A satisfied patient is more loyal to your practice, will have higher compliance, and usually experiences better outcomes.1 Patient satisfaction is an important goal of healthcare.
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, patient satisfaction became almost as important as the medical care itself. In fact, every interaction in a doctor's office or hospital can affect patient satisfaction. But what about interactions outside the doctor’s office?
Social media has significantly changed healthcare due to the availability of information. As a provider, you know the important role of social media for your practice, and your patients. Around 80% of Americans use the internet for health-related research, so social media becomes a first point of connection and an outlet for accurate and timely information.2
But did you know that you can also use social media to elevate patient satisfaction?
Communication between patient and provider is crucial, as consumers view healthcare as a relationship between providers and patients. Much of this communication happens within your office and is a large part of patient satisfaction, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Communication can continue outside your office through social media.
The massive volume of social content can make it difficult for healthcare providers to connect and communicate with existing and potential patients. However, social monitoring tools can help you, as a provider, stay informed about trends and focus your social content and messaging on topics your consumers are interested in, connecting your practice to your audience.
Staying on top of the latest trends, while understanding how the public views your brand, can help your practice increase patient satisfaction even while they are outside your office.
Katy Puckett has over 25 years of experience in business management, education, and client relationships.
