What are the most important metrics to track in a physician relations career?

1 Number of Visits

One of the most basic and essential metrics to track is the number of visits you make to your target physicians and practices. Visits are the foundation of your relationship-building process, as they allow you to communicate your value proposition, identify needs and opportunities, provide feedback and support, and show appreciation and recognition. You should have a clear plan and schedule for your visits, and track them in a CRM system or a spreadsheet. You should also monitor the quality and effectiveness of your visits, by evaluating the level of engagement, the topics discussed, the feedback received, and the action items agreed upon.

2 Referral Volume and Revenue

Another important metric to track is the referral volume and revenue generated by your target physicians and practices. Referrals are the ultimate outcome of your physician relations efforts, as they indicate the trust and preference that your physicians have for your organization. You should be able to access and analyze referral data from your organization's database or dashboard, and compare it with your baseline and goals. You should also look at the trends and patterns of referrals over time, and identify the factors that influence them, such as quality, service, access, convenience, and satisfaction.

4 Physician Satisfaction and Loyalty

Another metric to track is the physician satisfaction and loyalty with your organization and its services. Physician satisfaction and loyalty are critical for retaining and expanding your referrals, as well as for fostering collaboration and alignment with your organization's mission and vision. You should be able to measure and monitor physician satisfaction and loyalty through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or net promoter score. You should also solicit and act on the feedback and suggestions that your physicians provide, and recognize and reward their loyalty and advocacy.

5 Physician Engagement and Alignment

Another metric to track is the physician engagement and alignment with your organization and its strategic initiatives. Physician engagement and alignment are important for enhancing the quality, safety, efficiency, and innovation of your organization's care delivery, as well as for achieving shared goals and objectives. You should be able to assess and improve physician engagement and alignment through various strategies, such as education, communication, involvement, collaboration, leadership, and incentives. You should also track and celebrate the achievements and outcomes that your physicians contribute to your organization's success.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?