Yesterday we ventured around our neighborhood in order to get a clear picture of what other doctors are in the area. We took the morning and walked the city stopping by all the offices we had found through various searches on Google and insurance websites. As Doctors of Chiropractic we have the need to refer to a variety of other specialists from time to time, so we wanted to be aware of what might be convenient for our patients.
We visited several offices, found that others don't exist, and that some never existed. We had some good conversations and contacts with a few of the more "progressive" offices in town, but I was put off by the "conventional" ones. The following is a typical encounter, and I am blending some details of each experience upon walking into the offices.
As we enter we are not greeted by the receptionist or nurse until we are standing directly in front of them. "What do you need?" she asks.
We explain our situation, that we are new in town and were just passing by to get a better understanding of the other doctors in the area and what they do best for patients.
"Well...this is a doctors office...who did you say you were? Chiropractors? Alright." she says.
"Yes, and we just wanted to stop by to make sure you exist from all the listings, as we will need to refer patients to your specialty," we say.
"We have 5 doctors here, but they are not all here at the same time, but somebody is usually here Monday trough Friday," she replies.
We usually end by asking for some business cards, in which we are reluctantly given one to share.
I understand that the function of front desk people is to filter all visitors, especially those who just stop by, so the doctor doesn't have to worry about the trivial things. I would just think that if someone came in offering to give you free business, without you putting in any effort, there would be a cordial response, and a minimal amount of gratitude.
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