The Journal of medical practice management : MPM
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Often medical administrators or providers call in a marketing expert when they feel the practice is lacking the growth they want. What's on their mind is usually how to bring in more patients, and they automatically look to external marketing strategies. However, one of the most important elements to successfully marketing a practice is making sure you haven't created a turnstile, where new patients are coming often but not returning or being converted into loyal, referring patients. ⋯ You can create this atmosphere of loyal, referring patients by providing positive touch points that fulfill the needs of your patients. Touch points are the groundwork supporting other types of marketing. This article covers three important touch points that are crucial to a positive patient experience.
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Many if not most medical practice employees will be working with an increasingly larger number of older adults in the years to come. Yet medical practice employees who are younger may have trouble relating to their older patients and may unwittingly be making their communication with older patients more difficult. This article suggests 25 practical strategies for medical practice employees who work with older patients. ⋯ It describes how they can navigate the challenges that can arise when family members and other caregivers become part of the medical equation. And it offers practical advice about scheduling, escorting, seating, communicating with, and remaining open-minded to the particular needs of older patients. Finally, this article explores behavioral challenges that can emerge when working with older adults, strategies for coping with family interference, and signs of elder abuse.