In this episode of the Rocket Chiro podcast, Jerry Kennedy dives into the crucial topic of how new patients initially contact chiropractors. Understanding this process can drastically influence your patient acquisition and retention. Jerry discusses the pros and cons of various contact methods, how these methods affect patient conversion rates, and what chiropractors should know to stay compliant with regulations.

Key Points:

• Initial Patient Contact:
• Referrals and reputation establish trust before first contact.
• Cold contacts require quick and convenient responses to avoid losing potential patients.

Pros and Cons of Contact Methods:

1. Phone:

• Pros: Highly personal, immediate human connection.
• Cons: Many people, especially younger demographics, avoid phone calls.

2. Email:

• Pros: Very easy, low anxiety for introverts.
• Cons: Low open rates, delayed responses, and potential ghosting due to reluctance to speak on the phone.

3. Texting:

• Pros: High open rates (~90%), quick responses, balances convenience and speed.
• Cons: HIPAA compliance risks, requires secure software or explicit patient consent.

4. Online Scheduling:

• Pros: High commitment level from patients, convenience.
• Cons: Potential additional costs, loss of schedule control for chiropractors.

5. Social Media (Direct Messaging):

• Pros: Direct, convenient for socially active chiropractors, good for conversions.
• Cons: Significant HIPAA compliance concerns, difficult message management, risk of missing messages if not consistently active.

Best Practices Recommendations:

• Phone: Maintain as an option with clear and concise voicemail messaging.
• Email: Discourage as primary contact for new patients due to inefficiency.
• Texting: Highly recommended if compliant; utilize secure software or explicit consent forms.
• Online Scheduling: Recommended if loss of schedule autonomy isn’t problematic; ensure simplicity and ease-of-use.
• Social Media: Effective for socially active chiropractors but manage privacy carefully; consider explicit patient acknowledgment of non-privacy.

Final Thoughts:

Jerry emphasizes the importance of quick and convenient communication methods that align with patient preferences while being mindful of compliance and privacy regulations. Chiropractors should continually evaluate their patient contact methods and ensure they offer accessible, reliable, and regulation-compliant options.

Resources

• Business & marketing training for chiropractors: https://rocketchiro.com/join
• Free practice assessment: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-practice-assessment
• Best chiropractic websites: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites
• Google Ads Management for Chiropractors: https://rocketchiro.com/google-ads-management-for-chiropractors
• Chiropractic SEO: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-seo