Showcase Your Place of work With an Open Household



An "Open House" can be a great way to showcase your office and show referrer and patient appreciation.

I've seen some beautiful medical and dental offices during my years as a healthcare marketing consultant. Many of my clients have invested in professional facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Unfortunately, some of these practices are the best kept secret in their communities. The line James Earl Jones said to Kevin Costner in the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come", simply doesn't apply to even the most professional and innovative of medical offices. That's why marketing your practice is so important.

Open Houses can be a great way to showcase your practice's facilities, equipment, and staff. Examples include a Plastic Surgeon or Cosmetic Dermatologist having a "Botox party" where patients bring their friends, an Audiologist with a visiting Hearing Aid manufacturer's rep introducing the latest technology, or a Dentist having an evening social for his patients to show appreciation. Open Houses can have significant marketing benefits.

Name your event based on your goals for having it, such as "Patient Appreciation Day", "New Technology Showcase", or maybe "See if Botox is right for you". This will be important in promoting the event so you maximize attendance from your target audience.

If you're a medical referral-based practice, I suggest conducting an Open House for all your current and potential referral sources. Many of these practices may have never been in your office, so this is a great way to showcase the facility and let them meet your staff. Make sure you invite all the doctors in the practice, as well as their staff. Staff members can also influence the patient so you want to include them. You should Berkeley Assets Reviews also invite a few of your best patients so the doctors meet a few "Raving Fans".

This type of open house is targeted to referring practices, so mail an invitation to your referral source list (both current and potential) and have your Practice Rep hand deliver invitations during their field visits. Conduct the Open House in the evening, not during business hours, so it's most convenient for doctors to attend.

Open houses targeting patients should be marketed primarily through direct mail and email to your patient lists. Encourage your patients to bring a friend with them. Invest in newspaper and other external advertising only if your goal is use this event to gain new patients from the community. Although this type of Open House can be during normal business hours in some cases, evenings may be best so it doesn't interrupt your normal office schedule.

Prepare your staff to greet your guests appropriately, conduct office tours, demonstrate special equipment and mingle with your guests, not cluster in groups with other co-workers. Have your brochures and marketing materials available to distribute. Serve appetizers and drinks. Have the event catered if you expect a large crowd and you want to make a great impression.

Most importantly, thank your guests not only for attending but also for giving you their trust as a patient or referrer. Showing your appreciation is important in maintaining the relationship you've worked hard to build.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *