The world of healthcare delivery continues to change—and the operational watchword is “easy.” This concept—a proven idea that practices can implement today—comes from the retail consumer world. Simply…when you make it easy for the customer, you differentiate yourself from the pack, and your results increase exponentially. “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, […]
Tag Archives | customer service

It’s Hard to Be Easy: How to Deliver Great Patient Experience
Patient Manifesto: Understanding the Patient’s Perspective
There’s a fundamental gem of universally helpful business advice. That is, doctors should walk into their office—at least occasionally—through the front door. The idea is for the business owner to see and experience what their customer sees and experiences. In reality, there are many reasons that this doesn’t happen. But it remains solid advice that […]
Solving Parking Challenges: Convenience is the New Currency
“An ambulance ride is probably the best way to get into this hospital,” a patient observed to me recently. “It avoids all the parking lot aggravation here.” I don’t think it was meant as a joke. Parking at many medical office buildings and hospitals is genuinely an obstacle to obtaining care—and a patient experience black […]
Consumer Reports’ Gripe-o-meter: 16 Bothersome Patient Experience Issues
When the “stuff” hits the fan, it’s likely to clear the room. That’s the natural reaction. Nobody really wants to be on the receiving end… listening to the gripes and complaints of an unhappy customer…or unhappy patient. It’s counterintuitive, but expert advice in customer service is exactly the opposite. Embrace that next complaint. Meet it […]
Improving Wait Times: Tips to Creating a Better Patient Experience
This post is the second in a series. Part One, The Psychology of Waiting vs. Patient Experience Enemy Number One, is available here. For medical offices and hospitals, a chief cornerstone of delivering a positive patient experience is in “beating the clock.” The amount of time that a patient waits for healthcare services has a […]
The Psychology of Waiting vs. Patient Experience Enemy Number One
Twenty-two minutes can seem like long time for a patient to wait in the reception area. Various national surveys peg the average wait time to see a physician at the 20-minute mark…with patient satisfaction dropping lower every five minutes. What’s more, virtually all patients perceive their wait to be too long. Perhaps the most influential factor […]
Tales of the TELL: Those Little Red Flags are Patient Experience Symptoms
Serious poker players know about a “tell.” You’ve probably heard the term…some physical signal is a giveaway about the cards a player’s been dealt. A tell is usually subtle—maybe barely perceptible—but a strategic signal and possible advantage in playing the game. Medical offices and hospitals are constantly giving off little signals that, when detected, can […]

Studies: Patient Experience Drives Selection, Adherence, Compliance, Outcomes
Respected studies document patient experience and satisfaction as important, sometimes primary, factors in the healthcare delivery continuum.

Patient Experience Matters More Now Than Ever
When consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) conducted a national survey of over 6,000 US consumers in major industry sectors in the summer of 2012, they found several key differences between consumers’ attitudes and experiences in healthcare and other industries.
Recent Podcasts
- The Psychology of Waiting vs. Patient Experience Enemy Number One December 18, 2012
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Coach Lou Holtz, the Importance of a Timely Note, and Patient Satisfaction January 8, 2013
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Patient Experience Success Story: “Before It Was Cool” September 16, 2012
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Leadership: The Multi-Faceted Challenges and Rewards of Patient Experience May 11, 2012
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Hospital or Hotel? How Amenities Influence Facility Selection and Patient Satisfaction September 12, 2012
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Patient Loyalty: Why People Buy Emotions, Not Things January 19, 2018
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4 Patient Experience Touchpoints: Doing the Right Thing December 6, 2017
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Become Best in Class in Patient Experience: Service Lessons from Iceland November 13, 2017
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4 Smart Strategies That Deliver Stronger Patient Experience October 27, 2017
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Turning the Battleship and Building a Better Healthcare Experience October 10, 2017
- Barbara Hales, M.D.: An additional demand on ER time also stems from ph...
- Atiqur Rahman: Thank's,Stewart for this wonderful article,i enjo...
- Kellee Everts: Great article! I've always coached and cautioned ...
- Bruce Allen: Your analogy, with the doctor as the pilot and the...
- What Would Empathy-Based Healthcare Look Like? | News In Marketing: […] When I talked with Dr. Rosen on camera p...