How To Grow Your Urgent Care Business – IT Strategy and Consultation
The Urgent Care industry has been disrupted recently. It has taken the #3 AND #4 spot on the fastest growing industries headed into 2018.
General practitioners were front-line defense for years. In lieu of an emergency room visit (that generally takes 4 hours) and is met with an unfamiliar face, lousy service or outright apathy. You, the customer or parent in need, elect to go local.
The business has changed from an office-like space with a nurse guiding the transaction to a patient-friendly space to receive actual care.
With the vertical in a steep incline in personal services, how can you stand out as an expert, a care-giver and a comfort system.
- Social Proof — This is one industry that is almost exclusively driven by public opinion. Take inventory of the 7 neighborhoods surrounding your practice. Take note of all schools within 10 miles of your door. Actively engage them on social media as an introduction. Having a positive review or two will push you through to the next level. Larger neighborhoods exchange private reviews of local businesses (outside of normal channels like Yelp or Facebook) where they will share personal stories of their time getting help. Think word of mouth but with a much wider impression.
- Transient Records — One of the most gratifying experiences is going to a new place where you’re not only recognized but prepared for. From the welcome to the farewell. Your customers want their services with you to be recalled and used where it makes sense. Having a system that is fast, reliable and central to all of your establishments is a simple choice that customers immediately recognize.
- Comforts of Home — When I’m not feeling well, especially when I’m too sick to wait for my doctor, I want to be comfortable. In-room television, wireless access, anything to make the person I’m with less anxious. The care is something your patient is receiving, but the care taker should be in an environment where they can focus on their next steps.
- Follow-up — One of the best experiences I ever had from a service company came 5 days after my procedure. I’m referring to follow-up. The handful of steps it takes to convey care to your customer. The time it takes to have a quick follow-up call to check on a patient’s progress, well-being or just status is one that is felt forever. Everyone shares their great follow-up experience. It closes the loop on the exchange. It opens the floor to questions. It gives you and your customer an opportunity to engage. This is what most service providers live on and they ask for it so infrequently.
The theme in this week’s suggestions for business development and growth is Care. Taking the one asset we all have (time) and sharing that with someone in need. Expressing your gratitude for their choice in you.
Becoming a trusted service provider requires attention to detail and I’m speaking of the human kind. Our value as a partner is the perspective and execution of your vision. Looking from the outside, in; We’re able to discern the difference between a volume/staffing problem and a process problem. Using metrics to score your average in-room visit based on charting times, wait times, processing times and billing times, we can identify your performance opportunities. We focus on this aspect so that you can focus on your patients.
Our staff of Solution Advocates are grateful to guide anyone through this decision and sourcing process. Please contact us today at 804–521–7660 or sales@codebluetechnology.com
This Blog is written by Michael Bergamo — Senior Technologist and Brand Advocate at CodeBlue Technology