By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 4 Physician Referral-Building Mistakes That Spoil Your Reputation
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > 4 Physician Referral-Building Mistakes That Spoil Your Reputation
Business

4 Physician Referral-Building Mistakes That Spoil Your Reputation

Stewart Gandolf
Last updated: September 22, 2017 9:20 pm
Stewart Gandolf
Share
3 Min Read
physician referral building mistakes
SHARE

The business of physician referrals—that stream of new cases and revenue—depends on maintaining a solid relationship with colleagues. Doctor-to-doctor patient referrals rely on a trust and confidence that goes beyond your CV, clinical skills, and professional experience. Your reputation is on the line. I have the good fortune to travel throughout the country working with healthcare practices “up close and personal.” To clearly understand, diagnose and resolve some physician marketing issues, it takes an on-site perspective. Often, it is the in-office, micro-view of the doctor (and not the 12-page curriculum vitae) that have a negative influence on reputation among fellow physicians. Doctors rarely, if ever, speak ill of fellow doctors. Consequently, a professional referral stream will silently evaporate when colleagues lose a sense of personal confidence. Do these doctor referral-building mistakes happen in your office?

Poor communication or dialog. Referring physicians maintain senses of connectivity with each of the patients they refer. A family physician, for example, expects timely feedback from a specialist regarding the care and treatment of “their patient.” Hearing only silence from the specialist’s practice can imply a lack of provider (or patient) follow-through. It could also suggest a lack of appreciation for the referral.

Treating staff rudely. Real or imagined, word gets around. Physicians, who appear to have a lack of professional respect for their staff, or for the staff at the referring office, are wearing down the practice-to-practice relationship. Your reputation and continuing referrals are in jeopardy when a referring practice can easily point a patient in another direction.

Showing off your wealth. You will not find this one written down, but it happens often. Nobody argues with the idea of success in business, but excessive or ego-driven displays can rub patients and colleagues negatively.

More Read

June 23-24 OneMedForum New York
A Better Way to Approach Medicare’s Impossible Task
Want Your ACO To Succeed? …Focus On Improving Doctor/Patient Communication
Did We Learn the Secret to Fixing Healthcare in Kindergarten?
Guide to Building a Successful Referral Network for Doctors

Front desk blunders. Patients who are referred to a specialist are following a continuing care path. But the specialist’s front desk—where they were referred and believe they are expected—can easily make them feel unwanted. Perhaps they experience difficulty making an early appointment, or they overhear staff “badmouthing,” or they are not greeted by name. A negative “first impression” reflects badly on both providers.

When physician referrals are the financial lifeblood of a specialty practice, mistakes like these (and dozens of others) can and will spoil your reputation among colleagues as well as the patient public. A critical ingredient to getting it right, and avoiding these mistakes, is to have a proactive system that establishes, maintains and extends relationships…and assures a continuing stream of professional referrals.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Hospital Administration

Getting Nurse Staffing Right Is Critical

March 18, 2011

Use Your Healthcare Content to Create Video Value

January 22, 2015
hospital negligence
Hospital Administration

3 Celebrities Who Were Victims Of Hospital Negligence

October 20, 2020
Clinical tasks
HealthHospital AdministrationMedicare

The Art of Prioritization: Managing Clinical and Administrative Tasks

June 10, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?