Having your own medical practice, no matter what specialization, places you in a very competitive marketplace. It is surprising how hard it is to get new patients to visit your practice. Having the latest devices such as a Spackman uterine manipulator is not going to attract people like in other industries.
Here are some tips on how to attract more patients to your clinic and how to keep them:
Learn What They Want
The simplest method of drawing in patients is to find out exactly what they want. The best way to do this is by conducting a survey of your current patients. A simple questionnaire can reveal many things that you need to know about their desires when it comes to treatment. Don’t just limit yourself to the people who come into your clinic. You will need to cast a wider net and that’s what the Internet is for.
Encourage Positive Reviews and Read Reviews of Other Clinics
Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the best ways a doctor can expand their practice. In the past, this was real word-of-mouth interactions. Now, people can have a large audience because of the Internet. Ask your patients to post a positive review on their social media page and similar sites, especially if they were pleased by your treatment. This allows people to “see” your clinic as a good option.
Reading reviews is important, too. Read the reviews of other local clinics to see what you should be doing and not doing. Their positive reviews can show you what they are doing right that you need to emulate. Additionally, some reviews will have comments about what the patients want to see in clinics that they go to.
Build an Online Presence
Besides the use of reviews, you should also establish your own online presence, This could just be a Facebook page or an actual website. This is the modern equivalent of having your phone number available for your potential patients. This allows people to find you and contact you easily.
Your online presence shouldn’t be an afterthought either. You should stay in touch with those who contact you via this platform, either in the form of a direct message or an email. This provides you with a chance to connect with your potential patients. Insist that consultations will still need a personal appearance at your clinic, though.
Expand and Modify Your Services
Now that you know what people want, you might consider expanding and changing your services. Consider customer feedback, as well as the local demographic. For example, if your patients are complaining about long wait times, maybe it is time to get another doctor in the practice.
You can even get an assistant who will do the standard tests for you. Advertise the changes on your website to make sure it is public to attract other patients.
Always Schedule Follow-Up Appointments
One of the best ways to retain patients is to give them thorough aftercare. That is why you should always schedule a follow-up appointment. This allows you to check on their condition and to show that you care.
Patients come to you for relief and treatments. If you offer them good service, they will trust you and become loyal to your clinic. Remember the tips above, so you can welcome more people into your practice.
