Do you ever wonder why a chiropractic patient chooses to stay with you for care or decides not to return again? Usually it is the result of what happens inside the practice.

It starts with the very first impression that is made, the very first time a potential new patient calls the office. What is said and how it is said is what determines if that person is going to make an appointment or not.

Ever go to a medical office where the window is closed, and you stand there thinking, “Should I knock or open the window? If I stand here long enough will someone open the window and acknowledge me?”

Believe it or not, people make decisions based on feelings. If you give some thought to a few basic factors, you can master three simple strategies for building longer patient retention.

Engaging is for everyone

When potential patients call your office to make an initial appointment, and a friendly, enthusiastic person answers the phone, it is likely that they will follow through and make an appointment. If their questions are answered accurately and they don’t feel rushed, if the team seems eager, forthcoming, and welcoming, then potential new patients will feel engaged and want to come to your practice.

When new patients and established ones are made to feel they are cared about, then their sense that they made the right choice in coming to your practice is strengthened. Excellent service is one of the main reasons that people give for returning to a particular car dealership, jewelry store, or dentist. The same is true for a chiropractic office.

Exceptional selling points are another reason patients stay. What makes your practice different from the others in town? Do you offer a one-stop practice with multiple services, so your patients don’t need to seek out other offices? Are those services remarkable?

Consider how engaged your staff and patients feel in your office. Patients stay because they feel an attachment to you and your team; they stay because they have the opportunity to build solid relationships.