While it’s true that offering your patients quality treatment and personalized care is crucial, it’s also true that what happens after a patient leaves your office is just as vital.
This article outlines four reasons DCs should amplify their efforts to follow up and check in with patients after their chiropractic appointments to enhance the patient experience.
Four reasons every DC should follow up with patients post-appointment
#1. Continuity of care and enhanced quality of care
To enhance the patient experience, appropriate follow-ups after your patients’ chiropractic care appointments are essential. Following up is just one of the essential elements of continuity of care, and according to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, continuity of care is synonymous with quality of care; especially from the patient’s perspective.
The article also states that a continuous, ongoing relationship between a healthcare provider and patient allows the provider to “build up a picture piece by piece over the years” of a patient’s overall health. Meaningful follow–ups will allow your practice to:
- Better support your patients in their continual care
- Ensure better-educated patients
- Help patients stick to their care plans and achieve optimal outcomes
#2. Personalized care and improved patient satisfaction
All of your patients seek a certain degree of satisfaction when they book appointments with your office. That satisfaction level depends on factors such as personalized care, which you can (and should) strengthen through follow-up communications post-appointment. Personalized care directly impacts the patient experience and
includes elements like helpful, efficient technology, virtual appointments and education, but it also dabbles in engagement and personal-touch communication.
By sending patients thoughtful, personalized follow-ups about their care, progress and wellness plans, you can build bonds, improve their satisfaction and enhance the patient experience. This kind of engagement builds trust with patients, shows your practice will goes the extra mile for them and exemplifies how you’re willing to take an active role in their journey to better health.
#3. Routine care and rebooking
If follow-ups are an automated and integrated part of your patient communication system, it’s likely sending follow-up communication can increase the chances of patients booking another appointment.
A study found that practices that take longer to follow up with patients are more likely to have them report they’re unable to quickly access urgent or routine primary care. This frustration can decrease patients’ satisfaction as well as their perception that you are providing them high-quality care.
This means, “shorter average follow-up times are associated with better access for patients needing urgent or routine care.” Easier access to routine follow-ups will enhance the patient experience.
#4. Customer care affects the patient experience
Whether you view your patients as customers or not, you’re providing a degree of customer service with your chiropractic care. Because of this, your communication habits dramatically impact how your patients view your customer service and, similarly, their patient experience.
Final thoughts
Quality care, personalized attention, focus and appreciation all play a role in your patients’ experience with your practice. If you combine those four basic principles with clear communication, prompt follow-up and feedback, you will be instrumental in enhancing the patient experience.
To learn more about how you can enhance the patient experience and improved care for your patients, we recommend subscribing to Chiropractic Economics magazine.
