Running a successful medical practice can be a challenging endeavor, especially in today’s competitive environment. Success, however, should be measured by more than just results. It should include building a genuine rapport and trust with patients, staff and referring providers. The most successful healthcare providers have specific habits that they weave into every facet of their organization. Here are three foundational habits of highly successful doctors you can begin implementing today.

1. Commitment to Developing Connections – Most would agree that compliance rates are deeply rooted in results. But so too is trust. Think about it. Patients today want more than to be provided a list of instructions of what to do. They want to be empowered to make healthcare decisions alongside their doctors. They want to be given respect. They want to feel like their opinion matters. Successful providers know this and incorporate communication into their practice as a cornerstone element from which to develop connections. Only through communication are you able to learn what patients are willing or able to do based on their unique circumstances. This greatly impacts compliance. Understanding a patient’s lifestyle will make recommending treatments easier. Two-way communication also helps build trust while deepening the relationship. All medical providers want patients who are loyal to them. Taking an extra few minutes to get to know patients better will help place you on the path to success. More tips on patient communication can be found here.
2. Cultivate Engaged Employees – The employees within any organization can be its greatest asset or downfall. One of the quickest ways to kill office morale is a lack of communication. An engaged employee is one who understands the goals and vision of the practice and is drinking the proverbial kool-aid. The most successful doctors cultivate a working environment that is built on communication and respect. Intra-office communication via email and regular staff meetings provide an excellent opportunity to share. However, communication should never be one-sided. Solicit feedback from your team, and you may find the most significant ideas are the ones you never thought to ask. More tips on cultivating engaged employees can be found here.
3. Open Door Policy – Years of research have shown that communication is one of the most critical factors for referring providers. When choosing who to send patients to, more often than not, doctors will choose the provider with the best communication. When a doctor or other healthcare provider refers a patient, they are entrusting the health and well-being of their patients to another provider. The last thing they want is for their patient to have a negative experience. They also don’t want to appear not to know what is going on once they make the referral. The most successful providers communicate openly and regularly with their referral sources. They keep an open-door policy and solicit feedback at every opportunity. More tips on boosting physician referrals can be found here.

If you gleaned one thing from this blog, let it be the importance of communication in every facet of your business. In our busy worlds, we often forget to pause and consider the needs of those who make our business a success. Communication doesn’t have to take a lot of effort to be a success. It must, however, take precedence to survive.