Open up any physician directory and you will find that you are but one of a very long, alphabetical list of providers in any given area. Although being selected by a patient may be as simple as hit or miss, keeping patients is certainly a bit more complicated. After all, patients can switch doctors. Physician Loyalty Branding is the key to keeping patients happy and coming back year after year.

Patients want to know that their medical care is in good hands. They want you to be authoritative and knowledgeable, but they also want to feel as if they are partners in their own care. This means that you, the physician, has to walk a fine line between leadership and partnership with your patients.

According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, patients are looking for the following qualities in a doctor:

  • Confidence
  • Empathy
  • Humanity
  • Personality
  • Honesty
  • Respect
  • Thoroughness

Notice that “skill” isn’t on the list. That’s because patients assume that a doctor is competent. But, if skill isn’t combined with each of the qualities above, even the most knowledgeable doctor isn’t likely to be rated high on the pleasant encounter scale.

Physician Loyalty Branding is a way of blending an image of compassion, empathy, humanity, personality, honesty, respect, and thoroughness with competence, producing loyal patients who not only keep coming back, but who highly recommend your services. Physician loyalty branding should be a part of any medical practice.