There is no doubt that medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, spend many years studying. However, note that as a doctor, it is likely that your medical education did not directly prepare and equip you for running and managing a business. Also, it is no secret that running a profitable and successful medical practice, such as a clinic, of any size or type is a huge accomplishment.
You will know that providing top-notch medical care for current patients demands dedication and hard work. Although your main priority will be to help and guide all your patients as well as you can, you should also focus on effectively growing your business.
Keep in mind that in this tough economic environment, it is highly challenging to get new patients and grow your medical practice. Also, it is worth noting that your medical practice’s unique or distinct growth trajectory will likely depend on several factors. Some of these factors are your specialty, the region that you practice in, and the medical services you offer.
While growing and expanding a medical practice is usually challenging in a highly competitive environment, you can achieve it with the right strategy. Here are some ways to grow your medical practice.
Find Better Ways and Means to Meet Your Patient’s Unique Needs
If you would like to stay competitive in this digital era, you will have to find new and better ways to better meet your patients’ requirements. Also, note that providing a superior service helps contribute to goodwill as well as business value, making you better than your competitors.
This is why you have to explore new ways to meet all your patient’s needs and requirements better, whether it involves providing complementary medical services or using new technologies.
Invest in Your Medical Team and Staff
Medical practices, such as a clinic, are only as good or strong as the team running it, from your front desk to your exam room. Preferably, everybody should perform to the best of their abilities. Keep in mind that your medical staff must have adequate technical skills, along with excellent people skills in order to help them build rapport with your patients.
This is why you have to support your medical team with the best tools and suitable training that can help them succeed.
Also, note that for your personnel, time is probably the most crucial asset. This is why if you automate some low-level or menial administrative tasks, you will have more hours to spend on staff training and development.
Be Customer-centric
Did you know that customer-centric practices reflect their appreciation for their patients at every stage? Note that from booking appointments to settling customer accounts, your patients must feel pleased and appreciated with the overall quality of your service.
This is why it is important that your processes, staff members, and marketing materials emphasize your practice’s customer-centricity. If you do this, your patients will happily return to your practice and refer it to others.
The most effective way to know your patients is to seek timely feedback. For example, you can ask your patients to complete a comprehensive survey after their appointment.
Optimize Scheduling and Revenue Cycle
The best thing about embracing automation and artificial intelligence for administrative tasks is that you will be able to eliminate wasted time as well as wasted reimbursement opportunities.
You can easily automate claim management, reminders, billing, and collections with a reliable cloud-based platform. This will allow you to improve your collections and decrease the time that you spend on submitting claims and correcting errors.
And that is not all; you can also optimize scheduling, medical record access, and patient engagement using an effective practice management platform.
Establish and Enhance Your Social Media Presence
Note that some doctors, even in this digital age, remain uneasy and uncertain about using social tools and platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, for their business. There is no doubt that communicating any confidential or sensitive health protected information via social media isn’t okay.
However, keep in mind that you have several useful and secure ways to use various social media platforms, such as Facebook, to market your medical practice to potential patients. For example, when some of your existing patients “like” your medical practice on Facebook, then their social contacts see it. You should use an engaging and attractive page design in order to encourage more people and businesses to “Like” your page.
Expand Your Service Offerings Strategically
Although consistency is perhaps the most important in your branding strategy, you should never mistake or confuse stagnation with consistency. You know that patient populations change. This is why catering to your patients’ changing needs, preferences, and expectations is usually the most effective way to keep your existing patients satisfied and happy and gain new patients.
For instance, if you are treating a lot of adults with young kids, consider hiring a dedicated and experienced pediatrician for your practice.
Leverage the Latest Technology Tools
It is best to look for the latest technology tools in order to complement your medical services. For instance, providing an appointment or patient portal makes it simpler for your patients to easily book and access the latest information when they require it. Similarly, a pre-appointment text confirmation could help reduce no-shows.
Note that the technology tools that you use will help enhance the overall patient experience and make way for happier patients who are more inclined to recommend your medical practice to other people.
Become More Active and Prominent in Your Community
If you get involved in the community, it will help you meet many potential patients. It will also build more trust with all the people that you serve. For example, participating in some local events will improve your practice’s profile and broadcast a positive and healthy brand image.
You can do this by setting up a comprehensive information table at places like a local farmer’s market, seasonal events, or charity drive.
Final Thoughts
Note that growing your practice may take some time and a little experimentation. Learning how to efficiently grow your medical practice might seem daunting and challenging, but it is possible. And to grow your new practice, you will have to invest in various areas, such as patient care, social media, community involvement, and hiring.
If you make the most of all the tools and resources at your disposal while working with the right individuals, you will be able to develop a customer-centric medical practice that attracts more customers.