Gathering place for osteopaths
Practice tips
Of course you need to be a safe and competent Osteopath, technically.
But given the assumption that most other practitioners are more or less equal from a technical standpoint.
We must use our Emotional Intelligence to make a difference, to stand out from the crowd, to give added value
Some more tips for building a practice:
Network with all the business in your area and use their services ie grocery store, butcher, cafe, stationary store etc.
Make sure each patient receives more than they expect....."exceed their expectations"
Phone each patient after the first treatment to make sure everything is all right.
Remember patients birthdays
Have a welcoming waiting room.
Friendly receptionist who greets patients and informs if you are on time or not
BE AVAILAVLE--- give patients your private number. Be willing to see them on the week-ends, holidays and out of hours
When not working transfer your office number to your cell phone, or someone else's who can answer for you. People often hang up when hearing an answering machine
Look busy---if you only have a few patients try to cluster them together
Never give the impression that you are rushing with a patient, let them feel you are there solely for them even if you are busy
Try to be on time
Be sincere in your caring approach. If you are faking it your patients will notice
Read the Economist every week (or similar) to have some good talking points (The Beano wouldn't do)
Get friendly with the local Pharmacist and the assistants. They can make a lot of referrals
Place your cards in hotels. Or at least make sure the staff at the local hotels know of you. I know of a medical practice which actually pays the receptionists who make the referral for each referral. And they get a substantial amount of referrals
Don't sit around. Get a locum do a course go to a lecture..something related to your profession
There are more tips but this is what comes to mind at the moment.
Tags: business, business development, practice, practice development, stand out, tips
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steven Ojari on -
Some good pointers thanks, it is a business after all!
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Permalink Reply by Jody Jakob on -
Quite right Steve,,,it is a business..a professional business where patient's concern should come before our own pocketbook.
Marketing yourself as opposed to selling yourself is important so that patients know what you do and who you are and where to find you.
Marketing is one of those "hot" words that have come to have a bad connotation amoung some people.
The Pharmaceutecal companies send representatives to talk to doctors about their products......they call this "Detailing" but of course it is a kind of marketing
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community teamPermalink Reply by Ronan O'Brien on -
Thanks for sharing this Jody, those are useful tips. It's easy for us students to forget the business aspects of been an osteopath. I read somewhere once about a doctor who would have freshly baked muffins in his waiting room everyday. Patients would turn up on time just to ensure they could get a muffin and it was great free advertising ("I get free muffins at my doctors").
Patients loved it and he attributed much of the success of his practise to the muffins!
I'm more of a chocolate cake man myself.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Harmer on
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Mmmm chocolate......
Anyway, a good tip I have heard is to get in touch with the local hospital union rep. Supply them with flyers and offer a discount for NHS staff. They will then do the publicity for you, hopefully.
© 2012 Created by Ronan O'Brien.
