Even in today’s highly online world, word-of-mouth referrals are critical for building your healthcare business. These referrals may come from patients or other doctors and play an important role in both discoverability and patient acquisition. Here’s how your practice can encourage referrals.

Repeat patients are your bread and butter, but new patients are vital to growing your practice – especially in specializations where treatment might be short-term or one-off. It’s more expensive to attract new patients than retain existing ones, so understanding the return on your marketing investment is key to profitability.

As a healthcare provider, your goal is powerful patient outcomes while also creating the conditions for both growth and resilience, all in a cost-efficient way. This means shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach to solving problems, especially in light of the rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Here’s how to proactively foster agility and connectivity in your healthcare organization, focusing on areas of meaningful impact – and achieving greater value.

COVID-19 saw a shift toward telehealth visits as patients sought to reduce their exposure to the virus – and as changes in government reimbursements made telehealth a more viable option for providers. However, as the pandemic recedes and patients are growing more confident returning to public life thanks to the vaccine and masking measures, providers are experiencing an uptick in in-person visits.

Technology has transformed how people interact with almost every industry. Digitization brings convenience, personalization – and increased expectations about the quality of interaction with an organization. This shift has also affected healthcare, with today’s patients expecting the seamlessness and ease of access afforded by retail and hospitality providers.

Texting is one of the best ways to stay in touch with your patients – and market your services to them. People open 98% of texts versus just 20% of emails. And unlike snail mail, you can confirm that your messages are being received and read.

Patient loyalty is critical to the success of your practice. Repeat visits are what keep your business ticking along. The happier your patients, the more likely they are to come back – and to recommend your practice to friends and family. Delivering great care and building rapport are two key elements that go into driving customer loyalty, but there’s one simple factor that often goes overlooked: thanking your patients.

The global supply chain is under strain, and the healthcare sector isn’t immune. Shortages of critical healthcare supplies can quickly become serious. We saw this at the beginning of the pandemic when PPE supplies were a major issue, and the issue is back in the news, in which shortages are touching just about every industry area.

Here’s what to know about the supply chain challenges – and how to plan around potential shortages.

Connecting with patients is key to providing high-impact care. Today’s providers need to offer a seamless experience at five critical touchpoints to ensure that patients remain engaged, and their expectations are met. Here’s what to know.

Running a successful practice isn’t just about great patient relationships. It’s also about strategically managing the business side of things. Paying careful attention to expenses, overheads and processes can help you keep your bottom line in the black – allowing you to re-invest in your practice and continue to build your reputation.

A positive organizational culture is one of the most critical elements of business success. A healthy workplace culture helps employees thrive, attracts high-performing talent, and ensures a positive experience for patients and others who interact with your team.