By 2014, Over 30 Million New Patients Will Enter the American Healthcare System. Will You and Your Practice be Ready?
With some 32 million Americans (10% of the US population) gaining access to our health care system by 2014, new patients will rapidly enter the offices of primary care physicians and specialty MDs, and be referred on to physical therapists and other ancillary health professionals.
The typical marketing plan that is focused on new patient acquisition may no longer apply to many practitioners in those specialty areas. Instead, many primary care and MD specialty practices will need to focus their attention on improving practice management, recruiting and hiring ancillary staff such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners and techs, and adding elective service niches, etc. to maintain their profitability. They may also have to focus more on attracting and retaining professional referrals.
Some practitioners will need to focus on attracting the most lucrative cases, to avoid potential burn out from the expected onslaught of general and possibly unprofitable cases. Health practitioners will also need to focus more on customer service training and excellence for their front office support staff. That’s because some practices will earn a larger share of the increased patient population, possibly overtaxing and damaging their customer service capabilities.
Clearly, healthcare reform will not impact all health practitioners. Dentistry and its specialties (endodontics, periodontics, etc.) will not be impacted. Neither will specialists who are primarily in elective care, audiology, veterinary medicine or cosmetic surgery. But for many others, there will be some scrambling for a share of the new patients.
Healthcare marketing programs will have to be reevaluated and adjusted to meet the new demands and realities your practice will face by 2014.
The typical marketing plan that is focused on new patient acquisition may no longer apply to many practitioners in those specialty areas. Instead, many primary care and MD specialty practices will need to focus their attention on improving practice management, recruiting and hiring ancillary staff such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners and techs, and adding elective service niches, etc. to maintain their profitability. They may also have to focus more on attracting and retaining professional referrals.
Some practitioners will need to focus on attracting the most lucrative cases, to avoid potential burn out from the expected onslaught of general and possibly unprofitable cases. Health practitioners will also need to focus more on customer service training and excellence for their front office support staff. That’s because some practices will earn a larger share of the increased patient population, possibly overtaxing and damaging their customer service capabilities.
Clearly, healthcare reform will not impact all health practitioners. Dentistry and its specialties (endodontics, periodontics, etc.) will not be impacted. Neither will specialists who are primarily in elective care, audiology, veterinary medicine or cosmetic surgery. But for many others, there will be some scrambling for a share of the new patients.
Healthcare marketing programs will have to be reevaluated and adjusted to meet the new demands and realities your practice will face by 2014.