If you run a health practice, then you’ll already know that you provide much more than medical treatment. That might be the backbone of what you do, but there’s oh so much more that you need to keep in mind if you want to be successful. Whereas in the olden days the emphasis was on treatment and treatment alone, modern life dictates that energy goes into improving the patient’s overall experience. Below, we take a look at a number of ways you can do this.
Show the Human Side
People want more than just treatment when they visit a health clinic. Indeed, it’s less a want, more a need. People are at their most vulnerable when they’re ill, and they’re looking for someone to reassure them that they’re going to be OK. As such, it’s important to bring “the human factor” to your clinic; this is one of the reasons why AI won’t overtake doctors. You can’t replace human connection. As well as generally being warm and open, clinics should endeavor to make their clinic more inviting and homey, and showcase the personal side of the staff.
Get Personal
A person’s health is of utmost importance to them, and small gestures to show that you care can go a long way. If you’re currently sending out blanket letters and promotions to all of your clinics, then look at making your communications more personal. By making the most of The Vomela Companies personalized patient experience, for instance, you can make your marketing materials more personal, and in the process create a more robust bond with your customers. It’s an effective way of showing that you care, even before they’ve walked through the door.
More than Healthcare
You’ll want to ensure that the healthcare you’re providing is the best that it can be, but you shouldn’t stop there. When your patients are in your clinic, the amount of time there’ll actually be with the doctor will only amount for a portion of the time. The rest will be taken up by waiting, recovering, and so on. As such, it’s important that you ensure that these moments are enjoyable. Focus on our food (it doesn’t have to be the standard “bad hospital food” stuff) and the overall environment of your clinic. The healthcare you provide will be the starting point, but you’ll need to do more to ensure your patients feeling relaxed and at ease.
The Latest Technology
The healthcare industry is always moving forward. Even this year alone has seen massive strides forward. While you can’t have every new bit of kit – you won’t need it all, after all – you should make a habit of updating your technology regularly. Internet integration, wearable tech, precision meds, and more will all become big players over the coming years. If you don’t have them, then your patient will eventually go to a clinic that does. Aside from allowing you to provide your patient’s with the best possible care, it also provides them with the comforting knowledge that you don’t skimp on technology in order to save money.
The Best Staff
Your staff is going to be key to your success, and also your patient’s experience. So don’t rush to fill your medical and support staff positions; you’ll be much better served if you make sure that you’re hiring the right people, even if that means increasing your workload until the right candidate can be identified. As with most jobs that involve dealing with the public, it’s important to look beyond just the tasks they can do, but how they do, and also how they interact with the public. And of course, it hopefully goes without saying that if you only offer lowball salaries, then you’re going to end up with low-quality staff.
Everyone the Same
Standardizing how you treat your patients will ensure that everyone receives the same great service. Humans naturally warm to some people and have a cool attitude towards others, but when you’re running a healthcare business, it’s important that this instinct is avoided. Come up with a rubric that has you treating everyone the same way.
Conclusion
As we said at the beginning of the article, it’s important that you look beyond your healthcare capabilities, and instead focus on the bigger picture. Your patients don’t just come to see you because they have a problem; they’re entrusting you with their vulnerabilities, and their health. It’s your responsibility to ensure that they feel comfortable and well taken care of. In short, that they have a positive experience.
