Maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction isn’t easy, and it can be frustrating hearing negative responses on patient surveys despite your efforts to offer a great experience. Behaviors like empathetic communication can raise patient satisfaction and improve actual clinical outcomes for medical problems including diabetes and the flu. Here are three ways that your practice can increase patient satisfaction.

Improve the Waiting Process Before the Appointment

How can you streamline the waiting process?

• Provide things to do in the waiting room, like free Wi-Fi or tablets pre-loaded with magazines and books. Unoccupied time will always feel longer than productive wait time.
• Get patients checked in as quickly as possible, as they are more patient once their basic information has been taken and they feel that they are being taken care of.
• Always tell patients what amount of time they should expect to wait. Unexplained, uncertain wait times will lead to higher amounts of anxiety and frustration.
• Provide an excellent amount of quality once patients get into their appointment. Great appointments can offset a long wait.

Spend Time with Your Patients

Most doctors will hear this advice and wonder how they can possibly spend more time with their patients amidst a packed schedule and piles of paperwork. The most satisfied patients have one thing in common—their visit felt like it was long because all of their questions were answered and they didn’t feel rushed. Your practice can make up for lengthy wait times by sitting down and chatting with patients instead of brusquely going through the motions. In one study, 52% of patients preferred a doctor who sat when talking to them, and they perceived that seated visits were 25% longer.

Communicate with Precision

Finally, you should always be clear with patients about their situation. If a patient comes to you with a cold, instead of merely diagnosing it and sending them out the door, go through a timeline of what they should expect from their symptoms. Offer patients an explanation of what they can expect and what to do if things don’t improve. Patients often have an idea of what is wrong and they come to your office for expertise, not just a one-word diagnosis. 

Increase Patient Satisfaction with Vetters Enterprises

Vetters Enterprises specializes in practice management, private practice business support and revenue cycle optimization. We can perform in-depth assessments of your practice or facility and identify potential issues. Let us keep your business as healthy as you keep your patients! Give us a call at (443) 352-0088.