Doctors Are Put in a Bad Position, Causing Reduced Quality Health Care

Online, April 20, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Recently, the Los Angeles Times reported another area hospital to be in financial trouble. This particular hospital, though modern and featuring high-tech equipment, might be facing closure due to lack of patients according to the facility's management. Why would an advanced medical facility featuring superior technology and highly skilled medical staff be unable to attract enough patients to keep it operational?

It cannot be denied that technology and skills are important to the overall success of a hospital as well as to its incoming patients. Yet, these points alone do not seem to draw in patients.

Is there something else that could be utilized or more fully explored that might instill more trust from patients than expensive equipment and medical pedigrees?

"Yes, there is," says Mr. Helmut Flasch, medical and dental practice management consultant and CEO of Doctor Relations, an international marketing consulting company based in Canoga Park, CA.

"While updated technology and skilled doctors are needed, the patients cannot evaluate how well the equipment functions or the expertise of a doctor. If you put 10 doctors together in a room about one health case, you will get 10 slightly different opinions," says Mr. Flasch.

People, who are putting their health in the hands of someone else, need to have a favorable impression of the doctor as a person before they are willing place their trust in becoming his patients. This has become more important as insurance companies have sliced reimbursements to doctors for average procedures by one-third. Doctors, in response, have had to reduce the amount of time spent with patients to compensate for loss of income due to the cuts. This, in turn, diminishes trust on a personal level as patients feel their doctors do not spend enough time with them to truly ascertain their needs.

In the past, doctors had reputations in their communities as individuals who were known to lend a hand in several aspects of life and were trusted for their knowledge and experience beyond their medical skills. People want a doctor that they feel they can trust with their lives. Simple conversation about the weather or about a patient's kids can open communication and break privacy barriers about uncomfortable or embarrassing ailments that a patient might find hard to reveal.

In present day, doctors can no longer afford to pay house calls, nor do they have the luxury of spending more time with a patient. This current climate has diminished trust in doctors. Other factors, such as reports of some doctors defrauding the insurance companies or being involved in a malpractice issue has not helped the overall image of doctors concerned about the welfare of their patients. Doctors should consider taking a page from the past by learning how to become a part of community life again by attending community events that support good causes.

"Donating money, while appreciated, is not as valuable as a doctor provided his time by being a driving force in community events," says Mr. Flasch. "Get involved by teaching and helping children perform good deeds or sponsor a Toy Drive in your office during the holidays. You can even offer a day for free treatments to people who cannot afford health care. There are plenty of opportunities to create trust with potential patients in the community. This is not the same as medical or dental advertising. We call this "Un-Advertising." It is not so much about advertising your service, but doing something positive for the community first."

Many doctors have been comfortable using traditional advertising to build a profitable practice; however, statistics have shown through an evolving economy that doctors should consider newer alternatives to build a successful practice.

Says Mr. Flasch, "Doctors often do not want to admit, or maybe don't even realize, that the patients choose their doctors based on personal likeability."

In order to gain likeability, this really can only be accomplished by the doctor taking an active part in his community so that he can get to know his potential patients and they can get to know him.

Having seen many dental practitioners spending large amounts of money in their dental marketing campaigns, Flasch says, "If a doctor lacks a presence within his community, very few people will find out about his services and credibility. There are better and more cost-effective methods in building a medical practice than just advertising."

For help with a specific practice or to learn more about putting Flasch's methods into a private practice, visit http://www.DoctorRelation.com

About Helmut G. Flasch
Helmut Flasch, author of "Double Your Business and Not Your Troubles" and Founder of the award-winning 'Un-advertising' marketing strategy brings the benefit of his varied background to his role as a medical and dental management consultant.