Practice Pointers
Improving Referral Relationships
Thank you to all that responded to the survey for topics you’d like to read in EveryPT’s “Practice Pointers” Newsletter.
This is the first newsletter of the year and of a series of newsletters to help you, the private practice owner, improve your practice.
I know you lead busy lives so I will keep these articles short, and may cover one topic over several newsletters. Although I’m not a professional writer, I can guarantee that the articles will be helpful so please bear with my writing style.
The leading surveyed topic of interest was “Improving referral, patient and community relationships”, so I’ll take that up in part for the first newsletter.
Let’s Talk About Relationships
Our planet is full of people and we have all sorts of relationships with those around us, whether personal or professional. If we want to improve relations with others, especially of a professional nature, we should look at some of the basic qualities that improve or promote harmonious relations of people living and working together.
For starters, let’s define “Improving referral, patient and community relationships” as: to make better in quality the contact, participation, friendship, communications, etc. which exist between people living in the same locality; and especially between those directing people to a source for help especially of sending a patient to consult a (medical) specialist.
Sometimes it’s the simplest and “little” things that have the greatest impact on us but can often go unrealized as to their importance.
I’m sure you’ve met people that made you feel really listened to, that you and your opinion had value, that they appreciated you, they treated you as you want to be treated, they talked to you not at you, they acknowledged what you said and … and … (fill in the qualities).
What it boils down to is these people possessed a genuine quality that made you feel important and that you existed: they were considerate, kind, respectful and interested in you. They did not take you for granted.
Interestingly enough, whenever I’ve asked my clients the last time they thanked their referral sources for sending them patients, pretty much one for one they have told me that it’s been a year or more since they did so. And they wonder why the referrals aren’t as forthcoming as they use to be!?
What Can I Do?
Now ask yourself when was the last time that you sent your referral sources a simple “thank you” card for the referrals they sent you? Accompanied with maybe a plate of homemade cookies, seasonal flowers or some such “thank you” treats?
Don’t get this confused with being a “drug rep” in terms of buying their attention or business with lunches, etc.
It’s about consideration and letting them know that you appreciate the referrals and their confidence that you and your practice can improve the lives of these patients.
So, take a few minutes to make a list of your referral sources and, if not done recently, send them a personal “thank you” for their referrals.
Make it your New Year’s Resolution to acknowledge your referral source relationships on a regular basis. And, as a result, I’m sure that you’ll notice improved relations!
Coming Up…
There’s a lot more to improving referral relationships than writing a “thank you” note but good manners is such a basic action that I felt it important enough to start off the New Year with.
In the next issue of this series, I’ll address really listening to what your referral source has to say and not “assuming” you know what he or she needs and wants in order to further improve the relationship.
Please feel free to send in your feedback on our first Newsletter as your input is always welcome and valued.
Our very best to you in 2010 – May you flourish and prosper!
Dot and Jeff
Every PT Directories
3539 Angelus Ave.
Montrose, Ca. 91208
626-793-2444
866-519-1430 fax