How to Collect a Doctor Bill

by Franklyn Pierre Davis

No........................	|	STATEMENT
Name....................	|	.......................19..
Address................	|	Mr...................................................
Date sent..............	|	To J. M. SMITH, M.D. Dr.
Previous bill sent	|	To Professional services
.............................	|	to date - - - $................
Am't paid..............	|	All accounts are due and payable
Collector...............	|	when services are rendered.

The best way to hold practice is to collect your accounts. More people change doctors because they owe big bills than for any other reason.

Never tell a debtor that you are hard up and need the money. He won't believe you, and will not only neglect to pay you, but will change to some other doctor. Tell them that you must have the money because it is yours and that you want the profit that may be made with it. Put it up to them as a plain business proposition and loan them the amount if they pay you interest and give good security. They will respect you when you make them pay. A man is judged in this country by his business success. Most men would rather pay a lawyer a thousand dollars to keep them out of the penitentiary for a year, than to pay a doctor fifty dollars to keep them out of hell for a life time.

Office and transient practice should be cash or an order note. The following form will prove valuable:

.........................................191..

After date, for value received, I promise to pay ............................or order....................Dollars, the same to be paid in..............................payments of $....................each, until the sum of $.................. has been paid.

For Value Received, I, the undersigned, hereby sell, assign, transfer and set over unto.........................all my right, title and interest in and to all of my salary, wages or any moneys due, or to become due, to the amount of.................................Dollars, from any person, firm or corporation, and order the said amount to be paid to the bearer out of the first moneys due me after the presentation of a copy of this instrument. I hereby irrevocably waive all exemptions or other rights I may have by means of any law of any state in which I now, or may hereafter be employed or reside. I agree to pay all costs and attorney's fees that may be incurred in collecting the above amount.

Name..................................................................

Occupation................................. Address..............................

Employed by.............................. Address..............................