Search engine optimization (SEO), the crux of digital marketing, continues to evolve. Google’s algorithmic updates aimed at improving the search experience are one of the main challenges to SEO. The year 2021 saw some major Google algorithm updates including the page experience update, E-A-T principles and the MUM update. As a search engine optimization company serving a wide variety of industries, we keep track of these changes and their potential impact.
Our 2021 blog posts covered various topics ranging from link building strategies and content marketing to software development tools, law firm marketing services, healthcare marketing trends, and more.
The demand for software development tools is increasing. Software tools help create, edit, maintain, support and debug applications and frameworks. Developers have a long list of software development tools to choose from to meet the growing demand for software development. Being familiar with such tools help develop current, feature-rich projects.
Link building is an effective, evergreen SEO strategy that plays a key role in driving quality referral traffic, enhancing domain authority, and organic ranking. This blog discusses 7 most effective SEO link building strategies to improve your search engine rankings and reach the right audience. With strong links, Google can find new pages on your website faster and you could benefit from targeted referral traffic.
Each month comes with certain holidays or national days that might be related to your business in one or the other way. Smart companies make use of these opportunities to promote their business. Professional SEO companies help businesses prepare a content calendar ahead of time based on a month’s awareness events and holidays. This blog discusses marketing ideas for holidays and national days celebrated in April.
White label SEO link building is a practical way for websites to build links and increase the domain authority. It is through backlinks that search engines pay attention to the authority and relevancy of a website. Professional SEO companies offer quality white label link building services to help improve website visibility and ensure client satisfaction. This blog also discusses key factors to analyze when choosing an SEO agency for white-label SEO link building.
Quality content drives search engine results and boosts page traffic. Creating informative and unique content and optimizing it with both on-page and off-page SEO techniques will help your business stand out. This blog provides valuable tips to produce SEO-friendly content that can improve website traffic and search engine rankings in the long run.
Ever increasing competition makes it more than ever important for law firms to incorporate strong marketing tactics and build a strong online presence. This blog discusses creative marketing ideas that could help a law firm build a strong online presence and attract more clients. Developing a personal brand, publishing quality content, and implementing the right SEO strategies are some of the ways a law firm can stand out in a crowd.
As an experienced provider of medical SEO services, we know how important online healthcare marketing is, especially post-COVID-19, to increase online engagement and optimize your brand. This blog discusses the importance of quality social media content and effective patient communication in healthcare marketing.
This blog explains why social media optimization (SMO) is an important marketing strategy for law firms. SMO is an effective, yet cost-friendly way to improve your online visibility, strengthen the reputation of your brand, and generate additional leads for your legal practice.
Leveraging e-commerce is crucial for local SEO. E-commerce marketing solutions for local SEO help businesses optimize their website to increase leads, traffic and overall brand awareness in a specific geographical location. This blog provides valuable tips for optimizing an online shopping website for higher visibility in local searches.
This blog is about Facebook’s Neighborhoods, a single destination to build and strengthen local communities on Facebook. The Neighborhoods feature within the Facebook app comes with many capabilities similar to Nextdoor, a hyper local social networking service for neighborhoods. This single destination makes it easier to bring the local experience across Facebook into one place and strengthen local communities on the platform.
For more informative and interesting SEO-related blogs, click here.
Stay tuned for more unique blogs in coming year! Feel free get in touch with us anytime.
We all know how local SEO for multiple locations is important for businesses. Similarly, social media marketing strategies for local communities are also very essential for businesses to reach out to targeted audiences, particularly for ecommerce and online retail businesses with multiple branches or geographic footprints. Keeping this in mind, the social media giant, Facebook has launched Neighborhoods, a single destination to build and strengthen local communities on Facebook.
Neighborhoods – A Nextdoor-like Tool
People have always used Facebook to connect with their neighbors and local services – such as to gather support for local businesses, asking for recommendations and tips in local groups, offering support, or meeting neighbors who share common interests and so on. Especially during this pandemic, these connections have surged. Therefore, to tap into those connections in a direct way, Facebook – with 2.7 billion users globally – rolled out a new feature, Neighborhoods within the main app – that offers many capabilities similar to Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods.
‘Neighborhoods’ is a single destination that makes it easier to bring the local experience across Facebook into one place, and strengthen local communities on the platform. This dedicated space within the Facebook app helps users to engage with a wider group of locals who they’re not directly connected to. It helps them connect with their neighbors, participate in their local community, and discover new places nearby.
How ‘Neighborhoods’ Works
Neighborhoods profile – an opt-in experience of the Facebook app – is dedicated to user’s neighborhood that’s different from their main Facebook profile.
Facebook cited in its blog post that, “to join Neighborhoods, a FB user need to be 18 years or older and confirm their neighborhood. The profile photo, name, and cover photo will be the same as that used in his/her Facebook profile. Users can add other information about themselves such as personal interests, favorite places, and a short bio in Neighborhoods profile”. Once a user joins Neighborhoods, Facebook will confirm with the users if they really live where they say they do.
In addition to join just their own neighborhood, users also have the option to join nearby neighborhoods and can then join discussion areas with other users who live within the same part of the city.
What Does Facebook Neighborhood Offer?
This feature – that is currently available in Canada, and will begin to roll out to select US cities soon – gives Facebook users a space to connect outside of the news feed. Some of the best things it offers FB users include:
A Chance to Meet and Connect with Neighbors: As we mentioned earlier, when a user creates their Neighborhoods profile, they have the option to add their interests, favorite places and a bio, so that people can get to know the user within the Neighborhoods Directory. Users get a chance to meet and connect with their neighbors by writing a post to introduce themselves, engaging in discussions on posts from fellow neighbors and by answering Neighborhoods Questions in the dedicated feed. These answers would by useful information for people who are new to an area.
Allow to Engage with Local Neighborhood Groups: Neighborhood users are allowed to create and join groups reserved for people within that neighborhood, so that they could meet others around them who share the same interests. However, to make it easy for people living nearby to find their neighbors, admins of local Facebook groups can import their group into Neighborhoods. It will also allow people using Neighborhoods to create or join Neighborhoods-bounded groups – for local bird watchers, or discuss the previous night’s game with fellow basketball lovers in one’s area – that are available within the Neighborhood’s experience.
Discover New Places and Local Recommendations: Neighborhoods provides a Recommendation feature that lets its users share suggestions to their neighbors about places and businesses to visit from their local community. Neighborhood also provides another feature Favorite Polls, which allows neighbors to vote on their favorite places and businesses in the area, including restaurants, parks and more.
Provide Moderation and Safety: To help users keep interactions among neighbors relevant and kind, the new feature Neighborhoods is built to be safe and inclusive with Guidelines. The moderators of Neighborhoods use these Guidelines with the aim to review posts and comments in the Neighborhoods feed. They can either report a post or comment to a Neighborhoods moderator or remove/hide the posts that go against Neighborhoods Guidelines and Facebook Community Standards. However, users can block someone on Facebook or Neighborhoods – Facebook won’t inform them – and if the blocked user has logged into Facebook, they won’t be able to find you in the Neighborhoods directory.
Offers Privacy: A user can choose whether to join Neighborhoods – your neighborhood or your Nearby Neighborhoods – and create a profile. The profile will have the user’s name, profile and cover photo from their Facebook profile and the name of their neighborhood. However, when a user creates a group in Neighborhoods, it can be private or open and visible or hidden. If the Neighborhood Group is:
Private: Only members of the group who have joined the neighborhood can see posts
Open: Anyone in the neighborhood or Nearby Neighborhoods (if Nearby Neighborhoods is selected) can see who’s in the group and what they post.
Visible: Anyone in the neighborhood can search for and find this group.
Hidden: Only members can find the group.
This new feature by Facebook – which was under development since October last year – is a great way to gather data on users, and it would potentially keep them on the app longer. Moreover, according to TechCrunch, “this new feature will be sharing users’ neighborly behavior to serve their targeted ads elsewhere.”
Most importantly, once the feature is rolled out in the US, a FB user can consider joining Neighborhoods as their social media strategy. This is because having a good social media marketing strategy in place helps to reach out to a large number of targeted audiences and also boosts the business’ visibility with both existing and new consumers – globally or locally.
2020 has brought us further growth and our team has strived to convey all that we have learned and accomplished in our blog session. These posts cover diverse topics ranging from SEO to website development, software development, digital marketing, content marketing and more.
According to Google Analytics page views, these are the top 10 blog posts we published in 2020.
For small as well as large businesses, it is important to optimize their websites for mobile. This post shares 3 tips for optimizing website for mobile users such as figuring what key pieces of information visitors will be looking for, finding ideal pages to add to mobile-only, and having a lead sales page.
Software development trends such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Progressive Web Apps (PWA), Human 2.0, Blockchain, Cybersecurity and Big Data computation are expected to play a critical role in many industries in the future. Our post discusses these key trends.
We are up to date with the changes Google makes every year in its algorithm to create the best user experience by giving them faster, relevant results. Here we discuss the 3 biggest changes for SEO expected to happen in 2021 and beyond.
A Google My Business (GMB) profile helps businesses to easily get connected with customers across Google Search and Maps and make their business unique. This post is a basic guide for businesses on how to use their Google My Business Listing.
It is critical for healthcare practices to choose a suitable social media platform to reach people in their target market. Instagram is one such most popular platform with over 1 million monthly active users. This blog is about how practices can maximize their Instagram campaigns.
Voice technology is drastically changing the way health issues are addressed. Our team wrote this post on the role of voice-assisted technology in healthcare and a few key use cases where digital voice assistants have real potential to shine and impact this industry.
Backlinks from quality sources help build up search rankings. It is important for any business to implement some good strategies to develop a great backlink portfolio that can deliver strong results. Our post discusses some such innovative strategies.
Content marketing has a key role to play in healthcare SEO. For effective content marketing, it is important to create content based on the needs of your customers. This infographic discusses major content marketing trends for 2020.
Telemedicine companies provide healthcare to people without access to conventional healthcare. Certain SEO building blocks for telemedicine business needs are content, keyword optimization, blogs, internal linking, image optimization, meta data optimization, social media optimization and mobile visibility.
Our web design team redesigned our client’s website – https://www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com/. We made this client website responsive with WordPress, major changes in the home page, improved navigation and page speed, and placed social media icons on the header and footer to improve online visibility.
Google Analytics report indicates that these blog posts have been popular among our audience. With unique content, we have educated businesses on the challenging aspects of SEO all through 2020.
Eager to read more informative posts? Just stay tuned. We look forward to a great 2021!
Covid-19 coronavirus has affected various aspects of life, and much of the future is still uncertain. Healthcare SEO is among those affected. Almost no industry is left untouched with the slowdown that the pandemic has brought about.
While pharmaceutical companies are seeing the opportunity and feeling the burden of developing drugs to combat coronavirus, most other industries have seen their sales being affected. Small businesses are also particularly affected. In this situation, can SEO help these affected businesses to be sustainable? In fact, SEO itself can be tricky, with these businesses also seeing rankings and traffic drops in the uncertainty of the coronavirus scenario.
Why a Global Pandemic Can Affect Traffic & Rankings
While core updates by Google were the one thing businesses and SEO companies were worried about from an SEO perspective, other factors such as a global pandemic can also bring about uncertainty, because you just don’t see that many people visiting your website as before. It needn’t be that there are issues with your site or that your content is stale.
It’s just that the pandemic has altered perspectives of people and they’re not searching or browsing for things they used to before because they need something else that could give them a clear direction in terms of how to live and work in the context of an unpredictable pandemic. They want to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. They may be confining themselves to their homes, and perhaps could not access your services or buy your products.
As you’ve probably guessed, improving your content or addressing certain design elements of your website probably may not help bring traffic and rankings in this situation of a global crisis. But there’s something you can do from a content perspective.
Coronavirus Themed Content & Services
Could some coronavirus pages, articles or blogs help? Healthcare organizations can put out some coronavirus blog posts and articles. They can include Covid-19 checking services in their facilities, publicize them through social media, and benefit from the inflow of people wanting to check if they have the disease.
As you probably know, coronavirus related searches have soared this month. Most of the search terms have “coronavirus” or “Covid-19” included in them. But they aren’t the only things people search. With the increasing importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene, the need for hand sanitizers is felt more. Many people search for “hand sanitizers”, “toilet paper”, etc. And because people are discouraged from heading to department stores or malls, they would buy these things online. Ecommerce businesses could gain. And since people lock themselves in their homes, they would also look to buy other stuff online too, apart from just personal hygiene products, while they’re at it.
Tapping in on Ecommerce and Other Opportunities
Content revolving around these keywords would certainly grant you more visibility. And visitors checking out your content could perhaps be attracted to your products or services and sign up for them. Once you get people to your site, it is easier to get them to convert. If you are doing ecommerce, you could gain significantly.
Another potential opportunity out there comes from the fact that you have more people online. With people forced to be indoors, they need to spend time. While many will be working online, their leisure hours would be spent browsing. While much of that time will be spent shopping, they could also be checking for information, playing games or socializing. In any case, there is an audience out there you can tap into even in this time of crisis.
There are potentially strong sales out there that you don’t want to miss out on. So you may need to modify your strategies and focus on those search topics that matter. Efficient medical website marketing companies can come up with not just content but also services such as new apps and publicize them through social media optimization services to tap into the increased online audience.
Recent days have revealed some interesting developments about how Google works. Effective physician website marketing depends on how successfully data and research about search engine optimization are gleaned. Here are some research and news that shed more insight on Google’s mechanisms that could help you fine-tune your strategies.
SOS Alert for Coronavirus Updates
It’s been a tense few weeks for China and also fear for the world at large with the Coronavirus epidemic spreading. Google has the SOS alert feature just for such a situation. Searches connected to the Coronavirus epidemic have got an SOS alert feature. Google activates the SOS alerts feature whenever there are crisis events causing risk to public safety. Clicking on that link can take searchers to a search result page free of ads and containing the latest news and information, safety tips, and links pointing to authoritative information sources.
Google states that it has teams all over the world to obtain content from governmental agencies, authoritative and reputable media outlets, NGOs and first responders. Google also aggregates information from Google Maps, Google News and other services and products. Google does show the same global alerts, but if required it provides localized alerts.
Algorithm Changes Are Sometimes Too Much to Handle
An interesting survey reveals that Google’s algorithm changes are taking their toll on SEOs. Search Engine Journal mentions a recent survey conducted on almost 500 SEO professionals that showed that less than half of them were secure in their jobs, with algorithm changes being their primary source of worry. Around 80% of the SEOs are worried about algorithm changes negatively influencing their career, while almost 3 in 4 fear algorithm changes would negatively affect the overall industry.
There is reason for them to be worried, since the survey found that 60% of SEOs believe they have gone through firings or at least layoffs because of algorithm changes affecting their strategy. However, only 1 in 4 SEO professionals consider the security of their job being in a precarious situation. Most participants reported having a significant level of job satisfaction though.
Frustration in the SEO Industry
But there was frustration. Survey respondents felt that they went past the usual 8-hour workday for three days per week on average. Tight deadlines are the other reason for frustration, which could be the reason for the extended hours of the workday. 44% of surveyed SEOs expressed frustration as a result of the short time frames. Changing scopes of the project, client frustration, difficult client expectations, unrealistic expectations, SEO tactics changing in terms of results, were the other major causes of frustration among SEO professionals. Difficulty in measuring results was one of the lesser widespread reasons. 39.3% confessed to have employed unethical SEO practices.
Most SEO professionals surveyed aren’t intending to be in the industry for a significant period of time. They only intend to continue for around 1 to 6 years more. Only SEOs amounting to below 12% believe they can continue in the industry for the rest of their career. The survey only proves the challenge of SEO.
Research Reveals What It Actually Takes to Get Those Clicks
What it takes for success in SEO are a deeper understanding of the algorithmic changes as well as constant research. And that’s why we’re looking at yet another survey. Ignite Visibility conducted a study that revealed that:
Meta descriptions have the greatest influence on users clicking a listing on a search result
The second most influential feature was discovered to be brand name, followed by page title
The survey was conducted on more than 500 participants between 25 and 60 years of age. Two-thirds of the respondents believe that the more ads they see, the lesser would they want to use Google. The majority of respondents also felt that SERP features such as featured snippets help Google improve the search results it provides.
So, the survey quite clearly says that meta descriptions are where you need to focus your SEO efforts on. And you also need strong branding to make people want to click through your links. It goes beyond just your link coming up on the search results.
With this research data, you can go ahead and finetune your strategy. Digital marketing for healthcare is competitive, but with research-based strategies you can improve your performance.
MedResponsive recently launched a website for our new client – Asklipios Medical, a global provider of premier medical and dental services. With extensive experience in the web design, development and digital marketing sector, MedResponsive is committed to ensuring the best web presence and branding for our valued healthcare clients.
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., Asklipios Medical provides medical and dental services in indigenous, rural and remote locations. This NGO charity is dedicated to providing the highest quality services free of charge at their facilities. They work with the goal of providing medical care to people of all ages who can’t afford or find proper care. They are also involved in arranging several programs to raise oral health awareness, mainly among children.
Skilled web designers, developers and content writers at MedResponsive worked together to design and launch this new website-www.asklipiosmedical.org. Fully responsive on mobiles and tablets, this site can be easily loaded on any user device.
Its simple and clean design with enhanced features makes the site user-friendly. This website is interactive, with –
faster website navigation
clear calls to action
sliding side navigation menu, and
better layout and visual design
Site features include Google Analytics Integration, website SEO audit, W3C Validation, HTML 5 and customized Content Management System. Contact and address details are provided on all pages to ensure easy accessibility for users. This new website is a clear representation of the services provided by this NGO charity.
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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