Make Every Minute Valuable for Your Patients

One concept I frequently emphasize with mentees is the importance of respecting patients’ time and ensuring that every minute they spend with you is valuable. This principle stems from my experiences working in affluent areas like North Side Chicago and San Francisco, where I interacted with individuals who deeply valued their time. These interactions taught me a vital lesson: regardless of who the patient is, making every interaction meaningful is crucial.

Why Value Matters

Time is precious to everyone. For some, it’s running a business; for others, it’s taking care of their family. No matter their circumstances, if you don’t provide value during their physical therapy sessions, they’ll have little incentive to return or recommend you to others.

How to Create Value

The key to creating value lies in understanding your patient’s unique needs and priorities. This can be achieved by:

1. Engaging in Meaningful Conversations: Ask thoughtful questions to uncover what matters most to them.
2. Tailoring Your Recommendations: Adjust your treatment approach based on their specific feedback and goals.

When you actively listen and adapt to your patient’s needs, you transform their experience and demonstrate that their time with you is well-spent.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Here are examples of missed opportunities to provide value:

• Repetitive Exercises: A patient tells you they’ve already completed their exercises that morning. If you proceed with the same routine during their session, what new value are you offering? Reflecting on moments like these in my career, I realized the need to think creatively and adjust on the spot to meet their goals.
• Ignoring New Complaints: A patient’s primary concern has improved, but they mention new neck pain and headaches. If you dismiss these concerns because you’re unprepared or hesitant to address a different body part, you miss an opportunity to show value in that session.

The Philosophy: “Make Every Minute Count”

If you genuinely want to help your patients, commit to making every session meaningful by focusing on their current needs and goals. My guiding principle is:

Make every minute of every session valuable for each individual patient.

This may involve:

• Asking insightful questions to uncover hidden needs.
• Adapting your plan in real-time based on their feedback.
• Referring them to another clinician, doctor, or specialist if you feel someone else can better serve their needs.

The Bottom Line

Providing value isn’t just about delivering treatment—it’s about creating an experience that respects your patient’s time, builds trust, and helps them achieve their goals. When every minute with you feels purposeful and tailored, patients are more likely to return, refer others, and trust you as their provider.