PracticeTips

Practical TIPS to improve your practice ...

Better patient relationships:

Send out a monthly "health newsletter" -- a single page photocopied on
colored paper, with general health tips and health-related news. Include
something particular to your office: "Nurse Jenny had her baby, and it was a
BOY!!" Always include at least one notation on a "do it now" item: get your
mammogram, get your flu or pneumonia shot, adults over 60-get your
shingles vaccine, etc.

Everyone wants to know you are thinking about them -- have staff send out
birthday cards to "regulars".

Call older patients, "Mr Smith" or "Mrs Jones", not "Bill" or "Susie" unless
they tell you otherwise. Using proper names shows respect -- just as your
staff respects you by calling you "Doctor". Elderly patients appreciate that
courtesy.

More patient visits

hang a banner prominently in front of the clinic, "NOW ACCEPTING NEW
PATIENTS"

have staff go through charts and pick out patients who haven't completed
annual physicals, well exams, breast exams/mammograms, or even their
adult tetanus shots. Send postcards with reminders. This is time
consuming, but the response rate is generally very good.

have staff go through charts and pick out patients who haven't been in the
clinic in 18 months. Send a friendly "We Miss You" card, and enquire about
their health.

make 2-week or 4-week follow-up appointments according to clinical
practice guidelines, such as:

children's otitis
repeated pharyngitis or frequent strep throat
chronically enlarged tonsils for possible ENT referral
severe sprains & strains
acute illnesses (bladder infections, etc) to check labs for
improvement

encourage staff to assure follow-up visits:

say: Mrs. Smith, would you like that follow-up check on Tuesday
morning or afternoon?
don't say: Do you want to make your follow-up appointment now or
call next week? (Most will NOT make the follow up.)
and for the patient who asks, "Can I call you next week?",

say: Of course you can. Unfortunately, I may not be able to
get you into the Doctor's tight schedule. If you make the
appointment NOW, you'll have a place for sure.
don't say: Of course you can. We've always got plenty of
openings.

Anita Evangelista, MSN, APRN-BC, FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner

Contract Provider of Mid-Level Person-Centered Care

417-343-1485
nurseanitafnp@yahoo.com

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