the Free Online Hypnosis Community

Attracting Healthcare Clients

What methods do you use that attracts clients with healthcare issues to your practice? Do you see mostly people who have illnesses that they want to overcome or do you see mainly people who are motivated to prevent illnesses and remain healthy? What percentage of each do you see? Do you do different things to attract each type of client? I want to get a discussion going of all the ways these clients find you and your practice. We can be open and honest here since most of us are flung to the far parts of the planet and are not in competition with each other (we really aren't anyway but, let's be honest, that thought does exist).

Tags: advertising, health, healthcare, illness, pain, wellness

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roger Moore, PhD on August 25, 2008 at 1:03pm: I have never figured this out, but there seems to be cycles - there are times that the chiropractors are very responsive and then its the dentists and once in awhile there are a few MDs - but I cannot pinpoint the cycle - It does not seem to be in response to my own marketing with them.

I have a few MDs who refer regularlry because they have patients that come to me and have success and talk about it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Melissa J. Roth on August 26, 2008 at 5:13am: The key is consistency. Every month, 12 months of the year. You must promote through the entire cycle. You can't go just 2-3 times. You must be there, in their faces, consistently. they have short attention spans. Insurance has taught them to have a 15 minute attention span. Unfortunately, that carries through to everything they do. So, you must be there and be there and be there. In all these years I have never figured out a better key than always being visible to them. the drug reps and supplement reps do it by showing up to stock the shelves with samples or to leave a report or some other excuse. We have to do the same thing. The rheumatologist who refers the most patients to me is the office right down the street where it is convenient for me to drop in on my way to lunch to drop off an article or to drop off more brochures or something. Sometimes i see the MD and sometimes I don't. The call never takes me more than 5 minutes. If I see him I just tell him I left an article for him to read and I keep going on my way. The point is that it is common for me to be in that office. Does he read all those articles? I doubt it. It doesn't matter though. Because every time he sees an article lying on the counter with my card attached, it reminds him of me and what I do.

Ask the MD's who do refer to you to recommend you to other MD's. Tell them you are having difficulty getting into doc so-and-so's office and get the to call him/her and pave the way for you ONCE. After that, it's up to you to be good enough to get back in the door the second time. I"m not extraordinary and they do it for me all the time--because I ask.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patricia V. Scott on August 26, 2008 at 5:14am: Thanks, Melissa; there are a lot of good ideas in the responses so far. I would just like to add that those who are newer to the field would do well to understand that just like any other career decision, this field takes dedication and commitment. I, like so many of the others, would like to share what has worked for me. Yet, each Hypnotherapist has a unique personality and style (thank goodness) and must use their creativity to advance their career and the field and hopefully share what they discover works for them.

After over 16 years, medical referrals now account for about 80% of my private practice. Credibility is the key. I have built credibility by being involved with the Chamber of Commerce and now I'm on the Board of Directors here in Palm Harbor, FL. Community exposure builds recognition and familiarity, and that builds trust that leads to referrals. I write educational articles targeted at the medical community and those in search of effective complimentary methods. I also speak often at Rotary Clubs and other places where I know there are medical professionals. Whenever I meet a medical professional at a networking event (or anywhere), I let them know that sometimes clients come to me who may require an evaluation, and ask if I may use them as a referral source for my clients. Also, if you want to work with health issues, get quality specialty training and put those designations on ALL of your promotional material. Believe me, having "Medical Hypnotherapy" on my business card and other things is a conversation starter. And please, don't just take a quickie class to get the initials. You're in the right place to find quality training in this field, so take advantage of it and really become an expert. It takes time and the more you do, the faster your referrals grow.

Many of my referrals result from clients who come to me with problems that MAY be exacerbating a health issue, and I suggest that I may be able to help them directly with the health issue if they get a referral. Also, I am probably more of a stickler than most about not crossing that gray line, and this results in more medical referrals and contacts than would otherwise be the case. Then, following up with the doctor regarding their patient is a good reminder, as that follow up letter MUST, by law, be put in the patient’s file. I hope this is helpful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Melissa J. Roth on August 26, 2008 at 12:56pm: Really good additions, Patti. Follow up letters are just good manners. Beyond that they are excellent marketing tools. I don't care what the client comes to me for, I ask if i can share their results with their MD. If they stopped smoking or lost weight or almost anything short of recovering from a terminal hang nail, I send a letter for their chart. The nurse reviews it and puts it in the chart. And, every time the MD flips through that chart there is my letterhead.; ▶ Reply to This