Patient Communications for Q1 2020
As health professionals, it’s important to educate your patients about health issues to help them take an active role in managing their health. Educational communications also establish your practice as a trusted source of information for your patients. An impactful way to do this is to pair your patient communications with the National Health Observances (NHOs) as you plan your 2020 patient communications calendar. NHOs are special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Your practice can communicate these important days through email marketing, social media and direct mail. Here are a few examples that you can use for the beginning of 2020.
Send an email about Thyroid Awareness Month (Jan)
According to the American Thyroid Association, up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Sending an email to your active and inactive patients on what hyperthyroidism is, plus key ways on how to detect it, could do two things:
- Bring patients in for an appointment
- Build trust between you and your patients
Mail a postcard during American Heart Month (February)
Direct mail is still a very effective method of communication. Patients are still checking their mail every week, and keeping an eye out for mail from businesses they actually have a relationship with. Be strategic and send this postcard to inactive patients. The copy can focus on ‘knowing your numbers’ and why, with a call to action to make an appointment. Be sure to include your phone number and email address so the patient knows how to schedule an appointment. A relevant postcard like this will:
- Reactivate lost patients
- Rebuild your past relationship with inactive patients
Plan 2-3 social posts for National Drug and Alcohol Facts week (March)
When it comes to short snippets of information like facts, Facebook and Instagram are great channels to utilize. National Drug and Alcohol Facts week is focused on busting myths teens may find on the internet about the topic. An impactful way to market this NHO is to display the myth, and the fact that busts it, side-by-side in an image. This type of communication:
- Increases patient engagement on social media
- Displays your expertise to build trust with current and prospective patients
Planning your 2020 communications is one important step to your practice marketing, but it’s also imperative you have the right tools to implement your strategy. For more information on an effective marketing software for your practice, please call 877-360-3869 or visit go.demandforce.com/MicroMD.
