Starting up your own private medical practice is a good sign for your career! However, when you’re in the midst of admitting patients and providing the best care possible, there’s a chance you could forget one useful element: the aftercare.
Once a patient has been treated and is out of the doors again, their payment received in full, how involved should you be? It’s all about the level of care you provide. Here are a few guidelines to think about when deciding on the best practices for your healthcare business.
Tailor Programs to Fit the Treatment
Aftercare isn’t always going to look the same. For some treatments, such as those that are surface level, it may be a simple matter of keeping a wound and its bandage clean. For people who need to undergo multiple levels of surgery, the program is going to be much more diverse and inclusive.
Remember this when you’re coming up with the aftercare portion of your practice. You need to have an in depth program on the go, where each treatment is treated with the specificity it deserves. Even the most uncooperative and grumpiest of patients will thank you for it in the end!
Go Through Instructions with Them
It’s easy enough to write out aftercare instructions on a piece of paper, or have a digital download ready and waiting to be attached to a follow up email, but you need to go through these instructions with your patients as well. Make sure you’ve gone through step by step, reading them out clearly, and that the patient has understood both the how and the why.
The more you take this approach, the less trouble patients are likely to have later on. You can rest easy knowing they have all the tools they need for their recovery, and they have reassurance from a medical professional that what they’re doing is right.
Be Available for Questions
Once a patient leaves your direct care, it’s important not to write them off. You’re going to want to know how they’re getting on and if they’re struggling with any element of their aftercare, even if you’ve explained all the instructions in person.
That’s where regular check-ins come in. However a patient has consented to be contacted, make sure you send out a regular message or pick up the phone at consistent intervals. Every week, for example.
You’ll also want them to know that you’re available for questions and concerns at any time. If your own contact details haven’t been passed over yet, now’s the time to hand them out!
Inform Them of Their Rights
Patients need to know their rights in the medical world. Most people who walk through your door for treatment won’t have a clue about these! As a medical provider, who wants to excel at customer service and ensure patients return, it’s a good idea to step up and let them read through the way the law affects them.
This is certainly crucial in case something goes wrong. Malpractice can be hard to prove, but they certainly need some questions answered. For example, can you sue a clinic? Absolutely. Can you sue the government? In some cases, yes. Patients need to know these facts before they undergo the knife or any other kind of invasive procedure. It doesn’t only protect them, but it protects you as well, thanks to your understanding and quick actions concerning liability.
Ask for Feedback
It’s always a good idea to get feedback on your aftercare program from those that go through it. After all, it’s going to be hard to both realize what you’re doing well and improve if you never hear anything about it! You need to hear from an outsider looking in.
That’s where feedback forms, both direct and anonymized, should work well. If you allow a patient to be honest, without any worry that it might affect their care, they’re going to give you all the details you need to know! Be sure to utilise this concept on a regular basis for best results.
A private medical practice is the dream business for many with a medical degree. However, in the rush to promise the best care to a patient list, don’t forget about the aftercare element. Patients need to feel supported during their recovery, even when they’re outside of the clinic walls. And if you’re the only practice in the area that takes this extra step, the reviews are going to be even better!
