Welcoming a new patient
In our daily life as a Chiropodist, we see many different people. We have the regulars, the occasional ones and the new ones… Precisely, we all know that for a practice to work, you need patients. Without them, we are nothing!
My Podologie has put together some practical tips for you to try to gain the trust of your new patients as quickly as possible, so that one day, they become regulars like we all know them!
Confidence through professional attire
During the first contact, the new patient will instinctively analyze you to know who he is dealing with. Therefore, in this first piece of advice, we want to remind you that your professional appearance is very important for the patient to have faith in you.
According to a 2019 Lands study, the white coat is seen by the patient as a mark of intelligence , technical prowess, reliability, safety and empathy. The coat would even increase the patient's ability to open up, by giving more information, which is useful during our examinations (1) .
Your coat is not only a work outfit suitable for caring, but also an instrument that gives you the status of the person who will listen, care for and advise. It is a real ally in the care of a patient.
My Podologie has many references of blouses that may suit you:
Did you know that you can now have your first/last name and/or the name of your firm embroidered on your blouse?
Trust through cleanliness of the office
We agree that we feel better in a clean and healthy environment. The same goes for our patients. Trust also comes from what your office gives off. A clean, tidy, cleaned and hygienic office will give the impression that you are a neat, organized and competent healthcare professional. The cleanliness of your office is a reflection of the healthcare professional. The patient knows this and has understood it well.
It will develop its long-term adhesion even more if there is respect in the hygiene of your office on a daily basis. It is therefore essential to have an organized and clean space in order to give a good image to its patients and to keep them.
Do not hesitate to read our article " Maintaining your office for the safety of your patients "
But also this article: " The guide to properly treating your waste in the office "
Trust through optimal patient management
Today, it is very easy to make an appointment with a healthcare professional. And yes, thanks to the internet, with one click on your computer or smartphone, patients have access to making an appointment.
Appointment scheduling software is also a guarantee of modernization. Our society is changing day by day and we are entering an era where everything is accessible, everything is digital. Consumption is therefore becoming more accessible.
In order to make our profession available to all ages and to modernize ourselves, software such as "Doctolib" or "Clic RDV" can contribute enormously. We could assume that the digitalization of a health professional can reassure certain patients, especially for the young population.
Trust in what we are and what we offer to our patients
We believe this part is the most important. What we reflect as a healthcare professional has a direct impact on the patient's adherence to care. As mentioned above, it all starts when you meet your patient. The first contact will allow for a reciprocal and instinctive analysis. The way you approach your patient from the beginning will have an impact on the trust your patient will place in you in the long term.
We remind you that displaying your diploma and service rates are mandatory in your office . These elements can constitute a form of adhesion from your patient. Indeed, displaying your diploma shows that you are a health professional trained in the rules of the art in whom they can have confidence.
Also, a patient can find himself in what you propose during your consultations. A patient who approves of what you deliver is a patient who is a member.
In addition, communication during a treatment or consultation is very important. According to a 2009 review article by Zolnierek and colleagues, communication in medical care is strongly correlated with better patient compliance with treatment (2) . Communication is therefore an important factor on which we, chiropodists, have a goal to achieve in order to help our patient adhere to treatment.
