Chiropractors: What do you do to maximize patient retention (loyalty) and maintain the strategy consistently over time?

I educate the patient to the multitude of benefits they receive from Chiropractic Care.  After 3 months of care, most patients know when they need an adjustment because their body reminds them.  If a person misses an appointment we make a phone call if they are late and a follow up call the following day to reschedule. If no response, we send an email or text. After one month we will send a friendly postcard.  After that a postcard every 6 months and a yearly birthday card. Again, after education it’s the patient’s responsibility to take care of themselves. It is their time, money and body.

Over deliver and define your niche. Always be teaching them and offer value in the services you deliver. In today’s environment it is harder than ever to create patient loyalty however if you offer a level of service and exceed expectation you can still build loyalty 

Treat them as you would want to be treated and educate them in ways and words they can deal with. I still have people that started with me when I was an Intern almost 25 years ago...it works.

It has to start from Day 1 with education about chiropractic and health.  Find out what patients would like to be doing that their condition is stopping them from doing.  For example, "I can't lift my grandson" or "I can no longer run which I love doing".  Talk with them about their goals and help them get there.  Celebrate their successes. And LISTEN really well!  Keep in touch with things like birthday cards, FB posts, etc.  Answer all of their questions. 

I always recommend to continue with maintenance care. I do t have any incentive programs - because as far as I know we can’t really do that- but great care maintains great relationships 

That is a great question for myself I am bit old fashioned , and I believe in great service I have always said for the last 16 years of practice here in North Palm Beach that I will never be a rich office that uses technology and computers I still believe in being a real person. I have and will always believe if yo do right by people they will stick with you and for those who don't they never would have no matter what you do.

Education, quality of care, 

I stay as far away from “practice management” scripts and focus on being real.  I do my best to get them out of pain ASAP while educating them on posture, movement, nutrition, adjustments and most importantly “ATTITUDE”!  Also, I spend the necessary time with them for the appointment, whether it’s the 15 minute in and out or the 1 1/2 hour let’s get you functioning again session.  Oh and cash practice only at $95.00/visit.  

Simple; GREAT service in the form of superior adjusting technique, dispositive diagnostics, modalities when indicated, smooth insurance handling and if they have no insurance an extremely affordable "Wellness" program. To top it off, super friendly interactions with me, my staff and the patients. Basically, old school. It still works very nicely.  Dr. Haberstroh

I give them what they want, when they want it. As most Vhiropractirs know, patients want the answer to 4 questions. 

Can you (the doctor) help me with this problem whatever it may be.

Next, how much does it cost?

How long will it take to get out of pain?

The last one - do I have to keep coming back forever?

I have found if I answer these questions to their satisfaction they will return over and over again. 

Over 90 percent of my new patients that come to me are from satisfied patients. 

We have to deliver the goods. 

That builds loyalty. Do patients leave me? Sure they do. 

But if I give them the tools to actually improve their health they come month after month. 

Patients don’t want treatment plans, commitments that are forced on them, or things or treatments they don’t understand. 

My business card says Pain Relief Now. That’s what patients want. 

So I give them that.