 |
Last week I posted an article challenging physicians to take down their diplomas and meritorious plaques and replace them with pictures of themselves, friends, kids, favorite activities, etc.
The goal is to give your patients some flavor of who you are instead of reminding them what you are. This concept is crucial to understanding social media.
Go ahead, “redecorate.”
Placing your favorite artwork on a wall, a picture of the kids’ soccer team, a picture of you sailing on a boat or fishing gives patients an idea that your doc is…um, human. They, too, are a person! It gives patients information and chance to bond with their physician.
It is a version of Social Media.
By giving a person a glimpse of who you are, gives the opportunnity for that person to engage you in a conversation. A true dialogue vs. the traditional monologue too often seen in doctors’ offices.
Here, Try This:
Imagine a medical school diploma on a wall. What does it say?
A. It says that this person went to medical school. No kidding, really?
Now, replace with the cycling picture above: Now what does it say?
A1. Likes cycling
A2. Likes exercise
A3. Likes to be healthy
A4. Prefers a certain type of cycle.
A5. Likes solitude
A6. Uses a particular brand of helmet.
Etc. Get it?
Just as a pictures says a thousand words. A diploma doesn’t say much more than anything you don’t already know. A diploma reinforces the “ivory tower,” whereas, mementos start to reveal a person tucked beneath the white coat.
Patients of today are looking for anything human to relate with their chosen doctor. They are not looking for just another doc. There are tons of those.
So, too, on the Internet. Doctors willing to share just a bit about their office, their staff or themselves are more likely to develop a following than those that don’t bother.