Should You Offer Coupons and Discounts?

How many discount coupons, promo codes, sales or other special deals do you take advantage of in the average week? If you’re like most consumers, probably quite a few. Supermarkets have savings cards, department stores and large retail chains almost always have several coupons in circulation, online retailers tempt us with free shipping, and even small, locally owned shops offer frequent buyer programs. What about your practice? Should you jump on this bandwagon? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in General, MAP Promotion, Marketing Ideas; Patient Relations | No Comments »

Rewarding Staff When You Can’t Afford to Pay Increases

Without a doubt, you’d like to be able to give all your employees raises every year to show appreciation for their contributions to your practice. But sometimes the budget simply won’t allow for pay increases. There are ways you can reward staff when raises are not possible. Here are a few ideas to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

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Encouraging Professionalism Among Staff

Patients pay dearly for the care they receive, either out-of-pocket or in the form of ever-increasing insurance premiums, and they have high expectations when it comes to both quality care and customer service. It’s difficult for most patients to accurately assess clinical quality, but you can be sure they’re able to spot good (and bad) customer service in your office. One component of good service is professionalism among your staff. It’s challenging to define professionalism in exact terms; it is one of those “you know it when you see it” sort of things. Here are five areas to take a look at that will help determine if your staff exhibits professionalism or if there are few rough edges that need to be smoothed out. Read the rest of this entry »

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Beyond Insurance: Employee Benefits That Enhance Morale and Build Loyalty

It’s been fairly well documented over the years in several studies that money is not at the top of the list of reasons that people work. Not that your employees would keep showing up every day if you didn’t pay them, but in addition to earning a paycheck, individuals work because they enjoy feeling productive and using their skills, they like to feel valued and appreciated, they receive satisfaction associated with contributing to others, and in addition to the perks and benefits they enjoy the social interaction the workplace provides.

Beyond the usual – health insurance, paid holidays and vacation, and perhaps a retirement plan – there are benefits you can offer that speak to the reasons your employees come to work each day. Here are three to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

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Are Retail Products Right for Your Practice?

Given that there are only so many patients you can squeeze into the appointment schedule each day, the amount of revenue that your practice can generate is limited. Unless, that is, you find sources of income that are not dependent on doctor/patient face-to-face time. The decision to sell retail products in your practice is one that requires careful consideration. Some professional organizations frown on the idea, noting that a practitioner’s clinical judgment and recommendations might be influenced if he or she is, for example, selling nutritional supplements to patients. That said, plenty of healthcare professionals do offer retail items such as vitamins and supplements, skin care and cosmetic lines, oral care products, exercise equipment, and even prescription medications to their patients. Read the rest of this entry »

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Aligning 2013 Goals with Practice Values

Each new year offers the opportunity to reflect on what you hope to achieve and to set goals that are aligned with your practice values. If you’ve not yet mapped out your 2013 goals, here are some possibilities to consider (or that might trigger you to think of other specific goals for your practice), each categorized under a core values umbrella. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Finance, Marketing Ideas; Patient Relations, Operations; Scheduling, Practice Management, Staff Development, Strategy | No Comments »