Why do you need a website in Private Practice?
Whether you are just starting out in Private Practice, or you are established, there is no doubt that in our digital world a website is a key tool in your patient and referrers decision making process.
Successful practices can grow, and fledgling ones can establish themselves as a first choice for new patients and referrers through building their online reputation.
Your current online reputation may be your Bupa or PHIN profile, or even a few social media posts, but do they convey your practice’s values and your unique approach to your specialism and patient care? Are you confident a patient can really understand why they should book their appointment with you instead of your competitors from your current online profiles, if any?
Today more than ever, potential patients are searching on the web for private practice and healthcare services, and as our NHS waiting lists remain long, more and more people are turning to private healthcare as a solution. It’s not only your potential patients who are Googling you, but also referrers and associates you may wish to partner with.
This article covers:
- Why your website will help your credibility
- How your website can increase patients and referrers
- How your website will save time for your busy team
Being invisible online is simply passing any new patients directly to another practice.
Whether you are just starting out in Private Practice, or you are established, there is no doubt that in our digital world a website is a key tool in your patient and referrers decision making process.
Successful practices can grow, and fledgling ones can establish themselves as a first choice for new patients and referrers through building their online reputation.
Your current online reputation may be your Bupa or PHIN profile, or even a few social media posts, but do they convey your practice’s values and your unique approach to your specialism and patient care? Are you confident a patient can really understand why they should book their appointment with you instead of your competitors from your current online profiles, if any?
Today more than ever, potential patients are searching on the web for private practice and healthcare services, and as our NHS waiting lists remain long, more and more people are turning to private healthcare as a solution. It’s not only your potential patients who are Googling you, but also referrers and associates you may wish to partner with.
Patients are taking control of their health decisions, and want to understand their consultant, trust and like them before they commit to an appointment. This is where a website is so important within the healthcare sector, and those without one are limited to what message they want to convey to their audience.
It is not uncommon for those in the healthcare sector to feel as though a website is not relevant to their practice or clinic. Instead, many health professionals feel as though their practice should be able to thrive on its own through referrals and word of mouth. However, with increasing competition and the need to stand out, having a website for your practice can be influential in more than one way.
There are many reasons why even a busy, “at capacity” doctor or medical practice needs a website as a foundation of their marketing activity.
Things change rapidly in healthcare. Reliance on a single channel for new patients, even from multiple referral sources, is a risk. An Internet presence helps maintain and grow your referral stream.
It Gives You 24/7 Presence
Sometimes, people need help or answers in the middle of the night. Having a website means the information they need is always available and all in one spot, no need to wait until morning to call.
A website makes you look professional, credible and trustworthy
Your website is the perfect place to demonstrate your qualifications, speciality and professional approach to patient care. A high percentage of consumers think a website makes your business more credible than companies who only have a social media presence, and patients look for more reassurance when making their health decisions – so it really is an important tool.
Displaying other things that establish credibility, like awards, recent media coverage and sharing articles can also increase your trustworthiness in the eyes of the website visitor. Even including the biographies of your staff can make potential patients feel better about visiting.
Beyond that, having your own website lets you create a branded email address (e.g. dianna@yoursite.com) which adds a level of professionalism to all of your correspondence, especially if you’ve used a personal email address up until now.
Patients and referrers do their due diligence
Prior to making an appointment, your potential patients will go online to familiarise themselves with your practice. Having little or no internet presence takes them elsewhere…likely to a competitor that they have found online.
Through your own website, your online presence is instantly available, and it speaks volumes to professional colleagues about you and your work…again making it as easy as possible for them to choose you.
Explanation of your patient care and services
Including an explanation of your services and procedures on your website will help potential patients find you easier when searching online.
Accurate information
Many individuals search online for symptoms that they experience, this can often lead them to inaccurate information. By providing your own authoritative information of illnesses, conditions, and procedures on your website, you help to control the information that’s out there about your field.
Save time for your team
Your support team could be spending a lot of time completing various administrative tasks and helping patients to find your clinic/s. A website allows you to easily communicate your various locations, contact information, accepted insurance providers, hours etc. It is also possible to provide online appointment bookings that can be linked to most practice management systems (PMS). Allowing your patients to view when you are available and at which location – saving your Medical PA valuable time on the telephone.
In general, a website for your practice gives your patients an easy way to stay in touch with you and reaches out beyond your practice to strengthen your image. However, the rules for doctors’ websites are the same for a lot of other websites, which means that it’s important to stay simple and clear. It’s also necessary to update and modify things as needed, such as adding new forms, team biographies and sharing informative articles or any events that you may be involved in – these all add to your credibility in the eyes of your patients and referrers.
Having no presence available online could be a negative signal.