It’s a no-brainer to suggest that a healthcare business, like any other business, needs to give an excellent first impression.

No matter what type of practice you run, be it of a medical or a therapeutic nature, you need to instil confidence in your patients when they consider you for their health needs. If they are in any way uncertain as to your ability to care for them, they, like anybody would when approaching businesses in other industries, are unlikely to choose you. Instead, they will take their care needs to one of your competitors. 

So, to ensure you have a better chance at both acquiring new patients, and to beat your business competitors, here are some suggestions on how to make an excellent first impression. 

#1: Focus on your online presence

For starters, ensure your website has both the aesthetics and the functionality to instil confidence in potential new patients. If it’s difficult to use, hard to read, and is littered with broken pages, then that first impression will be a terrible one. 

You need to provide a site that is easy to use. It needs to have those functionalities that will make your patients’ lives easier, such as a live chat option so they can easily communicate with you, and an appointment booking system that is straightforward and simple to understand. You should include testimonials from happy patients too, as well as evidence of any professional accreditations your practice has earned.

You should also ensure your practice has a healthy reputation online. Encourage your patients to contribute to business review sites, and ask them to include links to your practice on their social media pages. This will give new patients the confidence to use your services. 

#2: Improve your waiting room

What does your waiting room look like? Are the walls painted in calming and attractive colours? Are the seats comfortable to sit on? Is it clean and well-maintained? In short, does it have a welcoming and inviting feel? If not, then the first impression won’t be a good one.

For the comfort and care of your patients, you need to focus on your waiting room. Replace any old and uncomfortable chairs with something better fit for purpose. Ensure there are enough seats too, and create as much space as possible, so your patients aren’t cramped together. Improve the overall aesthetics and focus on calming colours within your design. Go the extra mile and provide water and other refreshments. And ensure you have a wide range of magazines to suit all of your patients’ interests. 

Check out the medical fitouts provided by Levitch Design for the look and feel you need to be striving towards within your practice.

#3: Train up your reception staff

Your reception staff are the first people your patients will meet when they enter your practice. If they are confronted with grumpy, impatient, and uncaring attitudes, then this will not give them that excellent first impression. 

The people coming into your practice might be anxious, especially when it comes to any health worries they are having, so the demeanour of your reception staff needs to be warm and friendly. So, if you haven’t done this already, look for the relevant training courses to give your reception employees the skills and knowhow to deliver that pleasant and mindful approach that your patients will require.

By following each of these steps, you will make an excellent first impression with your healthcare practice. 

We wish you every success!