Image, by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Saturday, February 7th 2009

Warm hellos to everyone,

Let's have a good yak about a subject that seems to be overlooked by
many doctors and CAs.
...and yet people expect it. Yes, they do, and they are in your community!

Lets talk about your Image.

What kind of an image do you project?
Your staff?
Your office?

Here is a real down-to-earth-cut-through-the-BS question:
As a new patient, would you go and see you?

And once you have gone through your own consult, exam, scans, films, and Report,
would you sign up for care in your own office?
And would you pay you in advance for ther next 12 months or so?
Be honest - would you?
A little hesitation, have we? Right.

Here is the crux: Many would be hard-pressed to see themselves.
If that is the case, why are you surprised at the lack of new patients who
knock on your door?

Listen up; the image you project to your community is crucial to your
success....and crucial to the way people in your town see you.

When it comes to health care and the health of their family, all patients want
to see a doctor who is the best. Not the cheapest. No. The best. Period.
Do you project that imagine?
Does your office speak to a new patient of expertise, of dedication, of commitment,
of passion, of laughter, of fun? Or is it serious with heavy-duty elevator music.

Is your sign clean, your grass professionally trimmed, and your property detailed?
Or are you cultivating weeds?
Is your office spotless? Or are the baseboards all scufffed, pain peeling, and
Charles the spider, is entertaining in his lair?

Do your intake forms speak of excellence and attention to detail?
Or are they faded tacky photo-copies with askew borders?
Do you write with a fine writing instrument when doing a consultation with a new patient?
Or do you grab the first BIC pen you can get your hands on - the one whose
end is all chewed up?
Or one which the last patient left you that advertises his Funeral Parlor? or his
drug-mart? or....?
Is your manner of dress constipated?
Do you need a major make-over? What about your staff?
How would you like your patients to see you? In a faded shirt and tie that
speaks of better days, or in a hawiian shirt that bespeaks of fun, laughter,
certainty and power? 
How do your staff dress?

When lecturing patients on the dangers of smoking, is it difficult for you to
hide the tobbaco stains on your fingers? What about your staff?

Is it difficult for you to teach your patients about their eating habits when
you are afraid to step on the scale yourself? Do your staff reflect the image
of a healthy, slim and trim you? 

What about exercise? Walking your talk rings a distant bell here....

How about the car you drive? Do people in your community see you driving
and say, "Here goes Dr. Chiro. He's apparently really good - always the best".

Or is the car your patient drives much better than yours?
Here is a thought: It speaks much better of you to drive an old, used BMW
than a brand new Jetta.
Image.

I have yet to meet a doctor whose image is perfect. The truth is that
we could all use a bit of a face-lift in that departmant.

This is crucial as it is what your community sees at first glance. We live in
a world which is often unforgiving - second chances are difficult to come
by - especially for a doctor. 

So....give your image a shake-up if you need to. Don't be shy - do it!

And for those who still have not visited my website: (www.practiceevolution.com)
and have not done the Practice Health Mini Check-up,  what are you waiting for?
Get on it!

Warmest wishes to all of you,
Dr. Ogi Ressel