“Productive doctors whose patients also love them understand that more time doesn’t necessarily mean a higher-quality interaction,” says Robert “Bo” M. Snyder, Jr., FACHE, president, Bo Snyder Consulting, Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich. He offers the following tips to improve patient satisfaction.
Be fully present. Don’t check your pager when with a patient, for example. Give them a great 10 minutes.
Avoid body language that says, “The most important patient I’m going to see today is my next one.” Have someone shadow you and offer feedback if you think this might be a problem.
Acknowledge the main points the patient makes to you. This gives the patient clear evidence that you’ve heard what they’ve said.
Make a great first and last impression. Ask for any final questions before leaving; if you do this sincerely, patients won’t think you’ve shorted them on time.
