Many people put off going to a medical practice for a variety of reasons. While you can’t force anyone to walk through the front doors, you can make it an easier decision for them to do so. Being kind, reputable, and skilled are only three ways to do that, but it’s not always enough. Taking several steps, such as the seven below, can help make your medical practice more patient-friendly. 

Create a Medical Brochure

A medical brochure appeals to everyone, including those who aren’t online frequently. Keep it streamlined and simple, with colors that complement your office’s vibe, bullet point information, and limited pictures. Include the most important information about your services, and advise patients to seek further details from your office. 

Establish Convenient Hours

Not everyone can make it to a medical practice during Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm hours. Offering extended hours at least a couple of times a week and/or being open on a Saturday may expand your patient base. 

Have Snacks Available

Most people are busy nowadays and run from one task to another with little to no time to eat in between. Feeling “hangry” is a very real thing. Having healthy snacks and beverages available, such as fruit and bottled water, can be a great way to make patients feel a little better. 

Incorporate Comforting Scents

Have you ever walked into someone’s home or an establishment, and the scent immediately made you perk up? Incorporate that into your own medical practice. Aim for comforting scents, such as lavender or citrus, that most people already appreciate.  

Look at Your Office’s Design From a Patient’s Perspective

If you want to make your medical practice more patient-friendly, you have to look at it less from your perspective and more from those who visit your office. For example, when was the last time you sat for more than five minutes in the waiting room chairs? Experienced the view from the patient’s standpoint in your office? 

Block out time in your schedule to walk through a patient’s experience, from what they see when they come through the front door to walking out at the end. Take notes along the way of things that could use updating or fixing.  

Create a Comprehensive Website

The more user-friendly your website is, the easier it is for patients to learn more about you, your team, and your medical practice. Include a variety of information, such as your business hours, the services you offer, how to make online payments, and how to easily request information. 

Set Up an Information Station About Local Businesses and Events

Patients count on you to help them feel better, but that can go beyond what your medical practice provides. Set up a bulletin board in the waiting room that offers relevant information about local events and businesses your patients may find beneficial. For instance, you can include information about local support groups or the dates and times of nearby farmer’s markets. It’s an additional way to help your patients while setting them up to take a proactive approach. 

There are many ways your medical practice can be more patient-friendly, and it starts with thinking beyond the methods you’ve already been using. It can help attract new patients and make your current ones feel more confident that they’ve put their health in the hands of a medical professional who truly cares.

Published by: Martin De Juan