A personal relationship with your patients creates a close and balanced rapport. It allows you to understand your patient’s feelings and better communicate with them. Because of that, it is essential that staff work to build a close and personal relationship with their patients. Here are five ways to do that.
Pat attention to details.
When staff members remember specific details about a patient, it makes them feel valued and special. Knowing key information about your patients is important because personal details matter. It could be as simple as a question about their family, a pet, or a favorite hobby. Always address patients by their preferred name and make a point to find out details about your patients beyond their medical history.
Maintain eye contact.
Maintaining eye contact communicates care and compassion. It can also show empathy and interest in your patient’s situation. Eye contact and social touch connect you to your patients and communicates understanding.
Utilize open communication.
Studies have shown that good communication can be a crucial factor in improving patient outcomes. Understanding your patient’s communication preferences and state of mind will help build rapport. Encouraging your patients to share their feelings with you is one way to approach this. Open communication is key to the success of a practice.
Use all forms of communication.
Whether your practice communicates via telephone, email, text message, social media, website, newsletter, or patient portal, in order to create a truly personal patient experience, you must communicate by using all possible channels. Healthcare consumers now expect more. Patients want tools that are flexible and easy-to-use to help them meet their health needs. To keep up with the trends and continue to build personal relationships, technology must be in place.
Keep your word.
Keeping your word is one of the most effective ways to build a strong bond with patients. If you tell them you will do something, do it. If your ability to complete a task changes, communicate this with the patient. Don’t over-promise and under deliver. Keeping your word with patients not only builds rapport, it also builds trust.
Creating a personalized care experience for patients does not just happen overnight. However, when done correctly, it can be powerful. Getting to a personal level can be the difference between a patient forgetting about your practice, and that same patient returning and becoming a loyal patient for life. Making it personal is about making the patient feel like they’re appreciated, respected, and cared for.
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