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Speed dating pairs doctors and patients
By Stewart Gandolf | February 12, 2010
(Note: This post was updated on the evening of Feb 22.)
Saw an intriguing article from the AMA recently about a Texas Hospital who started a speed dating service between docs and patients.
I was so surprised they were able to get the doctors to go along with the idea (it must have felt unseemly to many of them), that I called Mandy Forbus, senior marketing specialist for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford, to interview her.
In a nutshell, she came up with the idea because she feels (and I agree) that it is hard for patients to choose a compatible doctor.
They started by targeting women looking for OB/GYNs, as obviously women make most of the healthcare decisions for the family.
I asked Forbus about getting doctor buy in, and as you’d expect, most of the early participants were either new or younger.
It did surprise me however, that women doctors opted in first, because male ob/gyns tend to have a harder time getting patients than females (duh). Now that the program has proven successful, however, male doctors are joining the fray (probably don’t want to be left out on a good thing).
The speed dating sessions are open to all admitting doctors, and when relevant, staff doctors.
Patients spend about a half hour in multiple five minute meetings, while doctors do two shifts culminating in about an hour of their time. Most doctors get 1-2 patients from the effort, and some even get referrals from the effort to boot.
Forbus and her colleagues have done four of these speed dating meetings so far (they call them DocShops), and are going to do one for pediatrics in March. These meetings have grown in size, and she feels a good mix is about 10 doctors for 24 patients.
Texas Health has promoted these meetings in a lot of ways, including mailers, publicity, emails, etc. Interested would-be patients are required to preregister with a call center.
According to Forbus, response has been overwhelmingly positive, admitting doctors are happy and the hospital is building its reputation with patients. What’s more, this effort is consistent with the positioning and brand the hospital is trying to build.
This speed dating could catch on, though by now some of my doctor readers have no doubt thrown up on their computer.
Some doctors will NEVER EVER try this.
Still, the rationale behind the idea has merit. When people choose a primary care doctor, they are often looking for a long term relationship. Credentials are assumed, and people are more interested in philosophy of care, personality, how the office treats them, etc.
Great idea, Mandy.
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