5 Reasons Patients Don't Come Back

It occurred to me last night that a good percentage our readers are other doctors. This post is especially for the docs. If you’re not a doctor, however, you’re going to want to read this too.

Strap in for an insight into the “Doctor-Patient” problem.

Top 5 Reasons Patients Don’t Come Back.

1) Your “Teaching” Sucks

This isn’t the 1950s! The days of going to a doctor and having them hold your fate completely in their hands is over (THANK GOODNESS!).

Most People are smart enough to know that their health is their responsibility. Your treatment has one purpose: To get them on the “right track”. If you aren’t teaching your patients how to avoid or correct things that make them hurt or get sick then your not doing your job and they won’t be around for long.

The key to a good relationship with your patients is to have genuine concern in their problem and help them figure out how to beat that problem without having to come into your office.

Helping patients reach the need for”less visits” to your office may sound scary…but you’ll be amazed at what it does for you practice and patients.

Treatment + Teaching = Happy and Healthy Patient’s

2) They aren’t “Growing” under your care.

This goes hand in hand with teaching your patients. Teaching is so important that I made two points out of it.

When “teaching” turns into “growth” then you have just solidified your service/practice as priceless.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

I’ve heard that Chinese Proverb at least 1000 times and it amazes me how well it applies to treating patients in a doctor’s office.

3) Different “Nail” : Same “Hammer”

This has to be the number one complaint I hear about other doctors in my field.

At least 3 times a day I hear a patient say “I was going to see Dr. NotSoGood and it just seemed liked no matter what my complaint was that he did the same thing to treat it. I started to get the feeling that he wasn’t paying attention”

There a subtle differences to alot of treatment procedures and sometimes it pays to let your patient’s know what your doing different.

It all comes down to communication. (and if you are using the same treatment for every condition….I would suggest stopping…and also thank you for sending your patients to my office)

4) You Talk to them about Money

Don’t do this… That simple…

We all have to concern ourselves with money. If we didn’t then we couldn’t keep our offices open. However, there is absolutely no reason for you to know how much a service cost in your office between the hours of 7AM and 6PM (our office hours).

Leave this to your front desk and concern yourself only with what the best treatment for the condition is. If a patient want to talk money you…kindly explain that its better if you don’t concern yourself with how much a particular treatment cost. Your patient will understand what you mean and thank you for it.

Payment/Money/Cost is for the Front Desk!

Being A Doctor is What you do!

5) You Didn’t Prepare Them.

Just like they used to tell you in “Driver’s Ed”: “Signal Your Intentions”.

If a procedure can result in soreness….tell your patient.

Before you do an exam….explain it.

If a patient has never experienced a certain kind of treatment….lay it out step by step.

MAIN POINT

Most patients leave an office (never to return) because of a lack of communication. Make their experience in your office an educational one and you’ll be surprised at how much quicker they return to health and how much quicker they tell a friend about you.

Ever been to a doctor’s office where they didn’t communicate well? Tell us about it!

-Dr. Ben

Tags: doctor-patient, hammer, happy, nail, patients, prepared