Designing a consumer friendly practice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: With the threat of corporate practice looming, smaller private general practices need to define their role in order to attract patients (consumers) and doctors, to build and maintain a successful practice. OBJECTIVE: To outline various means of instituting a consumer friendly practice. DISCUSSION: Consider what consumers want. Bearing in mind these aims, build the physical aspects of your practice to respond to the needs of consumers, and develop practice activity, philosophy and culture which satisfy the desires of consumers and those of the doctors and staff who work in your practice. Creating a consumer friendly practice attracts patients, Practice Incentive Payments, and prepares for accreditation. By developing such a culture, general practitioners can build, support and maintain the practice style they prefer, even in the face of competition.