A Practice-Building Strategy Checkup
Achieving satisfactory growth of your patient base generally requires more
than simply delivering quality care. Are you using these effective
strategies for marketing your medical practice?
Appearances and Attitude
Look critically at your waiting rooms, exam rooms and the staff areas that
are visible to patients. Are they consistently uncluttered and well
maintained? Are your exam rooms spotless and well stocked with supplies? Do
the reading materials in your waiting room have recent dates? These are all
outward signs of a quality operation.
Attitude is also important. Does your staff consistently strive to maintain
a caring and pleasant relationship with all patients, even the difficult
ones? Patients who leave your office feeling that their needs have been
attended to are more likely to recommend your practice to friends and
family.
Patient Education
To maximize the likelihood of such referrals, let your current patients know
about the full range of your services. Small signs in your waiting room or
at your check-in desk can be effective. So can a simple insert placed in
correspondence. In addition, you should display your services prominently on
your practice’s website, if you have one. Other simple communications that
work well are welcome letters for new patients and friendly appointment
reminder phone calls.
Visibility in the Medical Community
Cultivating professional contacts leads to the addition of new patients over
time. You might consider making yourself available “on call” for unassigned
emergency room or urgent care center patients. Maintaining a good
relationship with your hospital’s nursing staff can result in positive
responses to patients’ questions about local doctors.
Health Care Commentaries is
provided by Somerset’s
Health Care Team
for our clients and other interested persons upon request. Since
technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no final
conclusion on these topics should be made without further review. For
additional information on the issues discussed, please contact a member
of our Health Care Team. This
document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for
the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
www.somersetcpas.com
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