The strongest referral networks start at home.

Recently, I shared with you the Ten Key Drivers of Exponential Referral Network Growth.

For the next few weeks, we’re going to take a deeper dive into each of these Ten Key Drivers.

If you’re hoping to get more physician referrals, keep reading. This series is for you.

If not, go ahead and skip this one.

It’s helpful to think of each key driver as a lever you can pull. 

If you pull on the lever a little, you get a little success. If you go full throttle, it will catapult you into greater success more quickly.

Pulling one lever will get you some traction. Pulling all the levers will get your referral network program running like a well-oiled machine.

The first and foremost driver of exponential referral growth is…

(If you don’t have this first, nothing else matters.)

Clinical Excellence.

A successful program can’t exist if patient care is not top priority.

I don’t know of a single referring doctor who wants to put their name and reputation on the line by sending patients somewhere they won’t be well taken care of or have good outcomes.

The last thing they need is an unhappy patient sitting in their chair. 

Clinical and technical skill are the cornerstone of patient care. While it’s important to make sure you have highly trained and qualified providers, an excellent patient experience goes beyond that.

Think about the brilliant doctor with a bad bedside manner or grumpy office staff. Even with a solid clinical outcome, it’s not going to be a five star experience.

Good care doesn’t just happen in the office. It starts on the phone, long before a patient walks in your door.

Is your phone team cheerful and smiling when they pick up the phone?

Or…

Do they prefer not to be inconvenienced?

The patient will adopt the attitude of your phone team. If they don’t have a good experience on the phone, you’ve lost them before they ever step foot in your practice.

Once the patient does arrive, they should receive considerate and compassionate care.

• Are they greeted with a warm welcome?
• Is the patient told what they can expect throughout the visit?
• Do they feel heard and able to have their questions answered?
• Does the patient have the information they need to make an informed decision?

Patients have a choice when it comes to their healthcare and it’s an emotional decision.

How are you making them feel?

Show you value them and their time with minimum wait times.

Maximize comfort with a warm inviting waiting room and cozy seating.

It is an honor and privilege to serve patients. Without them, there is no practice.

If your staff does not have this attitude, you have the wrong staff (but more on that another time).

Most practices believe they do this most of the time but what are you doing to ensure the best patient experience?

When was the last time you walked around the practice just to listen and observe? 

If you’re looking to grow your referral network…

Start here…

With clinical excellence and great patient care.

Growing a referral network starts at home. Is your house in order?