CREDIT CRUNCH AFFECTING PATIENT BOOKINGS? Sunday, August 09, 2009
by TheHealthMinister | categories Osteopathy | all articles...
self-referrals [1], patient booking patterns [1], Osteopathy [4], osteopathy [4], osteopathic appointments. [1], credit crunch [1], consultant referrals [1], chronic patient [1], appointments diary [1], acute patient [1]
Has anyone else noticed a change in self-referral patterns? Recently, the popular conversational questions seem to be, “How’s business? Are you busy? Has the crunch affected you?” At work or in the gym or pub, it seems to be a constant.
My initial thought is that patient numbers are holding up well, but that just represents totals, not necessarily the mix. On reflection, there are undoubtedly some changes at my practice.
First, those acute patients who I feel need 4 or 5 treatment sessions to fully resolve are more often deciding that they don’t need ‘that last one’. I think they see it as a tidying up session that they can ill-afford.
Second, those chronic patients that have chosen to schedule regular management sessions are increasingly extending the time periods, for example, stretching from 10-12 weeks to 12-14 weeks. Many are prepared to tell me that this is for financial reasons.
Personally, I am happy to extend those scheduled times as it reduces potential dependency and helps me to convince patients that self-help is a better option. However, it has undoubtedly changed the booking pattern, resulting in an increased flexibility in the diary.
A third area that has changed may be happening for at least two reasons; the number of new referrals, both self and by recommendation, are up to levels that I have not seen for 10-12 years. Even GP and Consultant referrals are up!
I am sure that this is partly due to an increased availability of appointments on the day they ring. After all, most patients want to be seen as soon as possible.
I also detect a sense in many patients still in employment that they do not want to be seen as ‘the one who is always off sick’. I would suggest that back pain is often seen by employers as ‘incurable’ and that sufferer’s are a liability to their workforce. Some have suggested that their bosses are drawing up lists for potential redundancy and that they fear that sickness will make them targets.
So, on a selfish level, my job is more interesting in that the variety has echoes of when I started in practice. I am again seeing those very acute patients that usually see the first available practitioner.
The nature of the patients is subtly different in that they ‘have to be back at work’ as soon as possible, so my skills are being challenged.
So, no complacency, but from the sharp end, the challenge is stimulating, challenging and exciting after 20 years in practice.
Any comments? What thoughts do you have out there?
Please login and express your opinion.
THM
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