First Impressions at a Physician’s Office
I visited a new practice yesterday and came away with a distinct impression about this small solo practitioner.
As you ponder the impression you make on new patients or potential referral sources, take some tips from this modest yet forward-thinking physician.
The waiting room was immaculate! The walls were newly papered in muted colors with classic art work sparsely arraigned around the room. There was no loud TV; instead, they had soft music piped into the room that created a calming feeling. In two corners of the room, there were small brochure holders that reinforced the ancillary services of the practice and there were a handful of new, clean magazines neatly arranged on one table. All of the chairs were the same color and fabric and they were neatly arranged in a way that didn’t feel cluttered.
More important is what I didn’t see: there were no “notes” pasted to the reception window. No notices of what a patient must or must not do for the convenience of the staff. There were no stains on the carpet, ripped wallpaper, loud TV, or extraneous papers, flyers, or “educational pieces” of any kind strewn about the waiting room.
The staff was all dressed in corporate attire — polo shirts with the practice logo — and they were all the same color. It was clear that they all had assigned colors according to the day of the week. This created an understated, cohesive, friendly look for the staff. Everyone wore a small name tag, which added to their professional impression.
The front office staff smiled at everyone who came into the office. What a difference a simple smile can make in creating an impression for your practice!
At the reception window was one small card holder with cards that served triple duty. They listed the doctor’s name and academic qualifications, the primary and ancillary services of the practice, and a fill in portion on the back for follow-up appointment reminders.
That’s it! This practice managed to make an impression of clean, cohesive, professional service by attending to the “less is more” theory of interior design.
Have someone else take an objective look at your reception area. Are you creating the impression that your practice deserves?
