Archive for December 27th, 2007

Physicians Pushing the Online Message?

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

by Shain Waugh

Business Entrepreneur

Who said that a physician isn’t a business entrepreneur or independent contractor? The ability to connect with patients on a personnel level is a critical point in remaining competitive, establishing practice separation, and the development of medical marketing intelligence. The ability to connect with patients on their level of thinking, assessing the demand for services, and the ability to supplying or meet the needs for those demand are critical for today’s modern day practices.

As illustrated in past posts “Choosing the Right Medical Doctor“, the greatest challenge for clients today is finding or being able to distinguish between physician practices. So, many physicians have resorted to online video to assist in promoting their business, educating patients about medical disorders, and connecting with patients on a more personal and private level.

The ability to personalize one’s medical practice with online video enables business to establish an array of core competencies such as giving patients an inside view their practice prior to coming to the medical office, understanding the medical team at hand, and develop more of an ease and understanding about a facility’s mission, vision, and practice philosophy.

The major challenge with personalizing one’s practice has been the embracement of technology, increase cost of marketing, and fear of facility misrepresentation. In addition, there are an array of active business that attempt to solve this health care misunderstanding, however, there isn’t a one consistent company or philosophy that assist in truly meeting the needs of our active clients concern with healthcare.

There are many cases were healthcare providers hire companies to produce videos, integrate business within search-engine to increase visibility, while others utilize You Tube or Medem to push the online message. As an example, when searching for a new health care provider, we as consumers ask friends, associate, or consult with insurance companies. However, there is still a limited line in addressing the major problem of identifying to correct physician practice on a globalized scale.

Summing Up

As the healthcare industry evolves and embraces video technology, it will become a standard in delivering a quality message to the general consumer. Physicians will be forced to become more competitive with there medical practice including justifying their business culture, improving quality, organization’s vision, and being health responsible for medical errors. If video becomes a standard of medical facilities then the industry will become as the hotel industry, which is viewed as if a hotel is not visible online then no customer will utilize the facilities services. In time, the government of each country must regulate and make stronger requirements in order to distinguish medical practices.

There are a great deal of consumers inquiring about a quality physician and the only information that they receive is an address, phone number, and a wish of luck. As 2008 approaches, the legacy method of identifying a physician must soon migrate into a more modern standard requirement. However, this all depends on who embraces technology, has the budget funding, government regulations standards in place, and the politicians lobbying for change.

References

http://icyou.comhttp://youtube.com/user/dramatichealth
http://www.medem.com/phy/phy_vrc.cfm
http://www.nyashgroup.com (in development)

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