Recently, I was on vacation aboard the beautiful Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
It’s a magnificent ship. Built in the early 1900s, the ship is a relic of World War II. There’s a lot of memorabilia hanging on its walls that makes the ship unique and attracts visitors from all over the world. The price to stay in this ship starts at 300-350$ a night during the peak season.
Just like the Queen Mary, ask yourself – what can you do to make your physical therapy business stand out with its own unique flavor, its own unique personality, one that competitors can’t match? This ship, the Queen Mary, is so undeniably unique that it presents an incredible experience for every passenger aboard the ship. I’ve already made up my mind that I want to go back.
What can you do to give your patients an experience that makes them want to come back? I’ve referred to this in some of my other videos as the VIP patient experience. But the bottom line is, give your patients a unique experience they would always remember long after they’ve been discharged.
The truth is – we ‘drop the ball’ after discharge. In most cases, patients forget about physical therapy and they forget about the physical therapist. For a strategic private practice owner, it is his / her responsibility to make sure that does not happen.
Every time a patient is discharged, the opportunity to build a relationship with the patient actually increases.
Why?
The patient does NOT expect you to stay in touch.
When you do, it’s:
- A welcome surprise
- A chance to build a relationship
- A way to help the patient stay on track
The entire Queen Mary experience was eclectic. The experience of the bay, staying on a ship right next to a Russian submarine, in inside tiny rooms with designations for ‘tap water’, ‘salt water’ and ‘sea water’ faucets was something unique and memorable.
So give your patients something to remember and make sure they think about you. Set yourself apart and correct lasting memories.
I hope you don’t make that same mistake.
Oh, and one more thing.
The Queen Mary has all my contact information. They have already stayed in touch with me and sent several offers, promotions by email and by regular mail. If you are collecting a complete patient record, you should be doing the same.
Each patient can be a valuable referral source for your practice. Don’t ever forget that. Give patients an experience that makes them remember, that makes them come back. Use your own unique personality in your practice. Give patients a ‘Queen Mary’ type of experience and they’ll keep coming back, and refer their friends and family to you.