Uniforms and Name Tags

Even before a patient sees the doctor, he or she may judge your practice on its appearance alone. You know—that tricky first impression.

One area you can concentrate on is how your staff is dressed and how they present themselves. Many practices have scrubs as the practice attire, because they are comfortable and clean up easily. However, this image may be too casual for some patients who are looking for a more professional look—especially at the front desk, where the first impression is often made.

Creating a professional image at your practice can be done with a particular look or simply with uniforms. Now, I’m not for the old-fashioned all-white nurse’s outfits, however something more business casual may do the trick. Choose a color theme by day or week. Have staff wear shirts or polos with the practice name and logo embroidered on them. This can create a standard with little or no effort. Bonus: it’s another way to market the name of your practice—with staff coming and going from work, and while out and about during lunch.

How is your staff identified?

Ask all employees, including physicians, to wear an identification badge or name tag. Patients feel more comfortable when they can easily identify a practice member. Proper identification becomes important in larger practices, too, where it’s not always clear to tell who’s who. Make sure name tags not only have your name, but also your title at the practice. This can serve as a backup for the times you are too busy to introduce yourself.

When you walk into an exam room, always introduce yourself by name and what you do at the practice. This is important for new patients who may not know everyone, and for all patients who may not know a new staff member.

Proper identification also becomes an important form of security—identifying someone who is not a member of the practice.

There are many simple ways a practice can make a lasting impression on patients. Take the time to constantly challenge your practice. Make sure patients leave feeling good about choosing your practice, so they’re more likely to refer your practice to friends and family.

-Carlos A. Madinya
Marketing Manager