Could Patient Materials Emotionally Resonate with Your Patients - and Give You An Ethical Advantage?

Every Doctor with their own practice wants to have an ethical advantage. And rightfully so.

Why? 

Because while they have been studying, training, rounding, or recertifying - the system switches the rules of the game on them. 

Think about it - instead of patient care, the goal is "customer service". Say goodbye to your margin and any sense of control.

Plus everyone, including patients are experts, and Dr. Google is a keystroke away. Burnout is a probability, not just a possibility.

So what CAN physicians do to gain that ethical advantage - especially in a business paradigm? 

Here's a thought... One thing doctors can do is focus on the patient experience, because the differentiation will come as you focus on the actual experience that the patient is having. 

This is seemingly minor it seemingly very mundane and insignificant sounding.

And yet it is precisely being willing to pay attention to those seemingly insignificant details that give you a disproportionate overwhelming advantage. 

So what is a practical - if often overlooked way to score an ethical advantage?

I believe one area that you can differentiate yourself and your practice is in the area of your patient materials. Yes, that.

I believe that something as benign and boring as a post operative checklist could actually emotionally resonate with patients - when designed with their needs in mind. 

For this reason - I have put together a guide of the three top things to stop doing in order to stop wasting time and money because of poorly designed, post operative checklists. 

You know a checklist could be accurately designed and not instructionally designed, it can be accurately designed from the perspective of the physician of the expert, and yet not be understood properly or followed appropriately by the patient. 

PS - Did you know that 15% of patients are functionally illiterate? health literacy is a big issue. This could be part of the reason why your staff gets so many phone calls from confused caregivers and forgetful patients. 

Want to learn more? Download your guide here. And if you like more explanation on the specifics, enjoy the short form PatientPaperworkMinute podcast where you can hear me explain some of these concepts in detail.

Whether you agree or otherwise, I'm committed to gathering the data necessary to improve the patient experience.