Hospitals are doing some crazy things to drive patient satisfaction. Since the introduction of hospital amenities, from custom meals and valet parking to loyalty programs and rewards, healthcare institutions have to worry almost as much about doing good business as they do about providing quality care.
Hospitals are doing some crazy things to drive patient satisfaction. Since the introduction of hospital amenities, from custom meals and valet parking to loyalty programs and rewards, healthcare institutions have to worry almost as much about doing good business as they do about providing quality care.
Whether it receives thousands of patients per day or just 50, I believe a hospital’s mission should be to provide world-class treatment to every patient. But to attract those patients in the first place, every hospital needs to understand how patients choose a healthcare provider.
How Patients Choose Providers
There are a few reasons why patients choose one hospital over another:
1. Reputation: Most people ask their friends and co-workers for recommendations before selecting a hospital or doctor. According to a Google study, 94 percent of patients choose a hospital based on its reputation alone. When patients have time to sit back and research healthcare decisions, their two most important criteria are hospitals’ expertise in specific treatment areas and history of serious medical errors (or, hopefully, lack thereof). Your reputation is the sum of all your patient results, so providing high-quality care is an essential part of any marketing strategy.
2. Location: Six in 10 patients choose a doctor or a hospital based on location. Someone who doesn’t feel well or needs care quickly doesn’t have the time or desire to drive to the next town over for a hospital. In a fast-paced world, convenience is key.
3. Caring Doctors and Staff: Patients want to feel like they’re more than an insurance number. According to Gallup, 39 percent of respondents rank staff courtesy as the most important factor in their hospital choice. If doctors and staff at a hospital make patients feel like they’re real people who matter, those people will keep coming back.
All these factors boil down to a single truth: Patients want to feel like they’re getting the best, most personal care available. You want patients to know they can get that care from you.
Getting Patients in the Door
Beyond purchasing new medical equipment and hiring the best doctors, what can you do to show patients the quality of your hospital? You need an effective marketing campaign, of course. If you have the staff to spare, you can even launch a service to send doctors to the doorsteps of critically ill patients.
You don’t have to break the bank to foster goodwill and raise brand awareness, though. Through giveaways of small — but useful — medical items, you can provide your patients with things that will make their lives easier while leaving them with a positive impression of your hospital.
Because healthcare providers often work with limited marketing budgets, you should aim to save money by purchasing economical products like the following in bulk. Each one is practical and effective, ensuring recipients will actually use the item while providing significant visibility for your brand.
By working with a custom vendor, you can have your hospital’s name and contact information imprinted on each of these items to help your hospital stay on top of prospective patients’ minds:
- A 7-Day Pillbox: Pillboxes like this one come in all shapes and sizes. Patients from children to the elderly will appreciate the ease with which they can stay on top of their medication schedules.
- A First Aid Kit: Everyone should have a first aid kit at home, at work, and in the car, but not many do. For minor cuts, burns, and bruises, nothing beats having a small first aid kit to handle life’s little knocks and scrapes.
- A Digital Thermometer: A reliable thermometer is a must, especially in homes with children. Digital readouts provide accurate, legible information — and look sharp while doing it.
- Medical Books for Kids: Medical activity books help children learn the importance of regular healthcare while keeping them engaged and entertained. By providing books like these to parents and young patients, you can help create a culture of trust in medicine centered on the care you provide.
- A Traveling Pill Case: It’s easy to forget a medication organizer at home, so a travel case is just the thing for someone needing multiple doses per day. Kept in a car or luggage, this pill case can save the day when patients are far from home. Emblazon your logo on the front to boost your brand.
Giveaway products are helpful tools for patients, and they’ll help people associate your name with quality care when they need it. Try some giveaways with your patients, and start seeing results today.