Image Management for Today’s Healthcare Providers-
Part 2 of 3 – How to manage image at the facility and staff level
Image management has become a popular discussion among today’s healthcare providers. Heck even JD Power got involved through a recent survey they conducted for the UTSA. Image-conscious MDs everywhere are looking to address concerns ranging from; increased competition for patients, staff retention and morale, cost savings, and patient satisfaction.
Part 2 of this series focuses on image management at the facility and staff level. What do healthcare providers have to do to ensure they are managing their practice’s image effectively?
Expert Advice
Physician Practice Pearl’s Elizabeth Woodcock, MBA, CPC, FACMPE reminds us that “Your staff's appearance makes an important first impression on your practice's patients.” She also advises healthcare providers to consider these policies related to image management.
* Choose your colors. You may want to decide on a series of colors that reflects the image you want your practice to convey. A pediatric practice may opt for bright, bold colors, while a practice whose patients are primarily adults may choose a palette of soft, coordinating colors. Non-traditional colors like a warm brown and a soft pink can make a striking combination. To encourage staff buy-in, choose several color combinations and ask them to vote on the ones they like best.
* Maintain a consistent image. Request that your staff dress in your practice's chosen colors. To support participation, order two or three key clothing articles for each employee. They may include scarves to coordinate with the employees' personal clothes, scrubs, and/or shirts. Shirts monogrammed with your practice's name or logo can add a personalized touch.
* Develop a dress code policy. If projecting a consistent image is not important to you, you should still develop a policy addressing employee appearance. Of course, you want to encourage appropriate dress for your clinical environment, which may include rules such as no open-toed shoes. But beyond that, simply telling your staff to dress "appropriately" is no longer enough. The definition of "appropriate" has changed over time.
Proper dress has historically been treated as an unspoken set of rules within medical practices. Establish some guidelines about what you do and do not consider appropriate attire, and you will avoid uncomfortable confrontations before they occur. Source: Elizabeth Woodcock
Save time and money
A growing number of providers have chosen to outsource image management and are enjoying the associated cost savings and conveniences. A quality, healthcare specific textile service can provide your practice with color coordinated and personalized scrub apparel, embroidered lab coats; even entrance mats with the practice’s logo, for far less then “doing it yourself”. Some services can even design a logo for your practice if one does not exist.
Additionally, a quality service will deliver laundered textiles according to an agreed upon schedule and repair or replace damaged or worn items automatically. Leveraging a service to provide, launder, and deliver medical wear will add convenience, professionalism, and in many cases, cost savings to your image management program.
Summary
Now that we have covered how to manage image at the staff and facility level, and offered suggestions on how to do it conveniently and cost-effectively, Part 3 will cover image management from a patient’s perspective.
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