Neil H. Baum, MD, presented “Leaving a Lasting Impression on Your Patients” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in December 2021.
How to cite: Baum, Neil H. “Leaving a Lasting Impression on Your Patients.” December 2021. Accessed Apr 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/leaving-a-lasting-impression-on-your-patients/
Leaving a Lasting Impression on Your Patients – Summary
Grand Rounds in Urology Contributing Editor Neil H. Baum, MD, Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School, gives tips on how urologists can leave a positive lasting impression on their patients. He explains that making a favorable last impression is important since it encourages patients to share their experience. Dr. Baum then gives some suggestions on how a urologist can leave a positive impression, including calling key patients at home to answer any lingering questions patients may have and to remind them of future appointments or procedures. He defines key patients as those who have been recently discharged, those who have recently had an outpatient procedure, those who have received a negative result from recent diagnostics, or new patients. Dr. Baum notes that the doctor should ideally be the one to call the patient and provides some suggestions for scheduling calls and alerting patients ahead of time that the doctor will be calling in order to avoid playing phone tag. He lists the advantages of calling, explaining that it continues the connection between the patient and the practice, reduces the number of calls from patients, improves a practice’s online reputation, and creates “raving fans.” Dr. Baum concludes that last impressions are just as important as first impressions for a practice’s reputation.
For more commentary on practice management from Dr. Baum, visit his Improving Your Urology Practice page.
