I recently received a call from my daughter’s pediatric dentist whom we have thoroughly enjoyed going to. Due to insurance reasons, we needed to switch to an in-network provider. Her dentist was calling to thank me for the kind words I listed on their exit survey (something I highly recommend for feedback purposes) and to find out if there is anything she can do to keep our business.

Immediately I was in awe that the dentist herself made the call. Phone calls made directly by the doctor are a rarity these days. It meant so much to me because I know how busy she is. It made me feel like my daughter was important to them, therefore they took the time out of a busy schedule to call me. After a lovely phone conversation, I beamed with the knowledge that they will most certainly get referrals from me, and of course, my continued patronage.

This is just a small example of how to inexpensively market to your patients. Medicine is now highly competitive, which means that you can’t afford to not take the time to make a phone call or send a letter to your patients. These two simple things can improve patient retention, the overall patient experience and generate additional patient referrals. If you do not take the time to implement these changes, someone else will. By staying ahead of the curve you will ensure practice growth and sustainability!