The U.S. market for podiatry services is growing because of several reasons. These include an aging population, more cases of diabetes and its related problems, and increased awareness about foot health. Because of these, more patients need special foot and ankle care. Podiatrists usually focus on good clinical care. But during their training, they often spend less time learning about business and marketing. Running a successful practice needs attention to both patient care and business skills.
Experts expect the market size to grow by about 22% from 2022 to 2027. This growth can mean more patients and more income for practices that use good strategies based on what patients want and what the market needs. Practice owners and administrators should know that patient satisfaction and referral networks are very important for steady growth.
Dr. Jeremy M. Thomas, a podiatric doctor, says practice success is more than just medical treatment. It also means managing the business side well. He says podiatrists must see their practice as a business. This means giving steady service, knowing what patients need, building referral networks, and using marketing smartly.
One very important part of growth is patient satisfaction. Happy patients are more likely to come back and tell family and friends about the practice. This kind of growth through word-of-mouth is very helpful for podiatry practices. Making sure appointment scheduling is easy, the front office staff are friendly, and follow-ups are on time can make patient experience better.
A key marketing step for podiatrists is to collect and study data about local patients. This includes age, income level, and common health problems that affect foot care needs. Dr. Thomas suggests doing patient questionnaires and looking at the population within 15 miles of the practice. This helps in making marketing efforts more useful.
Knowing details about patient likes and local market trends helps podiatrists make offers that fit well, speak clearly in marketing, and decide on expanding services carefully. This kind of research is better than making general marketing plans and helps put money into areas that give better returns.
Making a clear Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is a marketing plan that any podiatry practice wanting to grow should use. A USP is a short statement that says what makes a practice different or better than the competition. For example, a podiatrist may focus on faster healing or special care for sports injuries.
Dr. Thomas says a strong USP helps patients remember the practice and pick it over others. Making marketing messages and packages that fit the USP can draw more patient interest and loyalty. This might include treatment bundles, classes, or special prices on foot care products.
Social media like Facebook and Instagram work well for reaching new patients. Dr. Daniel T. Hall IV says regular posts and targeted messages help keep the practice known in the community. Sharing useful foot care tips, success stories, and patient reviews can build trust and bring in new patients.
Referral partnerships are also important. Building good relationships with primary care doctors, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and other health workers can bring in more patient referrals. Asking current patients to post reviews on websites and social media can attract new patients and support growth.
Using technology is key for podiatry practices to improve clinical work and office tasks. Specialized Podiatry Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems like PrognoCIS offer tools made for podiatry. These include scheduling appointments, billing, managing revenue, prescribing medicines electronically, telemedicine, and patient communication portals.
Technology streamlines operations and cuts down office work. This lets staff focus more on patient care. Modern EHR systems can hold detailed podiatry content, which helps keep good records and speeds up treatment.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation are changing how podiatry clinics manage front desk work and talk with patients. Simbo AI is a company that offers AI-powered phone answering and automation to help front office jobs in healthcare, including podiatry clinics.
For podiatry managers and IT staff, AI phone systems can lower the workload by handling appointment bookings, patient questions, and reminders automatically. This makes sure calls get answered fast and right, which increases patient satisfaction and lowers missed appointments.
AI can also send urgent clinical questions quickly to staff or doctors, which helps patient safety and quick responses. By cutting down time spent on routine calls, front desk staff can spend more time giving personal service, which improves patient experience.
Many podiatry practices have trouble handling lots of calls, especially in busy times. AI phone systems from companies like Simbo AI can manage busy call times, avoid long waits, and free staff for harder tasks. This helps practices grow and work better.
Besides managing current patients, podiatrists are encouraged to add more services to bring in extra money. Selling foot care products like orthotics, creams, and shoes can add income. Offering classes about foot health and wellness helps make the practice a community resource and gets patients more involved.
Physical therapy for foot and ankle rehab is another way to add services. Practices that add these can offer full care that meets more patient needs in one place. This helps keep patients coming back.
A strong, well-trained team helps the practice keep the promises made by marketing. Front desk staff who know their jobs, are polite, and work well help make good patient experiences at every point. Training staff on how to talk to patients, handle scheduling, and use new technology like AI phone systems is important.
Team members should know the practice’s USP, services, and marketing goals to always share the right message with patients. Putting time and resources into team training supports long-term growth by keeping patients satisfied.
The growing U.S. podiatry market brings specific challenges and chances for practitioners. Running a podiatry office well needs careful work in patient care, marketing, operations, and using technology. Tools like podiatry-focused EHR systems and AI phone automation from companies like Simbo AI can help reduce office work and improve patient experience.
Practices that use data-driven marketing, build referral networks, and use technology wisely position themselves well to care for more patients and compete in the changing healthcare field.
The U.S. Podiatry Services Market was estimated to be $972.5 million in 2022 and is projected to reach approximately $1,184 million by 2027.
Outstanding patient satisfaction is key because unsatisfied patients are unlikely to return or recommend the practice to others, directly affecting growth and referrals.
Podiatrists can understand their market by sending out questionnaires for patient feedback and analyzing the demographics within a 15-mile radius of their practice.
Key differentiators may include unique services, specialized care for certain populations, or flexible office hours, setting a practice apart from competitors.
A USP is a marketing statement that encapsulates what a practice does well and what patients desire, used to brand services effectively.
Practices should create offers aligning with their USP, such as package rates or convenient appointment scheduling, to attract their target market.
Technology enhances efficiency with tailored EHR systems, telemedicine, and secure online portals for communication, ultimately improving patient experience and marketing outreach.
Building relationships with referring physicians and encouraging existing patients to provide reviews and referrals can significantly increase new patient influx.
A well-trained and supportive team is vital to deliver on the marketing promises, ensuring patients receive quality care during their visits.
Practices can diversify by selling foot care products, incorporating physical therapy services, or offering educational seminars, thereby enhancing revenue opportunities.
Simbo is using AI agents to automate all phone related workflows. Connect now to know more.
Schedule AI Agents Demo Now© Since 2019, Simbo AI.
