5 Ways To Provide Your Patients With a Great Waiting Room Experience

When patients think of visiting a doctor they first think about the time they have to waste waiting in the waiting room. During the past couple of years, the practice waiting room has dramatically changed due to the pandemic restrictions and social distancing rules. If you can hire a concierge who knows a bit more than front desk in managing patients waiting room, you will ensure a five star hotel service to your patient. However you don’t need more than few tips and tricks to keep in mind as the basis of what makes a great waiting room experience.

Here are five ways that help provide patient with the best waiting room experience:

1- A staff member needs to be present to greet patients, help them check in, offer a refreshment beverage, discuss with them the purpose of their visit and what they look forward to be discussed during the visit. Keep the most recent magazines available and in good condition to the patient. Moreover, today’s patients are more interested in having mobile phone chargers in the waiting room.

2- Make sure the waiting room is furnished using comfortable chairs, kids area, free wi-fi, and interactive screens and touch kiosks. With the help of digital screens patients will get information about the team, the services and products they will get, and the remaining wait time. Tablet PCs are a great way to add to the information kiosk to invite your patients to follow your social media pages.

3- The pandemic has taught us to maintain social distancing, put hand sanitizer in many corners of the practice, and if possible skip the waiting room entirely whenever a patient checks in online. There are many available platforms and software that help checking in online, scheduling, surveying, and educating patients.

4- Always put yourself in the patient’s shoes and try to emulate the steps they go through when they visit you. Test new ideas and scripts and then update your services accordingly.

5- Adding a music playing in the background creates an environment of calmness. Add a warm lighting, paintings, and art. The waiting room is always the right place to display team activities, achievements, and awards.