#referral program for patients

[ajwritesworld]

How to Create a Successful Patient Referral Program

Referrals from current patients can be an excellent way for dental practices looking to expand and bring in new patients. While competition in dental marketing remains fierce, these referrals offer an affordable and targeted way of growing your practice! An effective referral program not only attracts more potential patients to your practice; it also enhances your practice's reputation in the community and spreads awareness of who you are. 

This blog will walk you through creating one that produces results, from understanding why these schemes work to offering incentives to people who refer others and finally starting it off successfully. 

Referral Programs Are Essential in Dental Practice

Referral programs can be invaluable for any practice that wants to expand. By encouraging existing patients to refer their friends and family, practices can connect with new individuals who might need their services and build up their patient base.

Referrals are a great source of leads. When someone suggests their dentist to others, it usually means they had a positive experience themselves, making the referred individuals more open-minded to treatments. This is an invaluable asset to any dental office!

Referrals not only bring in quality leads but are also invaluable in marketing a practice. Word-of-mouth works like magic: when one person tells another about the great service or product available, suddenly everyone wants their piece! Referrals work well alongside other methods, such as online ads or social media posts, in spreading the word about the practice as widely as possible.

Cost-effectiveness is also key. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on ads that may or may not work out, asking existing satisfied patients to spread the word often costs much less but can bring huge dividends through strengthening existing relationships based on trust.

Dental offices can get creative with referral programs by targeting certain treatments or groups they desire as clients, ensuring those referred are consistent with the services being promoted at that moment in time.

Overall, dental practices seeking more growth should have a comprehensive strategy in place for patient referrals if they want to avoid breaking bank accounts with traditional ad routes alone.

Exploring the Benefits for Your Clinic

Launching a patient referral program at your dental clinic can do wonders. Imagine opening up access to new clients who already trust what you offer, making treatments more likely.

Referrals also bring another major advantage: your clinic becomes more visible online. When people mention your practice online, their words magnify its visibility, improving both its online reputation and making it easier for potential dental clients to find you first in search results.

Referral systems also strengthen your relationship with existing patients. By showing they trust you by telling their friends about you, they are more likely to remain loyal patients themselves.

By encouraging existing patients to share positive reviews about your practice with their friends and acquaintances, you not only get new patients through the door but also build a community of supporters who may come back over time. This strategy brings immediate gains and establishes long-term growth, creating an excellent local presence.

Referrals Are Vital to Practice Growth

Referrals play an instrumental role in helping dental practices expand and flourish. They are part of how practices expand their operations and can radically shape marketing plans for growing offices.

An incentive program designed to get patients to refer their friends is like killing two birds with one stone: both parties involved benefit. Those who refer get something special as thanks, while new patients learn about the excellent dental services available.

By adopting an organic strategy to attract new patients, your practice doesn't just expand; it forms a consistent flow of people coming in regularly. Your existing patients' referrals help attract individuals with similar dental needs, making the expense worthwhile!

Referrals not only bring in new patients, but they also drive your overall growth strategy forward. A strong referral program reinforces perceptions of quality at your practice and elevates its status in your local community, leading to steady expansion.

Implementing patient referrals into both your growth strategy and marketing efforts will ensure word of mouth brings many more patients in.

Before initiating a patient referral program, it's essential to lay the groundwork for its success. This means identifying your target market, setting clear goals, and choosing effective means for spreading the word about your program.

Locating your target audience allows you to tailor rewards for referring others and discuss your services to suit their interests and needs. When you know exactly who they are, creating programs tailored specifically towards them becomes much simpler and more likely to succeed.

Reaching specific aims when setting out goals for this referral scheme—like adding new patients or increasing appointments by a certain amount—is essential. Your targets will shape everything from how it operates day-to-day down to its setup process.

Selecting an effective marketing approach for this referral opportunity should come next. Whether it's email blasts, social media marketing, content marketing, or a mix of various approaches, finding the most effective tactics will ensure no effort goes wasted in garnering interest.

Locating Your Target Audience

A key aspect of creating an effective patient referral program lies in understanding your target audience. Your target audience includes those who will benefit most from your dental services and be likely to refer others.

To identify your target group, take an inventory of those already visiting you for dental work and look at age, gender, location, and the type of dental work they typically require. This helps reveal trends about which kinds of people like and appreciate your services and may tell their friends about them.

Consider what makes your clinic unique, such as specific treatments or services offered. Knowing this will enable you to identify an audience or niche ideal for what you offer. When these people hear about your referral program, there's a higher likelihood they'll spread the word because it suits their lifestyle perfectly.

Once you know exactly who you want to target with all this data, tailor how you make referrals so everything fits perfectly with their wants and likes.

Setting Goals and Objectives

Achieving success with patient referral programs relies heavily on having clear goals and objectives. Setting these can guide how you set up, run, and monitor the success of the program.

Consider what your marketing plans and growth ideas entail when setting goals for a patient referral program. Ask yourself: What am I hoping to gain from this campaign? Are you hoping for new patients, or perhaps more people booking appointments or using certain services?

Set clear, detailed goals to measure whether or not your referral program is working as intended by comparing outcomes against what was envisioned. For instance, if obtaining more patients is your aim, set specific goals such as increasing patient intake every month or three months to monitor its success.

Setting targets is important, but setting SMART ones is even more critical. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This approach ensures goals are not just good intentions but something tangible that can be actively pursued and measured over time. SMART goals provide clarity, ensuring everyone involved understands what to aim for and how to achieve it.

Crafting an Attractive Referral Program

To attract more referrals for your dental practice, creating an appealing referral program is key. A good plan not only offers generous rewards for referrals but also utilizes clear and catchy ways of explaining it. These components combined will increase its success dramatically.

Rewarding friends who refer others could include anything from reduced dental care costs to gift cards or special deals designed specifically for them. When selecting rewards that resonate with those you want to reach out to, they are much more likely to tell others about your practice!

Communicating about your program effectively is also crucial. Use emails, social media posts, banners on your website, and posters around your office to spread the word so as many people as possible see what you offer.

By creating an attractive referral scheme with lucrative benefits and publicizing it through email blasts, social media posts, or other means, you can encourage patients to join and bring their friends along for the ride.

Determining Incentives for Referring Patients

Establishing incentives that entice your patients to refer others is essential to making your patient referral program a success. Your rewards must represent an authentic "thank-you" to them while fitting with both your marketing plan and available funds.

Providing discounts for both parties involved when making referrals is an effective strategy for driving new business and encouraging people to spread the word about dental services.

You could give away gift cards or vouchers that can be redeemed against dental services or items to demonstrate how much you appreciate their efforts in helping bring in more patients. These tokens show patients you value them being part of your practice's team!

Consider offering those who refer someone early access or special pricing at certain events. This way, they feel special and take ownership of what you are accomplishing together.

As you select these incentives, keep your target audience in mind when choosing offers that appeal directly to them. This increases the odds that they'll join in and refer others, bringing quality newcomers into your clinic.

Engaging Communication Materials

To engage more people in your referral program, creating materials that captivate them is key. Use various ways of communicating and ensure the messages you share are engaging so you can truly reach those you're targeting and get them excited to join in!

Email marketing campaigns are an effective way of spreading the word about your referral program. Send personalized emails to prior patients, informing them of what's new with the program, demonstrating any advantages associated with joining, and giving instructions on how they can sign up.

Social media posts also work wonders. With eye-catching pictures or videos, catchy lines, and hashtags that fit right in, your posts are sure to grab attention quickly. When patients share or tag friends in these posts, even more people learn about your efforts without much extra work on your end.

Content marketing is another invaluable weapon! From blog posts outlining why someone should join this incredible journey step-by-step to infographics showing benefits at a glance, sharing this kind of info on social media and other platforms can significantly increase visitor interest.

By creating materials that catch eyes and clearly state why participation in the referral plan will benefit them, you aim to attract plenty of participants, resulting in lots more referrals for your clinic.

Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Program

Establishing a successful patient referral program requires careful preparation and the correct steps. Here's how you can ensure it works effectively and yields great results:

Step 1: Establish Your Referral Criteria and Process

To kick start a successful patient referral program, the initial step should be designing your referral criteria and process. This means deciding who can refer others, who can be referred, and setting clear rules for the program.

As you create your criteria, think about how many referrals need to be made before rewards can be distributed; how long people have to make these referrals; and any special conditions, such as only patients who have been coming for some time can refer others, or new patients must book appointments within certain time frames.

Create clear guidelines so that everyone understands what's expected of them, both those making referrals and your team members. Document all details, such as what counts as a referral, how you'll track them, and any rewards offered in exchange. Communicate this info across emails, social media, and flyers placed around the office—wherever it will reach potential referrers.

Establishing clear eligibility requirements and process steps from the outset will create an easy-to-use system that encourages more people to join.

Step 2: Communicating Your Program to Your Patients

Once your patient referral program has taken off, the next step should be informing your patients about it. Email and social media platforms are ideal ways to do this and will keep people updated and interested.

Email marketing allows you to directly reach out to people, informing them about what's happening with your referral program and its rewards. Send emails that include easy steps on how they can join, making each individual feel special and connected to the cause.

Social media marketing and ad promotion are also effective strategies, providing another way of increasing brand recognition and participation. Create posts that attract attention by showing what people stand to gain by joining, along with easy instructions on how it all works. Utilize eye-catching images or videos along with catchy words and hashtags.

Effective communication about your referral program through both email marketing and social media promotion may lead to greater interest from patients, potentially leading to more people joining in.

Step 3: Implement Tracking and Management Tools

The third step to starting up your patient referral program successfully is setting up systems for keeping an eye on progress and ensuring everything runs efficiently.

Start by gathering tools that enable you to track who's referring who, the rewards they're receiving, and the overall health of the program. Software or online services such as Weave may be beneficial in tracking referral data and pulling up reports to better assess if improvements are needed.

Implementing both tracking mechanisms and management strategies ensures your patient referral scheme remains under careful scrutiny while operating at peak performance.

Step 4: Training Staff on the Referral Process

To make sure your patient referral program runs smoothly, it is essential to educate team members on how the referral process works. They play a significant role in making sure everything runs smoothly and that word gets out about your program; so they must know everything related to it, including rewards and how referrals should be conducted.

Training sessions or workshops can help your employees understand why referrals matter and demonstrate effective methods for talking about the program with patients. Providing physical items such as referral cards or brochures gives them something tangible to share. Additionally, listening to their feedback may reveal problems within your process that need fixing.

By educating your team about the referral process, you increase the success of getting more customers referred by satisfied patients in your dental practice.

Step 5: Launching and Promoting Your Program

Once your patient referral program is up and running and your team is trained, the next step should be spreading the word and inviting others to sign up. Strategic marketing moves are essential to maximize interest from potential participants and draw people in quickly. Here are a few important steps:

Develop an Effective Plan: Establish a comprehensive marketing plan using various ways to reach your target audience.

Leverage digital tools to promote your program: Make effective use of digital tools, including advertising on social media platforms, sending emails about it, and placing online ads.

Give back: Offer rewards or perks not just to those referring new patients but also to those being referred, generating excitement around joining.

Track Referrals: Have a system in place to keep an eye on who refers whom, ensuring those responsible are thanked appropriately.

Share success tales: By recounting stories of actual patients experiencing great results from your referral program, you can motivate others to enroll.

Launching an effective patient referral initiative within dental practices like yours offers considerable potential for growth and draws in newcomers who might become part of your care community through recommendations from existing members.

Monitoring and Optimizing Your Referral Program

Optimizing and monitoring your patient referral program are essential to ensure it continues to function effectively over time. Regular checks and necessary modifications are vital to maximizing its potential. Here are a few areas to focus on to ensure your program runs smoothly:

Assess performance by reviewing referral numbers and conversion rates to see which referrals become actual patients.

Monitor ROI by comparing costs against the revenue generated from new patients.

Evaluate patient satisfaction through feedback to gauge the success of the program.

Conduct a marketing analysis to determine which strategies garner the most referrals and prioritize future efforts.

By regularly reviewing these aspects, you can make data-driven decisions to guide improvements and streamline marketing initiatives to bring in more customers.

Adjusting Strategies Based on Feedback

Listening carefully to what patients and staff say about your patient referral program is crucial to making it more successful. By seriously considering their advice and revising plans accordingly, you ensure the program does its job effectively. Here's how to use feedback for adjustments:

Collect feedback through surveys, interviews, or regular communication.

Identify areas for improvement based on feedback and address any issues patients or staff might be experiencing.

Make changes based on suggestions, such as altering rewards, adapting marketing strategies, or revising program rules.

Monitor the progress of these changes and seek additional opinions to see if improvements are occurring.

Keep people updated on changes to maintain interest and support for the practice.

By listening to feedback and making necessary adjustments, your patient referral program can become one that works efficiently and expands significantly.

Conclusion

For dental practices looking to expand, patient referral programs can be tremendously useful. By setting clear goals and offering attractive rewards, clinics can maximize growth through word-of-mouth referrals. Engaging material and effective tracking tools are essential for the program's success. A great referral program enhances your dental practice's visibility, builds trust, and strengthens customer loyalty, leading to a high degree of referrals from existing patients.

If you are looking to promote your clinic through digital marketing, contact Luminary Software today!

[agayconcept]

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[autoclick-digital-marketing]

Creating Effective Patient Referral Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating Effective Patient Referral ProgramsInsight: The Psychology Behind ReferralsBenefits of Patient Referral ProgramsTip: Leverage Social ProofKey Elements of Successful Referral ProgramsInsight: The Power of Non-Monetary IncentivesImplementing Your Referral ProgramBest Practices and TipsTip: Leverage TechnologyMeasuring Success and Refining Your ProgramKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) to…

[prince-liest]

A little bit of celebratory light in the current political climate: I'm working with a local endocrinologist who is versed in gender-affirming care as well as my local LGBTQ+ resource organization to start a quarterly pride clinic that I'm going to run with and staff with the aforementioned endocrinologist. I don't know yet how successful it will be, but we're in a really under-served area and a lot of the local federally qualified health centers are pulling back their gender affirming care offerings due to the recent federal policies so that they can retain their funding, which after speaking to my residency program directer he seems to believe is unlikely to affect us. So I'm going to be working with our program attendings and this endocrinologist to help refer more queer and especially trans patients to myself and one of my seniors who is also really involved in LGBTQ+ health goals for gender-affirming care.

The clinic itself is only going to be quarterly at this time (hopefully monthly in the future) due to the limitations of patient panel sizes and also residency scheduling, but we're hoping that we can also follow these patients in our actual primary clinic, since it will all be in the same building and part of the same system, and the endocrinologist has said she is willing to co-precept these patients (aka. have us forward her the notes and look over them to make sure the care plans are copacetic, as well as get curbsided by us when needed) when we work on hormone therapy in the primary care clinic. I think the main challenge is going to be 1) making sure we have the resources and access to a good multidisciplinary team (main points are mental health resources (gonna ask one of the psych program attendings, he is both openly queer and invested) and infectious disease specialist options that aren't going to result in bad experiences for the patients that we refer that way) and 2) making sure we have appropriate follow-up for patients, which I think on my end is just going to mean me telling our clinic coordinator, "Hey, if it's for this patient panel specifically, you can book me an extra patient per half-day for continuity."

We're also going to be doing internal-ish referral advertising through the LGBTQ+ org, as well as training through the organization and also just through research done by myself and my senior for our co-residents for things like cancer screening guidelines adjusted for risk factors we see in queer people (anal paps, three-site testing, when to screen for breast cancer in trans women, etc, etc). Waiting on my program director to talk to our clinic coordinator to see if there's any way for people to self-refer straight to the pride clinic (probably insurance-dependent) but otherwise it's just...happening.

I think my main wish is that I had more days to directly work with this endocrinology attending to pick her brain. She said she's game for any [redacted weekday] for the clinic once we get things going and I'm on my endocrinology rotation, but I'm mostly working with another endo and only see her twice this month due to her work schedule. She's a great teacher and next time I see her this month I'm going to see if she has time to give me a crash-course on HRT management that will help me synthesize the gender dysphoria treatment clinical practice guidelines I'm reading through from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. My PD actually specifically referred a trans patient to us to see that day because he knows I really want more experience with this (and, y'know, she's a great endo doc) so that will be the perfect opportunity.

Anyway! It's a great time to be working on offering more medical resources to LGBTQ patients.

[macgyvermedical]

Thing to maybe research If you Like: What does a receptionist or general assistant in a rural/small-town doctor's Office (as in general/family Medicine) do? What are the minimal qualifications to be legally allowed to do that Work, and what are the typical qualifications to be likely to get hired? What was that like in the 1980s and 1990s? (How plausible is the situation of Marilyn as the doctor's assistant, in Northern Exposure?)

I have never seen Northern Exposure so I'm not totally sure who Marilyn is and what her background is.

Today, a receptionist at a medical office (sometimes called a "medical office assistant/associate" or MOA) is someone who makes appointments, answers the phones, faxes/calls in referrals, and checks patients in for their appointments. They may or may not be Medical Assistants (MA- which is an approximately 10 month certification program) depending on the needs of the clinic.

Keep in mind that "checking in" is just the process of taking insurance information/payment and making sure the patient is marked as "here" in the electronic medical record. Taking vital signs and updating medication lists (called "rooming"), giving medications/vaccines and drawing blood are jobs done by either an LPN or MA.

A small, rural office with one or two providers might only have one person doing everything, or splitting the work with a provider (for example, the provider might do their own rooming/everything clinical, while the MOA does the making of appointments, answering the phones, etc...).

MAs have been around since the 1950s, but didn't really take hold in a big way until the 1970s or 1980s. Prior to that, there was no real official training that went in to working at a medical office, especially not a small, rural one. A lot of times the providers did their own training of staff. Without a specific license, there was a wider range of tasks an assistant could do.

So really, if the clinic in question was run by one doctor and it was in a rural area that maybe didn't have a population of official MAs to pull from, the doctor could hire whoever they wanted. That is actually still true today in Alaska, though other states have laws requiring an MA credential.

[simulamortem]

@transmechatrist

An appointment had been scheduled with no name given.

A SIMULACRUM who wanted a substance simulator, a software cultivated in the underground scene that still had a foot in its early development stage. A client coming from such a top tier modder, anyone in the scene would be hard-pressed to turn down, name or no name. Successful work off of her referral would be a gold star for the reputation - not to mention that this was a client who could PAY if he normally afforded her services.

But not an easy one. Simulacra were notoriously difficult to mod to begin with. This one was rough around the edges, she'd said. A lot of VERY ROUGH edges, she'd said, and she clearly hadn't just meant the programming. Her advice had been to be patient but not a doormat.

Whichever entrance Revenant used, he didn't make a sound. 6'8" mechanical frame all but materialized in the back, helping himself to the shop floor having seen the modder WAITING for him at the front. Golden glow took in the space, whatever decor and equipment it housed, the signs of its use. He had already made a sweep to ensure his stipulations had been respected: that they would be ALONE, and that any camera feeds were switched off.

Only when he'd had his fill of looking over the workshop did he deign to make himself known, taking a leisurely seat at the desk. Slouching there and allowing the chair to creak as he made an idle spin back and forth in it. Reached to rest a plain leather satchel he'd brought with him on the desk - observing the keyboard, stray cabling, various data drives and other bits and pieces that had been left there.

[darkmaga-returns]

The COVID cabal begged for amnesty only after their crimes were exposed. Now, justice is catching up.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) on Monday sent a resubmitted criminal referral to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding the Department of Justice pursue charges against disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for lying under oath during pandemic-era investigations.

The letter, addressed directly to Bondi, accuses Cuomo of violating 18 U.S.C. §1001, a federal statute prohibiting false statements to Congress. According to the letter:

On October 30, 2024, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (Select Subcommittee) referred former Governor of the State of New York, Andrew M. Cuomo, for making criminally false statements in violation 18 U.S.C. §1001.1 To our knowledge, the Biden Administration ignored this referral despite clear facts and evidence. Accordingly, we request you review this referral and take appropriate action. For your reference, the referral is attached to this letter.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.

GWP report: The criminal referral centers on Cuomo’s claim that he played no role in drafting a now-infamous New York State Department of Health report that cleared his administration of wrongdoing over its deadly nursing home policy.

As reported in 2020, Governor Cuomo implemented programs that ordered sick COVID patients back into elderly homes in the state.  As a result, thousands of elderly people needlessly died in the state.

Then when the official counts of deaths in state nursing homes were requested from the DOJ, the numbers were fudged. The numbers reported were about 50% less than the real counts.

An investigation into Cuomo’s actions was put in place and Cuomo resigned as governor of the state. However, the investigation into illegal actions by Cuomo related to the huge number of nursing home deaths was dropped by both the Biden DOJ and the Manhattan DA.

[uboat53]

Well, I've just about finished filling out my ballot and, in order to do so, I had to research all the various ballot propositions (we have ten of them this election cycle in California) and, dude, Props 33 and 34 are weird, weird enough that I had to do a ton of digging and weird enough that I have to tell you what I found if only for the entertainment value.

So Prop 33 is pretty simple, what it does is it repeals a state law from the 90s that prevented localities from enacting rent control measures. Whether you agree or disagree, that at least makes sense, right?

Prop 34 is… yeah, it's not that simple. Prop 34 requires that health care providers that (1) spent over $100 million in any 10 year period on something other than direct patient care and (2) operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations (3) spend 98% of revenues from the federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.

That seems oddly specific, right? How many health care providers spend that much money on something other than patient care, run multifamily housing units with lots of violations, AND participate in federal discount prescription drug programs?

It turns out that the answer is "one", and that one also turns out to be related to Prop 33.

You see, there's a non-profit based out of Los Angeles called the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). The AHF mostly provides AIDS-related health care stuff like tests, PrEP, and referrals to specialty pharmacies, but they also, starting in 2017, have been creating housing for low-income individuals and, since that time, they've also become politically involved in local and state ballot measures that would block some local development and allow for the expansion of rent control.

AHF is one of the main supporters of Prop 33 and backed Prop 10 in 2018 and Prop 21 in 2020 which would have also expanded rent control (Props 10 and 21 both failed). Prop 34 was backed mostly by landlord and realty groups and seems specifically targeted to stop AHF from spending money on politics.

If you're interested, this is the LA Times piece I found that finally laid the whole thing out.

Gotta love the crazy California ballot proposition system. Stay tuned for more political hilarity.

[nicad13]

Hey there. You mentioned doing PT for long COVID and I’m curious to hear what that entails. I have a couple of friends who have been dealing w various complications since 2020 but I’ve not heard of PT being helpful. If you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear.

Absolutely!

I'll start with two important points: 1) I am very fortunate to live near one of the AHRQ Long COVID clinics (a list of which can be found here), where the care I've received is provided by people who specialize in long-COVID. 2) Long COVID is not a coherent, unified syndrome - it manifests very differently in different people, and what has helped me will not necessarily help everyone. During my six-month check-in with the clinic coordinator, she stated it was "refreshing to hear from someone who is actually improving," which implied that many (most?) patients were not, but I'll admit I didn't pursue that line of conversation.

I'll continue with some context. I've always been an active person, even if only a mediocre athlete. I ran cross-country and track through middle and high school, and continued running until my mid/late 40's when old injuries caught up with me and I had to switch to an indoor rower. Just before I got sick, I was rowing 20K a week and could pull a 5K in under 22 minutes (not amazing, but pretty good for a 49-year-old woman). I mountain biked regularly and could ride a 25-mile cross country trail and still feel like a human being after. Never smoked, drank casually, and was effectively managing hypothyroidism with medication. All of this is to say I was reasonably healthy.

Despite being fully vaccinated and generally masking in crowded indoor situations, I managed to get COVID. Best guess is at the dentist, but there are a couple other possibilities, so I'm not really sure.

The acute phase actually wasn't too bad - first few days were like a moderate flu, then I made a quick improvement and sailed through the 5-day precautionary period feeling almost normal. Day 6 I woke up with a racing heart and my head feeling like it was stuck in a vice. My bout with long COVID had begun and that headache lasted for three months. It didn't really ease up until my next COVID booster.

The clinic I'm at doesn't enroll patients until you have symptoms for three months, and makes referrals specific to patient issues. Mine were primarily headaches and racing heart & chest pain after any kind of physical exertion - I went from the activity level I described above to not being able to walk more than a quarter of a mile at a time. A glass of wine a month after COVID made it feel like a xenomorph was trying to tear its way out of my chest. Near-constant chest pain made it difficult to sleep. My first referral was for a pulmonary function test to make sure I could handle PT. It was challenging, it was painful, and I felt like garbage for a couple days after, but my results were normal. On to PT!

The first test I did there was to walk laps around the gym for 5 minutes, with the goals of measuring how far I could get, reporting my pain level (2 or 3 on a scale of 1 to 10), compare my blood pressure from before, immediately after, and five minutes after, while monitoring my heart rate throughout. Recovery was reasonable enough so that the following week I did a Buffalo Test (developed at the University of Buffalo) - walked on a treadmill where the speed was gradually ramped up while my heart rate and pain level was monitored throughout, again with BP comparisons before and after. I recovered ok there, but, confirming my therapist's hunch, I had elevated stress levels (as measured by a Garmin watch) and felt like garbage several hours later. That lasted for a few hours and went away. Diagnosis made: I was having an inflammatory response to physical exertion, but with careful supervision, it's possible to train that out. One quick check with a cardiologist to confirm that my heart was up for it, and I got underway.

Two key points with the PT program I've followed: 1) unlike traditional competitive training that alternates hard & easy days, this has mostly been steady & consistent - no hard days, but no days off either. 2) closely supervised! I've had to keep an eye on my heart rate through all of this, made possible by the smartwatch I already had. I started off with getting a minimum of 10K steps in a day, including a brisk 1/2 mile walk every day with the goal of getting my heart rate up to 100 bpm but not going over that. (Normally, my resting heart rate is about 47 - at this point it was in the mid-50's and it didn't take much to get me up to 100.) Within a few days of that, I noticed that the chest pain improved and I was much more comfortable to sleep. After a while, that got bumped up to a mile. Then a mile and a half, etc., until a few months later when I got up to 4 miles. Then we added some rowing a couple days a week - first a few short intervals keeping under prescribed heart rates. (The smartwatch worked less well for this and I had to get a chest strap.) That felt horrible at first, but got better, and now I'm at 20 minutes twice a week, keeping my heart rate under 168 bpm. I have to be mindful to lay down and take it easy for a few minutes after to get my heart rate down (and keep it down for the rest of the evening).

My progress seems to have plateaued out for the last month or so. I'll hit the one-year mark next month. Current thinking is that the driving force with long-COVID is inflammation, so eating a diet that counteracts that (minimize processed foods & preservatives) is a general recommendation for everyone. So I do have to be careful about what I eat, and have noticed new things that disagree with me - Kraft mac & cheese (probably the preservatives in shelf-stable cheese), tomato sauce (high acidity, probably a GERD issue), and hummus (probably a preservative in that as well). I still can't drink without feeling like garbage and I'm big mad about it. CBD gummies give me chest pains and headaches as well.

So that's the general rundown. Again, what has led to improvement for me won't work for everyone - I had to pass a few tests to make sure I could tolerate it, and I was under very close supervision to start. I'm still nowhere near the person I was a year ago, and I have no idea if I'll ever fully recover. The funding cuts for scientific research and an anti-vaxxer getting installed at the head of HHS in the US does not fucking help. We'll see what happens.

[maemaybe]

I just remembered something about my dentist appointment yesterday that I loved.

From what I've seen, every dental assistant at this clinic is a young nonbinary, 20-something and they all have stereotypical nonbinary names. And by that, I mean their names aren't traditional names, they're more like nouns and adjectives. I absolutely respect this, but I also have poor hearing so I'm never sure if I heard them right and my anxiety is too bad in this moment to ask them to repeat themselves. Last time I went, I think my dental assistant's name was something like leaf and they had earrings that looked like human teeth.

This time I had a different nonbinary dental assistant and their name was definitely something other than leaf, but I couldn't actually hear what they said. But they had neon green hair and they said "can do" in response to absolutely everything, which was very pleasant and reassuring.

Part of the intake paperwork at this clinic is a PHQ-9 depression screener that they use to refer patients to their behavioral health program. They give it to everyone, even if they're already in behavioral health. So I took it and of course scored pretty fucking bad. I'm guessing that bringing this up with people is typically pretty awkward and doesn't always go well, because this dental assistant who's name wasn't Leaf seemed so nervous as they gave me their little script where they were like "Your score was a little high and all this means is that we want to offer you a referral..." and I was like "Yep, I'm good. I'm already in behavioral health" and they were like "Oh okay" and then they were way more relaxed with me and I was relaxed with them and the whole appointment went really well.

I really hope my healthcare network survives all these budget cuts because I value it so much. It's the first place I've ever felt safe getting any kind of care, and part of that is because they hire all kinds of people. I genuinely want to be getting medical care from diverse people, including nonbinary people with neon green hair. I feel safe with them.

[autoclick-digital-marketing]

Creating Effective Patient Referral Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating Effective Patient Referral ProgramsInsight: The Psychology Behind ReferralsBenefits of Patient Referral ProgramsTip: Leverage Social ProofKey Elements of Successful Referral ProgramsInsight: The Power of Non-Monetary IncentivesImplementing Your Referral ProgramBest Practices and TipsTip: Leverage TechnologyMeasuring Success and Refining Your ProgramKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) to…

[allthecanadianpolitics]

WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide.  Elisha Dacey's 15-year-old is caught in a care gap: too old to be accepted at one gender transition Winnipeg clinic, too young to get in at another. "They were right in that sweet spot of technically not getting or qualifying for any kind of public health, so that was frustrating and demoralizing," said Dacey. "Since then we've still been just waiting." The Gender Diversity Affirmation and Action for Youth clinic (GDAAY) helps children and young teens transition. It used to help patients up to the age of 15, but has reduced the age referral criteria by one year to 14. That was in response to demand outpacing resources "owing to the fact that we are entirely unfunded," reads a GDAAY doctor's letter to Dacey's child's pediatrician in April of this year. The Trans Health Klinic, the only other program in the city, helps people 16 and up transition. Dacey was recently informed their child is now on that waitlist. They join the roughly 600 other youth and adults who remain in waitlist limbo amid a shortage of care providers outside the two clinics trained in gender-affirming care.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[never-not-ever]

Soooo I made this delicious bbq “steak” loaded fries bowl and then had some feelings about it in the end. I made a Tik Tok (what else is new) expressing my frustration and I honestly think it’s a valid thought and not triggering or anything. I so badly want to post it and just use the single hashtag of edrecovery but then that begs the question of what even is recovery? What am I doing? What is happening? And of course the fear that past patients of mine might see it but honestly any one of them could have seen other videos of mine so…

Also this would be the first (the way I’m even talking in this post) time admitting to having one. Like yes my therapist put a diagnosis in my referral for the IOP program but I just thought of it as an exaggeration and haven’t really talked about it.

Eeeeek everything is so messy. Maybe I’ll just keep it in my drafts for now and keep making Tik Tok’s relating to dating.. speaking of I’ll post a recent one after this.

[bestonlinedoctor]

Medmate: Revolutionizing Virtual Healthcare in Australia

Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of digital healthcare, Medmate stands as a beacon of innovation and expertise in Australia. Founded in 2019, Medmate has consistently demonstrated its commitment to bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and modern convenience with its array of services, including online doctor consultations, prescription renewals, and medication delivery. As Medmate continues to mature, its influence on reshaping healthcare in Australia is undeniable. Recognized as possibly the best online doctor service in Australia, Medmate's dedication to client care has earned it the Victorian 2024 Telstra Business Award for Championing Health.

Built upon a foundation of patient-centric care, Medmate has rooted itself as a leader in the field of telehealth. It offers services such as telehealth consultations and online GP consultations accessible to all Australians. Under the adept leadership of CEO Dr. Ganesh Naidoo, Medmate's team comprises licensed healthcare professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Their expertise ensures high-quality online medical consultations that cater to the diverse health needs of Australians nationwide, including those seeking telehealth services in rural and remote areas. Transitioning into the following sections, we delve deeper into the core offerings and achievements of Medmate, exploring its impact on Australia's healthcare landscape.

Transforming Healthcare with Digital Consultations

Telehealth Services Australia

Medmate's telehealth services provide a seamless way for individuals to connect with doctors without the need for physical visits. With easy access to virtual doctor appointments, patients can quickly and efficiently receive medical advice and treatment. This service is especially beneficial for rural or remote regions where accessing traditional healthcare facilities may pose challenges. Telehealth services are designed to accommodate busy schedules, allowing individuals to prioritize their health conveniently.

Virtual GP Appointments

Virtual GP appointments have become a cornerstone of modern healthcare, providing individuals with the convenience of meeting healthcare providers at home. Medmate offers a range of virtual GP consultations that cater to various health conditions, ensuring comprehensive care. This approach not only saves time but also mitigates the risk of spreading infectious diseases by limiting physical contact.

Online Prescriptions Australia

Medmate simplifies the process of obtaining prescriptions online, making it possible for patients to get easy renewals for their regular medications through eScripts. This service is pivotal in managing chronic conditions, ensuring continuous access to required medications. Transitioning from virtual consultations to focused care services, we explore how Medmate's offerings extend into specific health areas.

Specialized Healthcare Services

Online Mental Health Consultations

Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, Medmate offers bulk-billed mental health consultations. Patients can access mental health care plans and online psychologists, ensuring comprehensive mental health support. This service addresses the increasing demand for accessible mental health services across Australia, providing timely assistance to those in need.

Telehealth Pathology Referrals

Pathology services via online referrals simplify the logistics of getting necessary tests done. Patients can receive pathology test referrals online and visit the nearest clinic at their convenience. This service is crucial for ongoing health monitoring and ensures timely intervention when necessary.

Telehealth Weight Loss Programs

Medmate also addresses wellness through telehealth weight loss programs. By offering clinical weight management consultations and treatment plans, patients are empowered to achieve their health goals. This comprehensive approach to healthcare emphasizes both treatment and prevention, guiding individuals toward healthier lifestyles. Moving forward, we delve into the broader impact of telehealth on Australians, summarizing Medmate's influence on the industry.

Impact on Australian Healthcare

Benefits of Telehealth Consultations

Telehealth consultations offer immense benefits, including reduced wait times and improved access to healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. For busy professionals, these consultations provide a perfect balance between managing health and maintaining demanding schedules. Furthermore, telehealth consultations are covered by Medicare, making them an affordable option for many

Australians.

Services for Rural Australians

Medmate's expansion into rural areas underscores its commitment to bridging healthcare gaps. By leveraging telecommunication technologies, Medmate ensures that geographic location does not limit access to essential healthcare services, providing online doctor consultations for chronic conditions and ensuring medication availability.

Online Medical Certificates for Work

Convenience is extended further with the provision of online medical certificates. Whether for work, university, or school, these certificates are issued swiftly, validating the necessity of self-care. Concluding, we look towards Medmate's holistic contributions to healthcare and its envisioned path forward.

Conclusion: Medmate's Vision for Future Healthcare

Medmate's comprehensive services have solidified its status as a standout online healthcare provider in Australia. By prioritizing accessibility, convenience, and high-quality service, Medmate meets the evolving needs of its wide-ranging clientele. With over 250,000 Australians utilizing its services, Medmate remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digital healthcare.

Celebrated for its substantial role in alleviating healthcare access issues, particularly in areas with GP shortages, Medmate continues to refine and expand its offerings. From seamless prescription renewals to meticulous telehealth weight loss programs, Medmate exemplifies innovation in healthcare. As it looks to the future, Medmate's mission remains clear: to offer accessible, affordable, and superior healthcare to all Australians through cutting-edge telehealth solutions. For more information or assistance, individuals can reach out through Medmate's website or customer service line. This journey is only the beginning, as Medmate strides forward, prepared to meet and exceed the demands of contemporary healthcare challenges while setting new standards for digital health platforms globally

[gingeredmink]

Hii rayn!!! Checking in to see how you're doing, im glad to hear your psych appointment went well!! I hope you're taking care lovely 🤍

HELLO!!

All things considered I'm doing pretty well. Between seeing psych appointment and getting meds and referrals for therapists/out patient programs I'm slowly moving towards improving and healing finally.

Thank you so much! It's rough but I'm trying. I hope you have a wonderful day today anon <3

[urgentcareoftx]

Expert Physical Therapy Services at the Best Urgent Care in Arlington

When it comes to managing pain, improving mobility, and recovering from injuries, Urgent Care of Texas in Arlington provides top-notch physical therapy services tailored to meet your needs. As the best urgent care in Arlington, we offer a comprehensive approach to physical therapy that combines expert evaluation, state-of-the-art techniques, and personalized care plans. Whether you’re dealing with sports injuries, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain, or mobility issues, our highly trained therapists are here to help you get back to your best self.

At Urgent Care of Texas Arlington, we understand that convenience is as important as quality care. That’s why we proudly serve as the best walk-in clinic in Arlington, offering same-day appointments for physical therapy and other urgent care services. With flexible scheduling and no referral requirements, we make it easy to prioritize your health without the hassle of long wait times or complicated insurance processes.

Why Choose Urgent Care of Texas for Physical Therapy?

1. Comprehensive Care at Texas Urgent Care Centers: As a leader in Texas urgent care, we provide more than just emergency medical assistance. Our physical therapy services are designed to cater to a wide range of conditions, including joint pain, back pain, muscle strains, and work-related injuries. Our clinic in Arlington, TX, is equipped with advanced therapeutic tools and staffed by licensed professionals who use evidence-based methods to promote healing and prevent future injuries.

2. Conveniently Located Urgent Care Near Me: Searching for “urgent care near me” or “walk-in clinic in Arlington”? Look no further. Our clinic is strategically located to serve patients throughout Arlington and surrounding areas, making it easy for you to access top-tier physical therapy services whenever you need them. We’re committed to being your trusted partner in health, offering a seamless blend of urgent care and specialized physical therapy services.

3. Personalized Treatment Plans at Urgent Care of Texas Arlington: At Urgent Care Texas, we recognize that every patient is unique. Our physical therapists work closely with you to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals. Whether you’re an athlete recovering from an injury or an individual managing a chronic condition, our targeted therapy sessions are designed to enhance your strength, flexibility, and overall well-being.

What to Expect from Physical Therapy at Urgent Care Arlington TX

Assessment and Diagnosis: Your journey to recovery begins with a thorough evaluation conducted by our experienced physical therapists. We assess your medical history, physical condition, and specific concerns to create an effective treatment plan. This ensures that every session at our Urgent Care Arlington TX clinic is focused on achieving optimal results.

Treatment Techniques: Our physical therapy services incorporate a variety of techniques, including:

Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility.

Exercise Therapy: Customized exercises to strengthen muscles and restore function.

Pain Management: Strategies to alleviate discomfort and promote healing.

Posture and Movement Training: Education on proper body mechanics to prevent re-injury.

Ongoing Support: Recovery doesn’t end when your therapy sessions are complete. At Urgent Care of Texas, we provide patients with the tools and resources needed to maintain their progress and prevent future issues. From home exercise programs to follow-up consultations, we’re here to support your long-term health.

The Advantages of Choosing Urgent Care Texas

As the best urgent care in Texas, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional physical therapy services alongside our full spectrum of urgent care offerings. Here’s why patients trust us:

Convenience: Walk-in appointments, extended hours, and a centralized location make accessing care simple.

Affordability: We accept most insurance plans and offer competitive pricing for uninsured patients.

Comprehensive Services: From physical therapy to general medical care, we’re your one-stop solution for health and wellness.

Expert Team: Our licensed physical therapists and medical professionals bring years of experience and a passion for patient care.

A Trusted Walk-In Clinic in Arlington

Finding a reliable “walk-in clinic in Arlington” that provides high-quality physical therapy can be challenging, but Urgent Care of Texas Arlington stands out for its commitment to excellence. Our team understands the urgency of your needs, ensuring that you receive timely, effective treatment without the long waits often associated with traditional medical facilities.

Serving the Arlington Community with Excellence

As a proud member of the Arlington community, Urgent Care of Texas is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our neighbors. We’ve earned a reputation as the best urgent care in Arlington by consistently providing compassionate, patient-centered care. Whether you’re dealing with a sudden injury or require ongoing therapy for a chronic condition, our physical therapy services are here to help you regain your strength and confidence.

Visit the Best Urgent Care in Arlington for Physical Therapy Today

If you’re ready to experience the benefits of expert physical therapy at the best urgent care in Texas, visit Urgent Care of Texas Arlington today. Our clinic is conveniently located to serve patients across Arlington and nearby areas, making it easy to find “urgent cares near me” that prioritize your health and recovery.

Don’t let pain or limited mobility hold you back. Discover why we’re the trusted choice for urgent care Texas residents and the top provider of physical therapy in the area. Schedule your visit to our walk-in clinic in Arlington today and take the first step toward a healthier, more active life.

📞Call us today and experience the care you deserve!

6407 S Cooper St # 117

Arlington, TX 76001

arlington@wiuctx.us

📞+1 (817) 472-7601

📞+1 (817) 472-7213

633 SW Johnson Ave

Burleson, TX 76028, USA

burleson@wiuctx.us

📞+1 (817) 295-5520

📞+1 (817) 295-5572

3909 W Parker Rd

Plano, TX 75023, USA

plano@wiuctx.us

📞+1 (469) 609-3062

📞+1 (972) 867-9400