It's a simple fact of life that people need doctors. Whether they have a pressing concern or issue that needs immediate attention, or they're simply looking to alleviate any medical fears by having regular check-ups, there will always be patients who need to pay their doctor a visit. What can change, though, is where they go. Just as there are plenty of patients around, there are also plenty of clinics for them to choose from. If you want to ensure that your patients have a pleasant, helpful experience at your practice and return to see you each time — establishing a healthy rapport between patient and practitioner — it's crucial to put together patient-first customer service.

Lea Chatham, of the medical billing and EHR software company Kareo, has recently published The Patient-Centered Checklist to help small practices and clinics give their patients the best possible time during their visit. Here are just some of the recommendations that Chatham notes should be incorporated into the in-office experience:

• Make use of EHR documentation: Ensuring that your practice's chiropractic EHR is up-to-date not only helps your own administrative recordkeeping, but can also supply the patient with swift results — from preventative care recommendations to printed educational materials and visitation summaries.
• Keep scheduling and appointments convenient: Ultimately, it's your patient who has to take time out of their day to visit you, so it's essential to set up appointments as conveniently around their schedules as possible. Accommodating walk-ins and same-day visits, and making use of online appointment services like ZocDoc, can help make scheduling easier for patients.

Practices should invest in the best chiropractic EMR software so that they can provide patients with immediate and up-to-date information while also streamlining their own recordkeeping duties.