When it comes to marketing your practice, getting patients to come through the door is only the beginning. According to consulting firm Bain & Co., only a five percent increase in patient retention can increase your profitability by 75 percent. How do you keep those patients coming back?
Excellent customer service is what will set your practice apart from all others. Here are some tips to help you improve patient relationships and offer a first-rate experience.
- Long office waits are so common that they’ve become a cliche. Streamlining your administrative operations will help you see patients on a more timely basis. However, delays are often unavoidable due to emergencies and other unexpected situations. Prompt and honest communication about wait times will help avoid impatience and frustration for your patients.
- Dealing with health problems can be frightening for just about anyone. A physician who listens to concerns can make the experience less intimidating. Don’t let a reliance on technology erode your sense of empathy and supportive “bedside manner”.
- The well-being of your patients doesn’t end once they walk out the door. They’ll become disheartened if they have to jump through hoops to contact you between appointments. Treat them with consideration whether you’re dealing with them face-to-face or outside the office.
Don’t rely on an impersonal voice mail system to take your patients’ calls. They’ll feel reassured having a friendly, experienced operator to assist with their concerns. MedConnectUSA has a program to handle your needs whether your office has a staff of one or 1,000. Visit our website to learn how we can help you create an outstanding patient experience.
