How to Create a Good First Impression for Your Chiropractic Practice

Psychologists suggest that it takes a person just 30 seconds to form an impression of another. When it comes to your chiropractic practice, that period is thankfully longer: the duration of the patient’s first visit. Thus, it is crucial to create a positive experience for them, even before they walk into your office. In this article, we will show you how to create a good first impression and retain more patients beyond the initial appointment.

Be Helpful Ahead of the First Visit to Your Chiropractic Practice

Once a patient has made an appointment, you have the opportunity to start building a relationship of trust with them. You have their phone number and email address. Thus, you should send them an email thanking them for your appointment.

In this message, you should help your patient find your chiropractic practice by:
•    Including a Google Maps section
•    Giving directions for arrival by car or public transportation
•    Telling them where to park their car.

Look at Your Practice Through a Patient’s Eyes

Now, what will a new patient see when they arrive at your chiropractic practice for the first time? Will they find the parking area with ease? Is it relatively close to your practice? Remember, people come to a chiropractor because they are in pain. If they have to walk for 5-10 minutes from the parking area to your practice, they will think twice before returning.

Here are other considerations:
•    Make sure the entrance is accessible, even for elderly and disabled persons
•    Check that the sign for your practice is visible
•    Choose anti-slip tiles for the entrance of your practice.

The Reception Area Is the Focus Point for New Patients

Big brands hire architects to design their reception areas because this is the first actual point of contact between the company and clients, vendors, or business partners. Of course, you do not have to go to these lengths.

However, make sure that the reception area of your chiropractic practice is welcoming, clean, and neat. Make sure that patients have:
•    Comfortable seats
•    Reading materials available
•    A table where they can fill in various forms.

At the same time, you should strive to hire an experienced receptionist, who understands your values and reflects them in everything they do. Friendly and professional receptionists who welcome new patients with a smile and help them sign in will strengthen the patient’s good first impression.

Look at Your Office with a Critical Eye

Finally, the patients will enter your office. They need to see a professional, clean, and safe setting, where they can relax and allow you to examine and treat them. Choose a soothing color scheme and adequate decorations.

Make sure that the treatment area has privacy screens and looks spotlessly clean. This is the place where the patients will bare themselves before you. They need to feel safe, both in terms of hygiene and privacy.

Invest in New Technologies

Patients love the convenience of interacting with healthcare providers online and having access to their medical record. If you can explain to them during the initial appointment that you offer them a telemedicine facility, the positive impression of your chiropractic practice will grow.

Using the Digital Patient Chart EHR software will allow you to offer your patient:
•    The freedom to create, change, and cancel appointments
•    Access to their progress reports
•    Access to educational materials, including webinar
•    The ability to chat with you by text.

All these facilities are available through their patient account, accessible from their laptop, mobile phone, or tablet.

Once you establish a positive first impression for your practice, you can win the patients’ trust with your professionalism and attentive bedside manner. If you need any help with setting up the Digital Patient Chart EHR software suite or need more information, do not hesitate to contact us!