As a Medical Billing Professional, getting in front of practice owners and health care professionals is the biggest hurdle that I face in this rewarding industry! I have spent countless hours on the phones, smiling and dialing - basically cold calling - until I could not take another "We're all set with that" type of rejection. No matter how much my heart was in it, my dialing smile would ultimately fade! As a biller, I KNEW that I would make an immediate, positive impact to a practice owner's processes, cash flow, and back-logged medical claims, BUT getting to see the decision maker to PROVE my point was a discouraging reality! SO, I vented my feelings of defeat with a medical billing coleague. She was experiencing similar agravations and between the two of us, we decided to run a test. We know that networking is so important in getting your name and abilities out there in the health care market. BUT, in both of our personal and previous professional life-styles, we seldom had the opportunity to socialize, network or rub elbows with healthcare professionals and practice owners! Why couldn't we make various doctor's appointments for ourselves and our family members to get the chance to sit LIVE with our own doctors and providers? As a matter of fact, I knew that there were exams and tests that I was due or OVERdue for, so off I went; making doctors appointments with my primary care physician, chiropractor, allergist, dermatologist, OB-gyn, audiologist, physical therapist, surgeon, etc. I also made appointments with my various children's healthcare providers. This was my ONE shot to sit down with these healthcare professionals to sell my capabilities and MYSELF! I was totally determined to earn billing clients, so this was a perfect way to speak with the doctors that have cared for me and my family. What did I coin this??? "Naked Networking"! Next time that you find yourself in front of your own doctor - most likely in your "all-in-all" - take the risk! ASK THE QUESTION, "How do you manage running this practice, managing the staff that you have, AND filing your medical claims ON TIME?" I promise you that you WILL be pleasantly suprised with their response! BUT, no matter what their answer, TELL THEM WHAT YOU DO and ask for a more appropriate appointment to sit with him or her. You will "high-five" yourself all the way home! Get in all the "Naked Networking" that you can!