In my last post I talked about the 4 A’s – access, availability, accountability and accommodation – and how they have become the cornerstones of a successful medical practice. Now it’s time for the fifth A – action – how to incorporate these elements into your medical practice or organization. First up, access. Access Patients want to be able to easily reach the highest level of care available when they need it, where they need it. And they want the freedom to choose and be involved in decisions about their care. Access is the primary reason behind the explosion in “walk-in” clinics. These businesses have capitalized on the simple fact that many patients could not get access to their regular physicians in a time they felt was reasonable.
Insights on Healthcare Marketing
April 18, 2010
From the 4 P’s to the 4 A’s
Like it or not, healthcare today is a business. And what many physicians once resisted – marketing and communicating to meet the needs of their patients/customers – is now an essential part of your everyday business. Any basic business marketing book or course will talk about the “four P’s” – product, price, place and promotion. And these elements are still the building blocks of any successful enterprise. However, what today’s patients or “pro-sumers” believe they want, deserve and expect has really become the driving force in healthcare purchasing decisions. Service has become an increasingly important part of the “product” physicians provide, and healthcare has become will become an even more competitive marketplace.
April 17, 2010
Looking Forward to FL MGMA State Conference
Marc Middleton and I are preparing for the FL MGMA state wide conference on April 20th. We are sharing our views on social media and healthcare. It is what our patients do when not in our offices. I believe as health care providers we need to practice high quality medicine, engage our patients so they participate in their healthcare, and we need to communicate with them as they communicate on a daily basis.
April 16, 2010
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
From time to time, I often reflect on my 25+ years of advising physicians about how to market their practices. And lately, I believe the old adage, “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” is ringing true. Sure, healthcare has changed a lot since the 1980’s, and those of you who work in the front lines of practicing medicine or managing a healthcare practice or organization live these changes everyday, from increased government regulations to lower reimbursements to explosions in technology. Never mind healthcare reform and the impact it may have.