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Editor's note: This article is the first in a two-part series. Next month, we'll discuss negotiating with consumers, training your staff on high-deductible health plans, and counseling your patients about what they owe for services. While the effects of consumer-directed healthcare continue to ripple through the various facets of healthcare, providers should craft a system for managing the emerging patient-provider relationship. In a recent HCPro audioconference, "Consumer-directed healthcare: Strategies for managing the effects on your bottom line," speakers discussed tips to help you manage this shift in patient relations.