It’s so easy to go through our work lives thinking no news is good news. If no one is complaining — patients, staff or referral sources — life must be good.
Yet, despite our increased “connection” through technology, we, as a society, tend to be more disconnected than ever before — in some cases this is actually because of technology.
Rather than directly addressing conflicts or concerns with you, patients and referral sources may simply move on. And often, by the time a practice realizes that has occurred, it is too late — new relationships have already been established.
So how can you prevent this? Reconnect.
There are a lot of simple ways you can do this. Let’s start with patients:
- Brief satisfaction surveys — solicit their input and opinions
- A phone call to follow up after a procedure, illness or hospitalization
- A handwritten note remembering a birthday or event important to your patient or simply thanking them for trusting you as their health partner
- A periodic e-mail or letter with timely/seasonal health tips or reminders
- A regular blog and/or e-newsletter with updates about your practice or practical information on health topics in the news
Next time we’ll take a look at ways to reconnect with your referral sources.
And if you are looking for more ways to build and strengthen connections, check out Andrea Eliscu’s latest book, It’s Personal: The Art of Building Your Practice.