an SEO tool and find out if people still search for the particular content. If they do, search recent blogs and content from your competitors and see what new information can be added to deliver value and to increase traffic for that particular content.
Predictive analysis to find opportunities: Opportunities to update content may not be visible always. There will be conversions surrounding a specific topic that you are not aware of. With the help of predictive analysis, you can scan millions of sites and get an idea about the trending topics. This will help you identify what should be updated. You may already have content on the trending topic, but there may be new information or technology missing which can make your topic more relevant. So, consider predictive analysis to update your content related to your findings.
Protect Traffic with the help of Predictive SEO
It is easy to observe the decline in a page’s traffic through content performance and then find the solution and restore the traffic. But, by that time, you may lose your subscribers, leads, etc. With the help of predictive SEO, you can protect your website’s traffic by taking necessary steps sooner rather than later to strengthen your content for good SEO rankings in future. Predictive SEO provides you the ability to protect or boost the traffic before it requires restoration. To stay ahead to decrease these losses, it is possible to predict falling traffic.
Predict Falling Traffic
You need time to carefully analyze web data to get more accurate results. Your falling traffic can be predicted using your SEO data. It helps you see what blog posts and practices have led to your traffic loss. Consider the fact that the webpages that rank high in the first page of SERPs get the most organic traffic, and that this is earned through many strategies, like building backlinks from high authority sites and matching search intent for particular keywords. But sometimes, the webpage will drop off the first page of SERPs.
Predictive analytics and AI can be used to predict the falling traffic easily. If you are not able to access these tools yet, you can consider aspects like high keywords rankings, the relationship between keywords, organic traffic, ranking position, and keyword search volume to predict the falling traffic yourself.
Measure and analyze the relationship between these components to predict falling traffic. SEO tools can provide an in-depth look at the information to provide you historical value into your content and your site and display how ranking goes down over time. You need to check the keywords of your blog post that rank, assess their position, and follow the trendline to detect fall in ranking when they are in danger of falling off the first three positions of the SERP.
So, paying attention to these factors can help restore traffic to your site before it really drops below your ideal ranking.
Many healthcare organizations are adopting predictive SEO analysis into their decision-making processes. An experienced healthcare SEO company can help medical professionals use predictive analysis to get better results from SEO and stay ahead of competition.
Every year Google makes hundreds of changes in its algorithm to create best user experience by giving them faster, relevant results. This intention will remain unchanged, and this unchanged behaviour of Google is the driving force behind big changes in the digital marketing strategies. Experts in digital marketing always updates themselves about Google’s algorithm changes and bring out new ideas or innovations in SEO to make organic marketing easier.
Here are the 3 biggest upcoming changes for SEO:
Google Core Web Vitals Update/ Page Experience Ranking Signal: To provide fast, intuitive page experience, Google is introducing a new ranking signal called Page Experience signal, which is expected in 2021. The upcoming change incorporates page experience metrics like load time and interactivity. It combines Core web Vitals with existing user experience signals, to improve the way it evaluates the overall experience provided by a page. In other words, it provides a unified set of metrics for the website owners, marketers and developers to evaluate the on-site experience.
The Page Experience Ranking Signal, which is expected to launch in next year, provide an early look at the work being done so far to help the site owners to prepare. It incorporates Google’s existing signals and newly updated Core Web Vitals, a set of unified metrics like speed, responsiveness and visual stability for page experience.
The signal consists of the Core Web Vitals and the following page experience metrics which is already existing,
Core Web Vitals: The Core Web Vitals are a set of unified metrics that are designed to help site owners evaluate the user experience they are providing which are related to speed, responsiveness or interactivity and visual stability.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): LCP measures the loading time of a page’s main content. Ideally, users are not required to wait more than 2.5 seconds from the time it starts loading. That means an ideal LCP measurement is 2.5 seconds or faster.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): It measures the visual stability. CLS is the unexpected shifting of web page elements while the page is still loading. This unexpected shifting causes poor user experience. So, minimizing CLS is important. An ideal measurement is less than 0.1.
First Input Delay (FID): FID is used to measure the time it takes for a page to become interactive. The aimed score is less than 100 milliseconds.
Google’s Web Core vitals may change every year in order to provide a good web page experience, but for now these are the Core Web Vitals. Google help site owners to provide their users a best experience by adding Core Web Vitals combining with the existing experience metrics. With the help of this, when Google finds that a page provides high quality user experience, then it will likely rank the page higher in search results. However, when it comes to ranking, relevant content is really important and will rank well even if the page had a poor page experience signal.
Search by Intent: Before Google’s Hummingbird update in 2013, it was easy to optimize your content for clunky keyword strings to come in front of your target audience. On the user side, there was no way to filter out irrelevant results that results in a frustrating experience for them. Hummingbird allows Google search engine to provide relevant results to the users by understanding the search intent. It places great value on natural language queries, considering context and meaning over individual keywords.
In 2019, Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), a neural network-based technique for Natural Language Processing (NLP) pre-training were introduced. It analyses user queries and serves up content based on contextual clues. It processes the words in relation to all other words in a sentence, rather than one-by-one in order. It understands the user intention by considering the full context of a word by looking at the words that is present before and after it.
Today SEO demands a big-picture approach that brings long-tail keywords, semantically-related search terms and understand deeply the search intention of people. You must optimize also for voice in a conversational way. You should look into audience insights, and find out what kinds of questions people are searching for, and what kinds of content repeats.
Brand Strength and Mentions Online: Great SEO techniques can help your content to increase awareness and reach. But without having a strong brand, it is difficult to get the most bang for your marketing dollars. If you look at the standards laid out in Google’s EAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness) guidelines, brand with more recognition and resources tend to be the products and services users trust. But it doesn’t mean that small brands have no luck. If the smaller brands and micro-influencers really understand their nice, they can build more recognition. When it happens, it improves their rankings and they can reach more people with their organic content.
These changes will make things easier for marketers and improves best user experience. Applying right SEO strategy with the help of SEO company will help you to stay ahead of the competition, that means preparing new SEO strategy according to Google’s change in algorithms will help you to fight against with your competitors by providing your users the best experience and this will help you to reach or remain at the top position.
The Search Engine Optimization Tools Market report provides an industry wide competitive analysis, highlight different market segments, players’ individual market share, and other vital elements. Critical market aspects such as market trends, varying consumption, the shift in customer preferences, cost volatility, growth rate, the product range that are available in the market, drivers and constraints, existing challenges in the market and financial standing are inclusively evaluated to deduce their impact on the market growth in the coming years.
The research study includes the impact of COVID-19 on Search Engine Optimization Tools Sector. The pandemic has influenced the global economic landscape by affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disruption, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets. The report contains the complete breakdown of current situation in the ever-evolving business sector and estimate the after-effects of the outbreak on the overall economy.
SEO Tools Market -Key Players
The report lists the leading SEO Tools manufacturers/companies operating at both the regional and global levels as:
Ahrefs
Google
Screaming Frog
KWFinder
MOZ
SEMRush
SiteLiner
SpyFu
Yoast SEO
Bonus Tool
Industrial Analysis: The report analyzes the Search Engine Optimization Tools Market Trends by types and by applications to fully and deeply reveal the market profile and prospects. The segmentation that the report provides can help users capitalize on the selection of appropriate segments for the Search Engine Optimization Tools. It can help the companies in deciphering the optimum business move to reach their business goals.
Market segmentation by types of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tools covers
In market segmentation by applications of SEO tools, the report discusses the following:
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)
Large Enterprise
The report provides an assessment of the Regional SEO Tools Market (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast) by Countries:
North America (United States, Canada, Mexico))
South America (Brazil, etc.))
Asia Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam))
Europe (Germany, UK, France, etc.))
Middle East and Africa (Egypt and GCC Countries))
This study provides manufacturers, suppliers, and the distributors a clear picture and a better understanding of the SEO tools market. This can enable them to prepare and develop critical strategies for the further development of their businesses.
Today more than 4.5 billion people use the internet and the number of people using social media are more than 3.8 billion. According to broadbandsearch.com, on an average people spend about 144 minutes on social media per day. Social media was initially introduced to connect with friends and family, but today it has changed into a digital medium for companies to market their products and services and drive potential users to their business. Just as for other businesses, healthcare businesses such as plastic surgery facilities also require promotion via social media to reach a wider audience. A plastic surgeon SEO company can help implement proper social media marketing strategies to improve your online visibility and bring new clients to your clinic.
Why Use Social Media for Cosmetic Surgery
Social media is one of the most effective digital marketing tools and without a strong social media presence, your cosmetic surgery practice will have a difficult time keeping up with competitors. Social media allows you to get your message out to your audience easily and quickly. Here are some other reasons to use social media for cosmetic surgery practices.
Understand your target audience: Having active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram etc helps to interact with your target audience. This will provide a clear understanding of the preferences of your prospective patients and provide what they are looking for. Monitoring your followers will also help you know what works and what doesn’t, when it comes to new cosmetic surgery service options. You can use this information to plan future marketing campaigns.
Affordable marketing technique: Social media is one of the most effective and affordable marketing tools as it requires very less investment and reaches out to a wider audience. All you have to do is find the relevant channels in order to position your cosmetic surgery practice online. Traditional marketing channels can cost you a fortune and may not be impactful but in the case of social networks, you have to have a strong presence and engaging content so that potential patients will come to you naturally.
Improve brand image: When patients hear about your cosmetic surgery clinic, most likely, they will check out your social media pages and being active on social network channels builds trust and credibility. The more people see your practice online, the quicker they will approach you. Patients look for experts to handle their specific problems. So, remember this when you include social media marketing ideas in your cosmetic surgery marketing plan.
A gateway to your website: When patients click on a link from any of your social media posts, they will be taken to your website. If your website is optimized for users, your visitors may take the desired action. So, posting on social media consistently is vital for attract more patients.
Build a strong relationship with your patients: Social media is one of the easiest ways to connect with people and also keep up with them after the treatment. Informative content can be posted on social media to educate potential as well as existing patients.
Different Types of Content to Post on Social Media
Blogs: It is the most effective type of content that displays information by a writer or a group of writers. They share their views or provide answers to questions or advice about cosmetic surgery. A blog is the most affordable way to get your message out on a regular basis.
Posting before and after photos: Posting before and after photos of your patients with their consent is one of the best ways to attract potential patients. Tagging the patient on the post is also a must because this will allow the patient’s friends and other contacts to see your service, and this is called viral marketing.
Videos: Videos can be posted on social media platforms that describe various procedures, the services, latest techniques or even showcase patient results. Video are much more appealing and more easily consumed than any other forms of content. People will also share your video on their social networks.
Testimonials and reviews: These are the most important forms of content on social media. Reviews and testimonials convey your patients’ opinion of your cosmetic surgery practice and it gives you instant exposure. Whenever positive reviews are posted, it helps build trust in customers and increases the chances for you to be recommended to new potential patients.
Today people are comfortable discussing plastic surgery on social media, which makes these networks the ideal place for a plastic surgeon to promote the services. An effective digital marketing strategy by a plastic surgeon SEO company that is focused on social media promotion, will help cosmetic surgeons to reach out to the thousands of people who are actively searching for specific cosmetic procedures.
The importance of link building in digital marketing can’t be overemphasized. Equally important are interactive content such as images and videos for medical search engine optimization (SEO).
Images are important elements of content these days since they drive engagement. They give you an opportunity to connect with your audience much more than words could. Equally important for your digital marketing efforts are links. Links get people to your website and contribute to your growth. So combining images and link building can bring about great results.
The process of link building revolves around getting your articles, blogs and resources linked by other sites. If quality, high ranking sites link to your content, it shows your website has relevant, research-based, useful content and it boosts your rankings as well since Google values your content more. And it’s not just textual content that makes your web pages link-worthy. Videos, images and infographics can make them worthy too. So let’s turn to images and focus on how they can help in link building.
Research Speaks Volumes of the Importance of Images
There is an interesting piece of research by Brain Rules. It says that people remember only 10% of what they’ve read or heard three days before. However, they remember 65% of what they’ve seen in a simple graphic. That speaks volumes. For at least 32% of marketers, images are super-important to add to content for their digital marketing objectives.
According to the Demand Gen Report, images can help raise the traffic to your website by 12%. The effect is even more dramatic when you get to the social networks. Social media updates having images are shared 150% more than posts without images, as per research on Buffer. All this data is just to confirm that images make a big difference. Now let’s do everything possible to make the most of this wonderful resource.
Think Engagement
Now we know images are important. But not just any image will do. You need to have images that appeal to the intellect or the sentiments of people.
When you think of the intellectual aspect, it involves infographics containing important information or images with easily understandable tips, facts or how-to guides. In fact, Buzzsumo research states that infographics are among the most shared kinds of content. It isn’t surprising, considering that they blend the best of visual and textual elements. They contain images that capture the attention of people plus important information that helps them, as the following example shows.
It is important to have informative infographics as part of your web pages, blogs and social media posts.
While appealing to the sentiments of people, you can think of thought-provoking images. This depends on the kind of customers you’re targeting and the image your business wishes to convey. Informative posts and images appealing to the intellect usually work for all kinds of businesses including healthcare practices. Who wouldn’t want some quick health tips or some treatment information? But emotionally appealing images also have their place, particularly when you want to motivate the audience to sign up for some service, visit your website or participate in charity efforts.
Ensure Regular Posting on Social Networks
Keep posting regularly on the social networks and make full use of the behavior data you gather about your target audience. The posts that get the most shares give you an idea of the kinds of images or infographics you need to post. In such situations, it also pays to check the kind of posts your competitors are posting and the shares and likes they get.
In fact, looking at competitors for inspiration is nothing new. It’s been that way even before the digital revolution. By anonymously following their feeds, you can keep in touch with their activities. It can also help you to be aware of any new marketing trends.
Image Alt Tags and Hashtags
Work to get your images into image search. That can give you a great deal of traffic. Make sure you add the appropriate image alt tags so that the search engine crawlers can track your images and put them up on the SERPs for appropriate searches. When it comes to images on social networks, particularly Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, you must add hashtags in the image posts you put up. Make sure the hashtags are trending ones.
Instagram and Pinterest
Make sure you hang out on the trending social networks, and by that we mean the most popular ones. Of course, different businesses have different kinds of customers, and the social networks they frequent vary based on their age, demographics and interests. But generally, Instagram and Pinterest are the most active and engaging.
Research mentioned on Search Engine Watch states that Instagram is used by 86% of brands. Of these brands, on average, 72% post a single picture each week. Each year, Instagram graphics engagement is rising.
When it comes to Pinterest, its viral quotient is 80% more than Twitter. That makes it thrice as effective as Twitter in generating leads. With tools for social media management you can post every day on these networks and track the activities in them. Pinterest Marketing has been facilitating conversions faster than other social media platforms.
Making the most of images and other interactive content is at the core of effective social media optimization services offered by advanced and experienced digital marketing companies.
Summer Shootout Barrel Racing beckons all horse lovers to the Oklahoma City State Fair Park from the 19th to the 21st of August, 2011. The event will be held from 8 AM to 8 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the State Fair Arena and SuperBarn. It is sure to be a weekend of fun, and Oklahoma City is full of natural and urban attractions not least of which is the Bricktown entertainment district. Hotels at Bricktown offer you affordable hospitality, beckoning one and all.
Cost-effective but Unforgettable Hospitality
With the cost-effective packages offered by hotels in Bricktown, you can expect comprehensive features to make each day a memorable one, right from the creature comforts at the rooms to the 24-hour shuttle services that chauffeur you to your destination and also take you through the many must-visit attractions of the city. Here’s what you can expect:
Exquisitely comfortable mattresses
Free high speed wireless Internet
Complimentary breakfast
Stainless steel fridges & microwaves
Personal voicemail
Complimentary shuttle service
Business center
Iron & ironing boards
Coffee makers
Digital cable TV
Hair-dryers
Working desks with plug-ins
Extra pillows for comfort
Sensory & spa products
The rooms are exquisitely designed and the complimentary breakfast is sumptuous. Guess there’s nothing more you could ask for to have an unbelievably marvelous time at Oklahoma City.
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Loads of Fun at the OKC State Fair Park
The OKC State Fair is a hugely popular annual competition and entertainment extravaganza held at Oklahoma City every year at the State Fair Park. The 2011 OKC State Fair features live music, family-friendly and kids’ events, competitive events and lots more from the 15th to the 25th of September, 2011.
Non-stop Entertainment at the OKC State Fair
The Chesapeake Energy Stage features great entertainment with live bands, while Disney On Ice has entertainment for kids including the staging of Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 from the 15th to the 20th. You can experience the vibrancy of color during the 60th Annual Oklahoma State Fair Band Day as mid-high, junior and high school bands from around the state compete on September 19, 2011. Competitive events are conducted in the categories of Livestock/ FFA/ 4-H, Horse, Creative Arts, Wine Contest and Band Day Competition. There are plenty of other events taking place as well including a beauty contest, so please visit okstatefair.com for tickets (not all events require tickets) and more information.
Southern Hospitality Affordably
The hotels at Bricktown provide you with excellent hospitality to make any visit worth remembering and coming back to. Family-friendly Southern hospitality blends with world class service to offer guests a very memorable experience in an affordable manner. Enjoy features such as:
Exquisitely comfortable mattresses
Free high speed wireless Internet
Complimentary breakfast
Stainless steel fridges & microwaves
Personal voicemail
Complimentary shuttle service
Business center
Iron & ironing boards
Coffee makers
Digital cable TV
Hair-dryers
Working desks with plug-ins
Extra pillows for comfort
Sensory & spa products
With unforgettable hospitality and tons and fun, there’s nothing keeping you from checking out OKC.
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Oklahoma State Fair Is Waiting for You
From September 15 to 25, 2011 Oklahoma City will erupt with excitement and fun thanks to the Oklahoma State Fair. It is an annual event containing competitive and entertaining events at the OKC State Fair Park.
Great excitement in Store at Oklahoma State Fair
This year’s edition is no different, with competitive events in the Horse, Livestock/FFA/4-H, Wine Contest, Band Day Competition and Creative Arts classifications raising the competition fever. There are entertainment shows such as live music at the Chesapeake Energy Stage and the staging of the Disney Pixar Toy Story 3 from the 15th through the 20th of September. On the 19th, the 60th Annual Oklahoma State Fair Band Day will entertain with high school, mid-high and junior high school bands adding a splash of color. Many events are free while some have tickets. Visit okstatefair.com for more details.
More Than the State Fair to Entertain you – the Hospitality
It isn’t only the State Fair that will entertain you, but a host of other vibrant attractions Oklahoma City and its Bricktown entertainment district are known for. But you need affordable but fine hospitality to make your experience memorable. Hotels at Bricktown are known for their affordable but fine Southern hospitality. The experience is completed by comprehensive features such as:
Exquisitely comfortable mattresses
Free high speed wireless Internet
Complimentary breakfast
Stainless steel fridges & microwaves
Personal voicemail
Complimentary shuttle service
Business center
Iron & ironing boards
Coffee makers
Digital cable TV
Hair-dryers
Working desks with plug-ins
Extra pillows for comfort
Sensory & spa products
Oklahoma City beckons you to fun and more. And with great hospitality, you don’t need to think twice.
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Five New Strategies for Revenue Cycle Management
In the evolving healthcare landscape, hospitals and medical practices need new revenue cycle management (RCM) strategies. Choosing an experienced, technologically savvy medical billing service provider will ensure valuable support to optimize reimbursement. However, as the business of healthcare has become very complex, medical billing is no longer a simple administrative function. In a recent Beckers Hospital Review report, industry experts recommend specific new strategies to ensure that hospitals’ RCM efforts are focused and financially stable.
Tracking claim denial rate: Following up on claims and denials is a critical aspect to enhance revenue generation. The claims tracking process involves reviewing accounts receivable (AR) and measuring the average number of days it takes to collect the payments due to the healthcare provider, and identifying patterns in payment by insurance companies. Automating key revenue cycle workflows, finding more efficient ways to submit clean claims, and improving collection efforts,and focusing on the appeals process can reduce days in AR and boost cash flow. In fact, AR management is an important element of the RCM solutions provided by medical billing companies.
Review of chargemaster: Experts recommend that hospitals conduct a comprehensive review of their chargemaster and ensure price transparency for patients. This is an important requirement to prepare for the CMS’ price transparency rule coming into force Jan. 1, 2019. Under CMS’ annual Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule, hospitals need to publish a list of their standard charges online in order to help patients understand the cost of care and prepare for any out-of-pocket costs. CMS also requires providers to update that information every year. A recent report from the National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity, an expert recommends that hospitals take the following steps to prepare to post their chargesmaters online:
Review existing state hospital pricing and price transparency requirements
Review the chargemaster for consistent pricing
Inform all stakeholders about the new requirements, including IT personnel responsible for the online posting of the chargemaster
Fix a date for post the chargemaster
Create customer service scripts to deal with patients’ questions about the chargemaster and pricing
Price transparency is critical to boost patient satisfaction and collection of patient financial responsibility.
Reduce operating room delays and last-minute cancellations:Operating rooms are a very costly area of hospital operations.Depending upon the complexity of the procedure, last-minute cancellations or delays can prove very costly for hospitals. When planned surgical procedures are cancelled, it leads to considerable loss of revenue and waste of resources,and also results in significant psychological, social and financial consequences for patients and their families.Experts say that, to improve financial performance, hospitals should review their OR operations for avoidable costs and focus on minimizing cancellations and delays in procedures.
Strategies to improve OR operations include focusing on same-day cancellations, on-time procedure starts, equipment availability and parallel processing to increase efficiency.
Blocking OR time by the day rather than stints of hourly blocks
Adjusting block times based on the balance between under- and overutilization of the OR
Avoiding potential delays and gaps for missing equipment by assessing the risk of potential problems in advance
Avoiding tardiness in the OR by starting cases on time
Turnover time reductions:
However, as ORs differ considerably based on patient population, type of hospital and type of surgery and anesthesia, it is difficult to set universal benchmarks for all Ors.
Using online estimator tools to help patients understand their potential out-of-pocket costs: In an era of regulation, high-deductible plans and increased patient responsibility for bills, using a customer-friendly online estimator can ensure that patients get the information they want. Experian’s price-estimator tool, for instance, calculates patients’ out-of-pocket cost based on the hospital’s chargemaster price, its claims history for providing that service, its contract terms with the patient’s insurer, and the patient’s benefit structure and deductible status. It also estimates out-of-pocket costs for self-pay patient. Using a price estimator tool can boost patient satisfaction and attract more patients. Experts advise that when using the tool, hospitals should also post a disclaimer with standard charges, so patients know that the price list they are viewing may not indicate their actual out-of-pocket costs.
Include both clinical interactions and nonclinical interactions when considering net promoter scores: Net promoter scores reflect how likely patients are likely to recommend the organization to another person. Patient care involves both clinical and nonclinical support services. Even the best clinical services cannot be truly optimal without dedicated nonclinical and clinical-support staff.Experts recommend that hospitals include both clinical interactions and nonclinical interactions when considering net promoter scores. Healthcare providers need to use the same approach as retail businesses and tap into what the patient not only wants but also expects by examining how every nonclinical touchpoint is interacting with the patient. Net promotion scores will provide hospitals with a more accurate picture of patient satisfaction.
Medical billing is the core of healthcare RCM. The medical billing process is complex and difficult to manage, but with the right processes, proactive strategies, and the support of an experienced medical billing and coding company, providers canoptimize RCM and reduce days in accounts receivable.
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Thermo Scientific Indiko™ Plus Clinical and Specialty Chemistry System
A leading supplier of high-quality lab equipment, Block Scientific offers the Indiko™ Plus Clinical and Specialty Chemistry System from Thermo Scientific. This fully-automated random access benchtop system offers optimal operational excellence for clinical and specialty chemistry testing. A reliable, fully supported solution integrating analyzer, reagents and consumables, this system offers laboratories ease of use and time-saving automation to supports routine daily work. It is an ideal option for small and medium sized laboratories.
In addition to offering true operational reliability and walk-away convenience, this analyzer is self-contained with no need for external water or drainage connections, which makes it quick and easy to install.
Indiko™ Plus Analyzer – Reliable and User-friendly
The Indiko Plus is a flexible system with uncompromised level of performance. Three different sample racks are available for user convenience:
Two 9-position racks can be adjusted for different aspiration heights and used for 0.5 and 2.0 ml cups and 5, 7 or 10 ml tubes
The 18-position for non-barcoded 7 ml tubes can be used either for 0.5 and 2.0 ml cups or for non-barcoded 7 ml tubes
The system’s reagent disk can accommodate 42 reagents. Its unique, low-volume cuvette design guarantees small reagent volumes, minimal amount of reagent waste, and thus secure low reagent cost. As it enables users to work with disposable cuvettes, this analyzer helps lower the risk of contamination and shortens the time of analysis. The simple and clear user interface eases patient sample handling and also allows control of the reagent levels in real-time during work.
Key Features
Minimal maintenance, maximized analyzer uptime
Optimized, liquid system reagents
Automated clot detection
Built-in real-time QC program
Automated real-time monitoring of the reagent usage and expiry date
Ready-to-use, maintenance-free electrodes
Bi-directional LIS connection
Specifications
Operating Principle: Fully automated, sample oriented, random access analyzer
Capacity: photometric tests/hr: up to 350; ISE tests/hr: up to 135
On-board capacity: up to 108 sample positions and 42 reagent positions
Sample volume: 2 to 120μL
Reagent volume: 2 to 240μL (1 to 4 reagent additions/test)
Reaction volume: 120 to 300μL
Incubator: 9 x 10-position single-use cuvettes, totally 90 cuvette positions
Photometer: 12 filter positions
Absorbance range: 0 to 3.5A
Water consumption: 2.5L/hr.
Workstation: separate PC
Bi-directional LIS-connection
Power consumption: 300w
Dimensions (L x W x H): 27.6 x 37 x 24.4in. (70 x 94 x 62cm)
Weight: 242 lb. (110kg)
Block Scientific offers the Thermo Scientific Indiko Plus, NEW, including Installation, Training, Validation, 1 year warranty, and Shipping.
Contact Us
To place an order for the Thermo Scientific Indiko™ Plus Clinical and Specialty Chemistry System or to check out other chemistry analyzers we offer, visit our online store – http://www.blockscientificstore.com. To contact us, call 631-589-1118 or send an email to info@blockscientific.com.
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Food Service Products
Aluminum Foil Sandwich Wrap – Silver
The Silver Aluminum Foil Sandwich Wrap is made of exclusive foil/paper lamination to retain heat, absorb steam and resist curl. Its honeycomb design creates air pockets for superior heat retention. The moisture-absorbing paper layer helps to keep food fresh.
Product Features
Dimensions – 14 X 16
Excellent deadfold capability
Case: 1000
Case Weight – 16#
Blue Foil Sheets – 10.5 in. x 13 inch
The Blue Foil Sheets are foil insulated wraps that come with a honeycomb design for superior heat retention, moisture/grease resistance and holding times. Their superior dead-fold design helps to hold the shape of the wrapped food items. A moisture-absorbing paper layer helps to maintain the freshness of crispy breads and buns longer.
Product Features
Dimensions 10.5 in. x 13 inch
Case Pack – 4@500
Surpasses rigid clamshells in raw-material waste reduction and heat retention
D Vour Absorbent Powder
The D Vour Absorbent Powder absorbs and coagulates spilled liquids and bodily fluids, as well as eliminates all the repellent odors. D Vour deodorant powder, made of special polymer, ensures effective results in short time. When sprinkled lightly on liquid, the powder converts it into an odorless, semi-solid mass within seconds, enabling easy and fast clean-up. D Vour is the perfect choice for removing spills and unpleasant odors in restaurants, schools, healthcare facilities and grocery stores. Its quick absorbent formula sets spills of all free-flowing liquids, except oils and strong oxidizing materials such as acids.
Product Features
Volume: 16 oz.
Lemon fragrance
Absorbs spills 100 times its weight
Sets liquids and remove repulsive odors within seconds
Weight: 7
Pack: 6 cans per case
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Round Eye Supply
Conex Rolled Rim Graduated Medicine 1.25 oz. Clear Cup
Made of durable, crack-resistant polypropylene, Conex Rolled Rim Graduated Medicine cups are ideal for many diverse applications. These 1.25 oz. clear cups are suitable for dry and liquid medications, household, dining, and carryout applications. For dining, these Conex clear polypropylene cups can serve anything from small side dishes to salad dressing and whipped butter. For carryout, when coupled with a secure fitting clear lid, they safely transport side sauces such as ranch dressing, marinara, salsa, and more.
Features
Covers all market needs
Durable polypropylene construction
Polypropylene increases product visibility
Secure lid fit
Rolled rim
Lids Sold Separately
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Fresh, Fun Contemporary Area Rugs
Decorating with fresh, fun contemporary area rugs is a stylish and fantastic way to add a bright splash of color to the décor of any room. These area rugs can be the focal point of the room, giving the entire room an inviting, modern look.
Area Rugs in Contemporary Style to Fit Any Room Décor
From the vast selections of area rugs available in the market, you can select those that are perfect for your purpose. Nowadays, contemporary area rugs can easily and harmoniously fit into any room of your home, including doorways, bedrooms, family rooms, kid’s rooms and kitchens. Machine-made or hand-knotted museum pieces, big or small rugs, square or round rugs, discrete or fun rugs, you can find these in a variety of different styles and patterns for every walk of life – from the leading name brands you know and love. To brighten your kid’s room, you can find rugs detailed with bright, fun designs in attractive colors.
Fine Choice of Materials and Colors
A variety of rugs ranging from those made from traditional materials to multi-functional area rugs can be found in a variety of striking colors and at all price points. Wool, cotton, polypropylene, faux silk, and olefin are just a few of the materials that work well with striking and trendy contemporary touches. One can also avail of these in sizes such as 6’x 9′, 4’x 6′, 8’x 10′, 9’x12′, and 10’x14′. While making a choice, you have to take into account factors such as the size of the room, the feel you want to create, and more.
Purchasing online is considered the most cost-effective way to find high quality and durable contemporary area rugs. You will find hundreds of online vendors offering the finest quality area rugs in contemporary designs. Whether you need looped, shag, woven, or outdoor rugs – all can be purchased online in just a few minutes.
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Floral Area Rugs - Add a Warm Welcome
Use floral area rugs to add a warm welcome to your home or office space. It is a good choice for those who want to beautify their homes in a creative and cost-effective manner. By decorating with floral area rugs, you can bring the beauty of nature into your home.
Wide Selections, Great Choices
Apart from protecting high-traffic areas like hallways or sitting areas, these are sure to bring a touch of elegance to your interiors in entryways, guest room, dining room, bed room, kitchen, or any other place where you would like to add brightness and charm. In today’s market, floral area rugs in all modes, from traditional to modern in a variety of sizes ranging from small sized 4’x 6′ to large to 10’x 14′ and every size in-between. These also come in a variety of styles, designs, shapes, and vivid colors to liven up a household.
Online floor covering stores offer a wide variety of new and striking floral rugs in fresh patterns and designs, including begonia, cala lily, orchid, sunflower, tulip, and more. Machine-made rugs, hand-knotted museum pieces, big or small rugs, and square or round floral rugs from leading brand names are available in the stores. Area rugs in floral designs made from polypropylene, silk, or wool can be purchased.
Floral Rug Options
As it can list the prices, styles, and sizes of branded collections, online shopping is considered the best and cost-effective way to shop for these products. Most of the online vendors who are engaged in providing exceptionally beautiful rugs, offer a fine line of floral area rugs that are chosen to complement any decor.
Always take your time when making a choice. A good dealer can provide customers with a great selection of floral rugs, superior product knowledge, excellent service and expert installation – all at reasonable rates.
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Medical Coding for Skin Biopsies - Use the Correct CPT Codes
Biopsies are used to obtain a sample of your tissue or cells for diagnostic histopathologic examination performed independently or unrelated/distinct from other procedures/services. The removal of tissue or cells for analysis is called a biopsy. A skin biopsy is a procedure in which a physician cuts and removes small samples of skin or cells from the surface of your body to get it tested. The sample obtained from a skin biopsy is further examined to diagnose certain skin conditions such as skin tumors, infections and other types of growth or skin conditions. A biopsy of a lesion of the skin can help physicians report the difference between a skin cancer and a benign or noncancerous lesion. The skin sample obtained during a biopsy is further sent for laboratory analysis under a microscope.Dermatology medical coding involves several difficult aspects for coders to memorize unique termsrelated to sizing wounds and lesions. As skin procedure codes take into account the type of removal, the size and location of the lesion (such as length, depth, width, and circumference), the provider’s intent and pathologic results, documenting the service and selecting the right medical codes can be confusing. Outsourcing the task to a reliable and experienced medical billing and coding company is a feasible strategy that helps physicians simplify their documentation process. Coders must be familiar with terminology related to benign and malignant masses along with actions such as shaving, destruction, and performing biopsies.
Why Is a Skin Lesion Biopsy Done?
Generally, a skin biopsy is performed to determine the cause of a growth, sore or rash and could include –
Skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma
Rashes or blistering skin conditions
Pre-cancerous cells
Non-cancerous growths
Chronic bacterial or fungal skin infection
Changing moles
Actinic keratosis
Warts
The potential risk factors associated with this procedure include – excessive bleeding from the biopsy site, pain, skin infections, local reaction to the anesthetic, scarring and other healing problems.
Types of Skin Biopsies
There are four main types of skin biopsies which include –
Shave biopsy – Physicians will remove only a small section of the top layers of skin (epidermis and a portion of the dermis) using a special razor blade or scalpel.
Punch biopsy – Physicians use a circular tool to remove a small section of skin including deeper layers (epidermis, dermis and superficial fat).
Excisional biopsy – This type is used to remove the entire lesion/abnormal skin, including a portion of normal skin down to or through the fatty layer of skin.
Incisional biopsy – This is used to remove a small part of a larger lesion.
After the biopsy, the wound will be covered with gauze and other bandaging. Patients will be able to go home once the sample has been taken.
Undergoing Skin Biopsy – Preparations Required
Generally performed in the doctor’s office, patients undergoing skin biopsy will be asked to change into a hospital gown so that the area of suspect skin can be more easily seen and removed. Before undergoing the procedure, patients must disclose information about – current medicines consumed (including over-the-counter drugs, street drugs, or herbal or nutritional supplements), any allergies/reactions to medications (especially to local anesthetics, such as lidocaine or novocaine, or to iodine cleaning solutions, such as Betadine), pregnancy and bleeding problems if any.
The physician will first cleanse the biopsy site (with a sterile soap solution) and then numb the skin by using a local anesthetic (pain-relieving) injection, usually lidocaine. Patients will experience a brief prick and stinging sensation as and when the medicine is injected. After the skin is numb, the physicianwill perform the biopsy and the tissue will be removed. The removed portion of tissue will be sent to the laboratory for analysis by a pathologist. After the procedure, the wound will be covered with gauze and other bandaging. A skin biopsy typically takes about 15-20 minutes, including the preparation time, dressing the wound and instructions for at-home care.
CPT Codes for Skin Biopsies
Dermatology medical codinginvolves the use of specific CPT codes to document different types of skin biopsies. The CPT codes for skin biopsies include –
For the first biopsy, submit code 11100 – Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane [including simple closure], unless otherwise listed; single lesion). For each separate biopsy after the first one, use the add-on code 11101 – Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane [including simple closure], unless otherwise listed separate procedure; each separate/additional lesion [List separately in addition to the code for primary procedure].
For instance, if three lesions are biopsied, codes 11100, 11101 and 11101 should be submitted. If skin biopsy is performed more than the maximum number of times, it is important to submit supporting documentation to avoid denials. If the removal is simply for diagnosis, the procedure is coded as a biopsy. If the entire lesion is removed, the excision codes should be used.
The new CPT codes that range from 11102 – 11107 are reported on the basis of method of removal, which offers greater specificity. The new CPT codes are as follows –
11102 – Tangential biopsy of skin (e.g., shave, scoop, saucerize, curette) single lesion
+11103 – Each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
11104 – Punch biopsy of skin (including simple closure, when performed) single lesion
+11105 – Each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure
11106 – Incisional biopsy of skin (including simple closure, when performed) single lesion
+11107 – Each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure
Prior to the above new CPT codes, biopsies were reported with CPT code 11100 for the first lesion and 11101 for each additional lesion biopsied regardless of method of removal. However, the new biopsy codes are reported based on method of removal including –
Tangential biopsy (Codes – 11102 and 11103)
Tangential biopsy includes removal via shave, scoop, saucerization or curette. The procedure is performed with a sharp blade like a flexible biopsy blade, obliquely oriented scalpel or curette. A sample of epidermal tissues is removed with or without portions of the underlying dermis. This type of biopsy does not involve the full thickness of the dermis. When the full thickness of the dermis is involved, the procedure is reported using the codes – 11300-11313 (removal of epidermal or dermal lesions).
Punch biopsy (Codes -11104 and 11105)
Performed using a punch tool, the purpose of this biopsy is to remove a sample of a cutaneous lesion for a diagnostic pathologic examination. Simple closure is included and cannot be billed separately.
Incisional biopsy (Codes -11106 and 11107)
An incisional biopsy requires a sharp blade (not a punch tool) to remove a full-thickness sample of tissue via a vertical incision or wedge, penetrating deep into the dermis, into the subcutaneous space. An incisional biopsy may sample subcutaneous fat. When the entire lesion is excised, it is important report the excision codes – 11400-11646 (depending on type of lesion – benign or malignant).
Multiple Biopsies
If more than one biopsy is performed on the same date, report only one primary biopsy code. When more than one biopsy is performed using the same technique, the appropriate primary biopsy code is reported for the first biopsy and the add-on code is reported for each additional lesion.
Recovery after the Procedure
Once the skin biopsy is complete, patients may experience some soreness around the biopsied site for a few days. Physicians will either put a bandage or stitches (in some cases) over the biopsy site. In most cases, physicians may instruct patients to keep the bandage over the biopsy site until the next day. They may be advised to change the bandage daily, wash the wound and apply antibacterial ointment. Tylenol is usually sufficient to relieve discomfort. However, patients who have stitches around the biopsy site need to keep the area as clean and dry as possible. Healing of the wound can take several weeks, but is usually complete within two months. Wounds on the legs and feet tend to heal slower than those on other areas of the body.
Medical billing and coding can be complex and requires knowledge regarding appropriate coding, modifiers and payer-specific medical billing for correct and on-time reimbursement. With all the complexities, the support of an experienced medical coding serviceprovider could be useful to report skin biopsy procedures correctly for optimal reimbursement. Professional coders in reliable medical billing and coding companies can ensure accurate reporting of diagnostic and procedure details.
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Common Knee Injuries and Treatment Options
The knee is a fragile and sensitive joint which plays a vital role in the body’s stability and motion. The knee is made up of many structures and these can be severely injured by a traumatic event or disease. Injuries generally occur due to twisting or bending force applied to the knee or a direct blow suffered while playing sports, or by a sudden fall or accident. In addition to sudden injury, repetitive overuse and underlying medical conditions like osteoporosis can cause knee pain. There are different types of knee injuries all of which involve various symptoms including pain, swelling, and stiffness. Injury to the knee can cause instability and become debilitating if not treated quickly. Fortunately, effective nonsurgical knee injury treatment is available in established pain management and rehabilitation centers in Brooklyn, NYC.
Common Injuries of the Knee — Symptoms and Causes
Injuries to the knee are mainly defined by the affected anatomy of the knee and the mechanism that caused the injury. Let’s take a look at some common knee injuries –
Sprains – A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold the knee together. Sprains are graded by the amount of stretching or tearing of the ligament fibers and how much instability it causes. Ligament tears include – injuries to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). ACL injuries occur as a result of a twisting or pivoting movement. PCL injuries are the result of a powerful force such as a football player falling on a knee that is bent. The LCL runs along the outside of the knee joint and stabilizes the knee so that the bones do not slide from side to side. A common injury among athletes, MCL sprain occurs due to a blow to the outside of the knee, which forces the knee inward.
Strains – Strains occur when the tendons or muscles surrounding the knee are stretched, usually due to hyperflexion or hyperextension of the knee. Strains can cause pain outside the joint as well as dysfunction of the normal range of motion of the knee.
Tendinitis – Tendinitis refers to inflammation or irritation of a tendon (the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone) that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. Also known as jumper’s knee, tendonitis is common among athletes who frequently jump. However, any physically active person can be at risk of developing this condition.
Bursitis – This is a painful condition that affects the bursae – small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints. Bursitis occurs when bursae swells and become inflamed with overuse or repeated pressure from kneeling. Most cases of bursitis respond well to self-care measures. However, in some instances, antibiotics or aspiration (a procedure that uses a needle to withdraw excess fluid) may be required.
Runner’s knee – Patellofemoral pain syndrome or runner’s knee is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young athletes. It is caused by overuse of the patellofemoral joint (the joint between the kneecap (patella) and thighbone) — causing pain in the front of the knee.
Meniscal tears – One of the most frequently occurring cartilage injuries of the knee, meniscal tears generally occur when the knee twists or pivots. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, locking, and decreased range of motion. This type of knee injury is common in contact sports like football as well as noncontact sports requiring jumping and cutting such as volleyball and soccer.
Fractures and dislocations – Knee fractures are usually the result of trauma such as falling directly on the knee, repetitive stress injuries, osteoporosis and tumors. Dislocation is the displacement of a joint from its normal position, which is usually caused by a blow, fall or other trauma. Symptoms include loss of motion, swelling and pain and sometimes, a visibly out of place joint.
Cartilage injuries – Cartilage, the tough, flexible tissue which covers the surface of joints, can get damaged as a result of a sudden injury, such as a sports injury, or gradual wear and tear (osteoarthritis). Symptoms include – knee joint pain, swelling, stiffness and clicking or grinding sensation.
Chondromalacia patellae – This condition occurs when the cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap) deteriorates and softens. It is the result of repetitive wear and tear of the kneecap that can occur due to acute injury to the patella or due to aging. A work or sports activity that puts great stress on the knee increases the risk of developing chondromalacia patella.
Knee Injury Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation
Diagnosis will typically begin with a detailed physical examination of the joint, wherein the physician will examine the bones and check whether any of the joints are out of place. Diagnostic imaging tests such as x-ray and MRI scan may be conducted to examine the condition of the bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments and tendons and the extent of injury. Once the diagnosis is established, a team of pain management professionals will collaborate to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Knee injuries that are not severe can be effectively treated without surgery. The first course of action is rest, application of ice packs and a compression bandage. Most minor injuries improve with rest (after two to three weeks). However, if the pain persists beyond three weeks despite these measures, medical treatment will be necessary.
Multispecialty pain management centers in Brooklyn, NYC offer effective nonsurgical treatment modalities to address chronic pain symptoms. Nonsurgical modalities used in knee injury treatment include – physical therapy, injections, anti-inflammation medications, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), and Game Ready Cold Therapy.
Exercises to Strengthen the Knee Joint
Physical therapy for knee injury will include exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility. Strengthening exercises help build up the muscles around the joints. Strengthening the muscles around the knee such as the quadriceps and hamstrings will reduce stress on the joint and help it absorb shock. Gentle stretching or flexibility exercises stretch the muscles in order to restore range of motion, reduce muscle soreness, and prevent injury. In addition, patients will be educated on how to manage injury when it occurs and how to prevent re-injury. This will help prevent potential damage and disability in the long-term.
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