Medical practices abound throughout the United States. From private offices to corporate establishments, patients have many options to choose from, and that means they also have a lot of expectations when they do decide on a practice. While they will always want physicians who offer quality healthcare, what patients increasingly look for in a medical practice is a positive in-office experience.
To keep people coming back, healthcare providers must be ready to offer the patient-centered care patients are looking for. But what exactly does patient-centered care involve? Take a closer look at the qualities patients seek in healthcare providers.
Understanding What Patients Look For in Medical Practices
In 2023, 49.1% of physicians offering care worked in private practices. When patients choose a medical practice and care team, they do so with the understanding that they can easily find another provider if necessary. They also have plenty of access to healthcare information, which gives them a better sense of how they expect to be treated and assisted.
What patients look for in a medical practice is no longer only the healthcare quality they receive. Instead, modern patients consider the entire experience, from appointment scheduling to wait times and after-care follow-ups.
To be able to attract new patients, physician practices have to adjust to these expectations and offer an overall positive patient experience. Patient satisfaction in medical practices is paramount for staying relevant and competitive in the field.
In recent years, the qualities patients seek in healthcare providers have turned toward holistic care. This means that physicians must provide services that aren’t only focused on diagnosing and treating a condition, but also on ensuring that the whole experience is one that will build loyalty and encourage patients to recommend the services to others.
To achieve this end, putting a focus on five crucial elements, including communication and convenience, is key.
1. Quality of Care
Quality health services consistently provide desired health outcomes and employ evidence-based professional knowledge. Patients are looking for high-quality care from every provider they encounter, and they want to make certain that physicians are up-to-date on medical knowledge and diagnostics.
Patient expectations also include receiving effective treatment plans that address their concerns promptly. For physicians, that often means staying current with medical advancements and pursuing continuing education to be able to offer the latest treatment options.
2. Clear and Compassionate Communication
What patients look for in a medical practice almost always includes physicians who will listen to them. Social media is rife with stories of doctors ignoring patient-reported symptoms, resulting in negative health outcomes. Not being fully engaged and actively listening to patient concerns can send them scrambling for the door.
Patients also seek doctors who communicate effectively. Getting a lot of medical jargon with no clear explanations does more to confuse patients rather than help them and can increase distrust.
To address these concerns, physicians and entire care teams have to work to build lasting patient relationships. Part of this is ensuring that patients know they will be listened to and that they will receive a straightforward diagnosis, a clear treatment plan, and all of the information they need.
This knowledge lets them be involved in the decision-making process when it comes to their healthcare. Using simple terms and breaking down complex ideas that a layperson can understand are significant steps physicians can take. Connected to that is bedside manner.
Healthcare professionals must have empathy and a compassionate demeanor during all patient interactions. There’s no room for brusqueness or rushing. Importantly, patients also expect responsiveness, so they’re no longer willing to wait very long for phone calls or emails addressing their concerns.
3. Convenience and Accessibility
Another vital part of what patients look for in a medical practice is the ability to quickly and easily make appointments. This requires having patient portals where online scheduling is possible. People are less likely to make an appointment if they have to call and wait to speak with someone behind a desk when another provider allows them to set up a visit with just a few taps on their phone.
Telemedicine is increasingly sought-after these days, and it’s expected to only get more popular in the future. Telehealth services give people access to healthcare services no matter where they are. With these services, those who don’t have reliable transportation or who have mobility issues can still receive the care they need.
By helping to reduce in-person appointments, telemedicine also helps reduce wait times. That’s essential for patients, as they don’t want to have to wait weeks to get a check-up.
When deciding on a provider, patients also look at locations and hours. Expanding work hours or changing them to accommodate more people can help a practice stand out. For example, offering weekend services or nighttime appointments makes it easier for more people to attend appointments.
Another vital service that can increase convenience for patients is physician dispensing. With in-office dispensing, patients can quickly fill their prescriptions without needing to travel to another location.
4. Trust and Transparency
To be able to make informed decisions on their medical care, patients need to be able to trust their providers. Building trust isn’t something that happens overnight, however. Physicians must build it over time by offering reliable guidance that boosts patient satisfaction.
One of the ways to build trust is to be transparent about treatments, diagnoses, and medical costs. You can offer medication education to make sure that patients know what to expect.
What patients look for in a medical practice is knowing that their expectations will be met and that there will be no surprises when they get their bills. Effective practice management includes ensuring staff can clearly explain costs to patients and verify that they understand what their financial responsibilities will be. Insurance information must also be clear from the get-go.
5. Office Environment and Staff
What patients look for in a medical practice extends to more than the provider and the care they offer. Patients also prefer an office environment that is welcoming. Cold and clinical settings can be off-putting, no matter how efficient care is. This is especially true for primary care providers who offer family services. The space must put people of all ages at ease.
Tidiness and cleanliness are also vital, along with staff that are friendly and efficient. Crucially, patients want to ensure their privacy is respected. They must see that the practice takes steps to comply with HIPAA regulations by keeping medical records safe.
How Physician Dispensing Adds Value to Patient Experience
In-office medication dispensing is an effective way of adding even more convenience to the patient experience. By receiving their medications right at the point of care, patients not only don’t have to travel to another location, but they can also get any questions they have addressed immediately.
Everyone is busy these days. A patient who has to find time to fill a prescription may not do so for a day or two. This can slow down treatment and could even prevent it from starting at all. With in-office dispensing, however, patient compliance can rise, resulting in better health outcomes — and boosting trust.
FAQ
What Do Patients Expect From Their Healthcare Providers?
What patients look for in a medical practice tends to include clear communication, a comfortable and clean office environment, friendly staff, and convenience. Crucially, they need high-quality care and transparency on billing, procedures, and treatments.
How Can Medical Practices Improve Patient Satisfaction?
Medical practices can begin by making treatment as accessible as possible. They can offer better hours and telemedicine services, along with in-office medication dispensing. Offering better communication and ensuring that the environment is a positive one are also vital things patients are looking for.
Why Is Physician Dispensing Important for Patient Satisfaction?
Physician dispensing allows patients to quickly receive the medication they need without having to travel to another location. This can increase medication compliance, too, which can result in better health outcomes and boost patient satisfaction.
What Role Does Office Staff Play in Patient Satisfaction?
Friendly and efficient office staff ensure that patients feel welcomed from the moment they step into the practice, and they make scheduling appointments easier. Staff that is available to answer billing questions and encourage patient communication can also enhance satisfaction.
Offering Modern Patients What They Want
Understanding what patients look for in a medical practice is the first step toward addressing those needs. It’s vital for physicians to provide a high quality of care without sacrificing communication, compassion, and accessibility. Building trust is essential, as is improving the office environment to encourage patients to come back.
One of the best ways of adding convenience to your practice and meeting many other expectations that patients have is to incorporate physician dispensing. This service can strengthen patient relationships and make each visit to the practice a convenient one.
Contact Proficient Rx Today
If you have a medical practice and want to make it stand out in this crowded field, addressing these five essential elements of what patients expect from a practice is key. As one of the leading physician dispensing companies in the industry, Proficient Rx can help you effectively improve patient satisfaction through services designed to offer convenience to both patients and physicians.
Learn more about how doctor dispensing works and can add value to your practice by contacting us today.