As a healthcare professional, there’s nothing more important than offering great care and guiding patients to better health. And one of the best ways to ensure you’re doing that effectively is obvious, though sometimes difficult. There is no better barometer for your practice than by asking patients how you’re doing. Patient feedback offers insight into your practice, lets you know how they feel about the quality of care they receive from you, and even gives you areas for improvement. Here are five tips to help physicians get more patient feedback.
Why patient feedback is important
To best use these tips, it’s first important to understand how crucial patient feedback is for your practice. Collecting patient feedback can provide insights that allow you to understand both the positive and negative feelings your patients might have about their experience at your office. Understanding the reasons behind those feelings allows you to make important changes in the way you practice medicine. Even better, patient feedback helps maintain a healthy online reputation, as potential patients often rely on reviews to evaluate the credibility of healthcare providers.
1. Make patient feedback easy
To encourage patients to provide feedback, make the process easy and accessible. Use as many digital platforms as possible, including email surveys and online feedback forms. Ensure that these forms are user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and easily accessible on your website or patient portal. By simplifying the feedback collection process, you increase the likelihood of receiving valuable input from your patients.
2. Communicate why patient feedback matters
Many patients may not be aware of the impact their feedback can have on improving healthcare practices. Take the time to educate your patients on the significance of their input. Emphasize that their feedback improves the quality of care they receive, while helping you address concerns or areas of improvement. If you make the case to patients that their feedback is valuable, you may find patients are more likely to participate in the process.
3. Actively seek feedback
Don’t wait for feedback to come to you; actively seek it. Train your staff to gently ask patients for their feedback during their visit or through follow-up communications. Make it clear that their feedback is valued and taken seriously. Have conversations with your patients, listen attentively, and encourage open dialogue. This proactive approach shows patients that their opinions matter, which can often lead to increased participation.
4. Incentivize patient feedback
While it may not be done very often, think of creative ways to incentivize your patients to provide feedback for your practice. It’s worth the investment to consider gift cards to local restaurants (healthy ones), or to buy tickets to a local show or a sporting event. Maybe your practice has access to activities in your area that would be meaningful to your patients. One of the biggest mistake businesses make using incentives is they offer things no one wants. But if your practice invests money in better incentives, the response will improve. As noted throughout this article, obtaining patient feedback is critical to improving and marketing your practice, so the investment is worthwhile.
5. Follow up and respond promptly
Once feedback is received, it is critical to follow up and respond promptly. Acknowledge each feedback received, whether positive or negative, and express gratitude for the input. Address any concerns or issues raised by patients in a timely manner, showing that their feedback is taken seriously. By demonstrating your commitment to patient satisfaction, you build trust and encourage ongoing feedback.
