Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
get doctor referrals By Irene Diamond A massage therapist's perfect world: where doctors, dentists, pain clinics, psychotherapists, and other health-care providers would unequivocally refer their patients to you simply because they know you are a professional who can provide the best care for their patients. For most of you in the real world, however, medical referrals happen rarely, if at all, and you may find yourself wondering where to begin the process of meeting doctors who will be eager to refer their patients to you. It all starts with establishing relationships with only one or two healthcare providers. Once you feel comfortable working in the medical paradigm, branching out to other medical providers will become less intimidating. Before pursuing these referral relationships with doctors and other providers, it's important to first ask yourself if you can provide solid, consistent, clinical results to clients. If you have not yet perfected your therapeutic skills, don't know how to perform your pre- and posttherapy assessments, and cannot yet quantify or document your therapy treatment or results, you absolutely must fine-tune those skills first. When someone sends a client to see you, they have a lot at stake. Their reputation is on the line (and in some cases their medical license as well). Before they take a chance on you, you must gain their trust. This means your number one job is to be sure their patients report back to them with positive results and that your interaction with their staff is seamless. Making Contact As in any referral relationship, it is often said, "People do business with people they know." This is true within the health-care arena as well. Once you are on a doctor's radar and she knows you will treat her patients well, you will continue to receive referrals. Most massage therapists try to attain medical referrals the hard way, by cold-calling doctors with whom they have no affiliation. Instead of going after the unknown, spend the bulk of your efforts with your current clients first. Let your