How you say something is just as important as what you say. This applies to verbal and written communications alike. When communicating with your patients, staff and other business professionals, the content of your message and the package you place it in - the words you use - can either make or break your practice.
Every time you communicate with someone, you are saying something about yourself. Therefore, writing a letter to thank s person who referred a new patient to you is an opportunity to say something about yourself; your practice; and the person you are sending the letter to.
Thank You for the Referral Letters
When you receive a referral, always say thank you to the individual who made the referral. The new patient could have been referred elsewhere, but that person decided to refer the patient to you. Be grateful it was you (and your office) that was selected. You should always send a note thanking the person for the referral. The stumbling block for most practitioners, however, is how to say thank you.
First, be sure you have the new patient's permission to send a thank you letter. Some patients may not want you to send such an acknowledgement. This request for permission can be placed on your office's registration form.
When writing the letter, mention in some detail what you are grateful for. Examples include, "It is with great pleasure that we received your referral of ________ for care at my office"; "I cannot thank you enough for your trust and confidence in my office by referring ________"; or "It was very thoughtful for you to refer ________ to our office."
Express your gratitude in an appreciative way. If you have trouble finding the right words, use a thesaurus or another book that will help you promote your ideas. Use at least 10% of these words in the letter's content.
Close the letter with a sentence unrelated to the referral, such as "Best regards to you and you family," "I look forward to seeing you at the next community function" or "Please extend my regards to your family."
Sample Thank You Letter
Here's what a sample thank you referral letter might look like:
| Dear ________: I cannot thank you enough for your trust and confidence in my office by referring Ms. Smith. I look forward to doing anything possible to assist her. If I may be of assistance to you and your family, please contact me. Sincerely, Dr. ________ |
As a matter of procedure, the thank you letter should go out the same day the patient is first seen in your office. Place a few sample thank you referral letters above the desk, or store them in a computer. This allows for easy reference when writing them, and if you receive several referrals from the same person, you can use different letters to maintain a level of originality and freshness.
Over my almost 30 years in clinical practice, I have used Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang extensively for a wide array of clinical presentations ranging from chronic headaches to anxiety, insomnia, and prescription drug withdrawal symptoms if these situations fit the appropriate patterns – all with extremely positive clinical outcomes.
There’s no doubt that many of your patients visit your practice because they are in pain. And there’s certainly no doubt that curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) can be incredibly effective in stopping that pain, whether due to chronic conditions like arthritis or acute pain from intensive workouts. But your patients may also benefit from curcumin for other reasons.
| Digital Exclusive
Low back pain is defined as pain the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), and it can be acute or chronic, localized or radiating. It is a common ailment for adults in the United States, with a lifetime prevalence as high as 65-80%. Whether or not an MRI is available to provide definitive knowledge of a structural issue, acupuncture can be an effective treatment for low back pain.
| Digital Exclusive