practice management help desk
Getting Your Name Out There
Ophthalmologists recognize the importance of having a presence on the Internet as
a way to develop larger patient bases and grow their practices. This can be especially
important if a large part of their practice is performing LASIK or surface ablation.
A one-time refractive procedure on young and otherwise healthy patients may mean
it is years before these patients are back in a refractive surgeon's office. As
such, ophthalmologists must seek out ways to bring in new patients. Marketing becomes
a part of their business plans.
LocateADoc.com is a company that enables doctors
to market their practices by offering complimentary listings on the
LocateADoc.com Web site. The Web site, available to all licensed doctors, is a directory for potential
patients to search via specialties and geographic
locations.
Complimentary listings are the Basic
and the newly added Basic Plus. The former allows a doctor to list his or her name,
phone number and street address of the practice. The Basic Plus listing includes:
a personalized folio page that lets patients get to know the doctor's practice and
the services the doctor offers; a photo of the doctor and key staff members; a listing
of doctor's credentials, education, training and related background information
and two free patient leads per month.
The Virtual Practice Tour and Locate
a Doctor Insider are two additional site features. The Virtual Practice Tour allows
doctors to add photos of their practices and a limited description so prospective
patients can get a glimpse of the practice. The Insider feature asks physicians
predetermined online questions to elicit responses that can provide more information
about a doctor's practice, which can be utilized as part of a listing.
LocateADoc.com also offers advertised
listings. Along with the aforementioned features, doctors who advertise on the site
receive preferred prominent placement.
Doctors can sign up online for a listing.
Upon signing up, the company verifies doctor specialties and qualifications.
Interested doctors can go to
www.locateadoc.com/Doctors Only/index.cfm.
Editor's Note: Ophthalmology Management
has created a new column dedicated to presenting resource information to help doctors
enhance communication with their patients and colleagues.
Ophthamology Management, Issue: June 2006