What’s the best way to tell whether patients are satisfied with your practice? Positive online reviews? Lots of new patients requesting appointments? Good patient satisfaction survey scores? There are many ways to gather patient feedback. Here are some guidelines for how to approach the important issue of patient satisfaction—and a surprising factor you may be overlooking.Read More
Nearly 50 million Americans have experienced tinnitus. Commonly described as ringing in the ears, it is defined by the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) as the perception of sound—including buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, and clicking—where no external source of noise is present. Tinnitus, while common, varies so much from person to person that it is often misunderstood, by patients and doctors alike.Read More
Talking about money can be awkward—particularly for doctors and patients discussing the cost of health care. Whether due to ignorance, embarrassment, or other factors, people who wouldn’t think twice about asking the price of a product in a store or comparing car prices on the internet can clam up in health care settings. But if patients don’t know how much a treatment or procedure will cost them, or what the payoff will be, they are unlikely to pursue it. Here’s help for navigating these conversations with patients.Read More
During the winter months, when colds, flu, strep throat, and other illnesses affecting the ear, nose, and throat run rampant, ENT practices could be at their busiest. But patients won’t come in if they don’t know they should—or how you can help them. Now is the perfect time for proactive patient education to reach those who are suffering from common winter ailments, as well as college students home on break who may be due for a checkup.Read More
It’s that time of year again. School’s back in session, kids are getting sick, and well-meaning parents are rushing them to the doctor, armed with a list of diagnoses and treatments they’ve gathered from Google, Facebook, and the carpool line.Read More
By now, most of us realize that in 2018 patients want more from their doctors than quality health care. Patients value empathy and transparency, and expect the same level of convenience and customer service from their medical providers as they do from hotels, retailers, and other service providers. Fortunately, technology makes it easier to meet these needs, often in a more efficient way that better serves both patients and doctors. Here’s how. Read More
