Family Practice Health care is the largest rising industry in the nation. With all of the specialists and various types of doctors, one still remains untouched and that is the General Practitioner who has a Family Practice. Why? People like to go to the doctor and see the same one on each visit. They have developed a relationship with the doctor rather than just another patient where the doctor refers from a stack of records or a chart. We want our family practice physician to ask us how are kids are doing and recall off of the top of his head why we were there last. The demand is evident for family practices and not just in rural areas; there is a high demand even in larger cities, maybe even more so. People like family practices because they are concerned with more than just your health. They try to provide care for your entire well being as a person. Doctors who work from family practices can offer many various types of care. They specialize in everything; they can treat you for a common cold, anxiety, or high blood pressure. They can treat babies, adults and the elderly. They are there each and every time that you visit the doctor. They are so predictable that you will even notice right away if he has a new nurse or receptionist working for him. The difference between doctors who run family practices and doctors who are part of a large practice or work from a hospital is that the family doctor may find out that you have cancer but he will give you a hug, hold your hand and tell you that everything will work out, even if it is likely that it will not. Other doctors state the facts so robotically and are on their way. A family doctor will send flowers to the funeral home when you have lost a loved one and some may even send you a Christmas card as well. They will remember when you come to see them that you are still having difficulties coping with the loss of your dog last year. They are real people and are not second class doctors nor are they last chance doctors that couldn't get into a different form of practice, they are great doctors who simply want to help people on a personal level but if something happens to come up and they believe that you need more help, they will refer you to a specialist, but you can bet that it would be one that they would take their family to. Making the Most of The Family Practice Website: More and more people are becoming comfortable in using the Internet and many now have Internet access at home. A well designed family practice website can serve as an introduction for the practice and an advertisement of services offered. Family Practice Website as Introduction: Crucial information to be included on the family practice website includes location, hours of operation, telephone and fax numbers, directions, and information about the services offered. If the practice is a cash only one, this should be noted on the website. Including a signup box for a free family practice newsletter or health report will encourage people to take the time to submit names and addresses. A signup form should be prominently displayed on every page of the website. Staff information in the form of photos, short biographies and job titles or descriptions can personalize the website. A smiling face goes a long way in starting a family practice/patient relationship. Some family practice websites include news and notes pages where news regarding the practice is announced as well as news regarding patients. Community and school achievements are a good way to promote area goodwill and advertise the practice. Do be sure to get permission before posting photos. The decision to use full names versus first names only will depend upon the area and the family practice. The issue of ads and links on the website should be addressed. Ideally, there should be no ads on the main page. The website is, after all, supposed to be promoting and advertising the family practice. This said, offering a page where patients who use the practice can post a link to their business may be a good idea. Consider sponsoring a community page of some type and encourage anyone from the area to use the page. Links that lead to health information regarding general health or the specific issues addressed by the family practice can prove to be useful. Patient education can be integrated into the website via an informative section of the website or links to such information. Including a frequently asked questions area on the family practice website is a creative way to provide information while promoting the practice. Include a form to encourage website viewers to submit questions or comments. The family practice website should include physician credentials and accomplishments along with those of support staff. If staff has contributed in some way to the community, this information should be on the website. If the practice contributes to community activities, charitable or other such activities, this information should be on the website. Consider adding links for donations to charity. The family practice website can be an important part of building the practice and maintaining it. Make the most of the opportunity. Showcase staff members, clinic and community activity, and blog, announce news and hold contests. Include a signup form on every page, encouraging Internet surfers to sign up in exchange for free report or other item. Include the family practice website URL in all your advertising on and off-line. |
 |
