5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR PATIENT'S COMPLIANCE

Compliance (or Adherence) is a medical term that is used to indicate a patient's correct following of medical advice. For treatment to be successful, we realize that patients MUST be compliant with their attendance, and with the completion of their Home Exercise Programs (HEPs).  Poor compliance is the leading cause of unsatisfactory treatment outcomes.  Follow this guide and you will be on your way to improved patient compliance, followed by better treatment outcomes.

1. Establish a Connection
Take time to learn about your patient, not only about their injury. Ask questions about their home, family, and work. You will be surprised that you can find some kind of common ground with each and every patient you treat. 

2. Give Them Knowledge
Explain your findings and conclusions to your patient in a way that they can understand. DO NOT end your evaluation before you are sure that your patient understands their diagnosis, their goals for treatment, and their expected outcome.

3. Use Visual Aids
Utilize visual aids such as anatomical models when discussing diagnoses, these will help patients understand what is happening to their body. Use live demonstrations and even video when prescribing exercises.  Ensure that your patients do their exercises with proper form every time, by giving them access to videos of the exercises which you prescribe for them to do at home. This is now possible with a new service from FIZIO.com.

4. Teach
Be a teacher. Let your patients know the reason WHY they are doing each exercise. And repeat those reasons until your patients indicate their true understanding.

5. Follow Up
Use email or a telephone call to follow up with your patient after your initial evaluation. This gives them the chance to ask any questions that they may have forgotten, or to voice any concerns they may have. Email is probably your best bet if you want to stay productive.  

Cover these topics with each and every patient you encounter and you will be on your way to decreasing your cancel and no show rate, and to improving patient outcomes.  All leading to...improved revenue!