Four Innovative Ways for Doctors to Market to Other Doctors

“Phenomenal” results for physician marketing and relations is the goal of every physician relations and hospital marketing department.

Seeing the potential opportunities, CEOs invest valuable resources into building up these programs.  However, as it has been found in many organizations, CEOs often become impatient with the progress of the relations and discontinue or severely shrink the size of the program.

The question is, what can liaisons do to justify their existence and produce quicker, more actionable results?

There are four innovative ways to speed up the relationship process and increase physician referrals and retention.

Is it possible to get Ninety Percent of the physicians a liaison visits to increase their referrals with one or two visits? Is there a way to Double or Triple referral revenue?

“Got Milk?” In 1993, this two word campaign became an instant hit and a mind-numbing blueprint for me-too marketers across the country. “Got Beauty?” “Got Questions?” “Got This?” Do these copy-cat campaigns motivate you to act or purchase? So, why do so many marketers, including physician marketing, fall into this chasm of mediocrity?

What does it take to be an great physician marketer?

“Making good marketing is like making a good movie – most people know ‘good’ when they see it and assume they can do it.” Brad Plothow

Creating a 4-star physician marketing campaign is available to everyone. It does, however, require more than simply copying what the other hospitals are doing. Lessons can be learned from “Got Milk?”. The one-of-a-kind platform it stood on made it stand out from all other marketing campaigns.

So too, physician relations requires innovation and thinking out of the box. The following four principles can guide physician relations directors and liaisons on how they can take their eorts to the next level.

Make it Real

John Osborne of State of the Heart Cardiology in State of the Heart, Texas, converts doctor’s hearts into patient referrals. An owner of cardiac CT angiography (CTA) technology, John Osborne has been able to get ninety percent of the physicians he solicits to send their cardiac CT referrals to him.

“We have spread the word to our referring, primary-care physicians and providers by bringing them into our oce and showing them the scans and how the technology works,” says John Osborne, MD, P hD  

Dr. Osborne is a firm believer in the “test-drive” principle. Like a car dealer, Dr. Osborne will do everything he can to get potential referring physicians to test-drive his machine. He invites them to not only see the high-quality images his CT produces, but experience the machine for themselves. He does this by giving each physician a picture of their own heart.

By putting physicians in the driver’s seat, Dr. Osborne has been able to make it real for them. They can see first hand how impressive and noninvasive Dr. Osborne’s cardiac CT technology is and the personalized care he provides. As related to Amy Crane, Dr. Osborne says the results have been “Phenomenal” and it has placed him way out in front of his competition.

Dr. Osborne has converted ninety percent of physicians who have had their heart scanned by him into regular referrers. Physician Liaisons and marketers have a wonderful opportunity to think out of the box and Make it Real for the providers they solicit. By putting them in a position to see, feel, and experience for themselves, Liaisons can turn skeptics into believers and hook providers into sending new and consistent patient referrals.

UPDATE (New Articles)

Learn about the 5 most common referral mistakes that could hinder your ability to stay in business.

Also 12 reasons to ditch your antiquated paper communication system and go to an electronic referral system. 

Reciprocation

“People tend to return a favor, thus the pervasiveness of free samples in marketing.” Robert B. Cialdini, The Psychology of Persuasion, Influence

Physician Relations has the ability to oer “free samples”. Of course, not the free samples you immediately think about; but in unsolicited help.

Can physician retention be accomplished through a doctor’s wife?

Yes. For example, Dr. Jones is a favorite Urologist. After years of building a relationship with him, you have been rewarded with a better practice, increased loyalty, and higher admissions. However, over the past few months, Dr. Jones’s wife and kids have spent considerable time visiting family across the country.  And pressure has been mounting on Dr. Jones to relocate.

Is this common situation beyond your control? In Physician Relations, going above and beyond what is asked or expected is better than any free sample a physician could receive. Doing Dr. Jones a favor and taking his wife out to lunch is a perfect “coupon”. His wife may just need a friend in the area. By hooking her kids up with the local sports team and going the extra mile to connect Dr. Jones’s family with another physician and his family could be the tipping point for keeping this valuable physician in the area.

The best marketing is word-of-mouth or buzz marketing not done by you. Physicians who know they are truly cared for and appreciated will Reciprocate. They will be your greatest advocates and allies in the community. They will be the ones who refer other physicians to your facility. It all comes from giving a favor and going the extra mile.

Take the Disney Approach

When a physician makes his/her decision on where to refer, how much of it is emotional?

In Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he explains relationships are based on an “emotional bank account.”  The status of the account determines the quality of the relationship. Only those who have deposited into an individual’s bank account can influence and motivate the individual.

In a recent survey of hospital marketers, the biggest concern of marketers and liaisons is greater competition from competitor facilities. In today’s competitive healthcare market, physicians have many options on where to send patient referrals. Hospitals and themselves losing physicians who feel they are being ignored or treated unfairly. Regular deposits into their emotional bank account can solve this problem.

Disney is a good example of this process. At the Disney Institute they teach professionals, including healthcare executives, how to improve their organization according to a philosophy developed by Walt Disney. The principles taught are simple but profound. For example, one of the main principles is to make sure everyone feels important and knows they are an asset to the organization.

Walt Disney World has built their whole company culture accordingly. One of the most far reaching initiatives is a simple name change. At Disney World, employees are not employees, but cast members. Customers are not customers, but visitors. Taking the theme of a play, Disney has been able to make direct deposits into their employees’ and their customers’ emotional bank account. Both know they are valued and cared for.

In Disney Magic, written by Lee Cockerell, former COO of Walt Disney World, he discusses how at Disney they reach out and listens to every cast member’s suggestions. Understanding ideas are often found in the most unlikely places. Disney has found suggestions from cast members and visitors to be some of the best advice they receive.

For example, Lee Cockerell shares how Disney was able to help solve one of the most frustrating problems at Disney World – long lines. A problem they heard consistently from visitors to the parks. In 1999, the FASTPASS® was introduced. The FASTPASS® relieves line congestion through a reservation system. Visitors pick up a pass and come back at a later time with the power to go to the front of the line. 

What competitive advantage would a healthcare facility receive if they followed these two Disney principles; making sure providers are appreciated and following their suggestions?

First, physicians and their office staff would immediately remember a hospital whose liaisons no longer referred to them providers, but Friends or Allies. Whose visits were centered on filling their emotional bank account. Whose purpose of visiting was to help, to support, and to give appreciation.

• “What can I do to make your life easier?”
• “How can we improve our relationship with you?”
• “Thank you Dr. ______for referring ______ last week.”

Break from the Mold

Since then, she has dropped her $2000 yellow page ad and moved away from other traditional marketing mediums. Adding regular free Podcasts and other materials to her campaign, she has been able to boost her unique position in the market.

Do you have what it takes?

Need more help?

Here are a few more articles that will help you get your name out there.

1. 8 Tips for Creating One of a Kind Content for Your Healthcare Facility
2. The 2013 Guide to Mobile Marketing for Dentists  (Good for medical doctors too)