That Sinking Feeling

Doctors: When you see certain patients on your schedule, do you start to feel dread? It may be due to the fact that they’re very demanding or difficult or you just don’t feel like there's a good connection between the two of you.

I have many clients who have asked me what to do about these difficult patients.

What I suggest is:

• If you're dreading going to work because of someone who’s on your schedule, maybe it's time to think about parting ways with that patient.

I know that's scary because you feel like you want to make everyone happy, but you simply can't make every patient happy.

When you allow that negativity into your practice, whether it's you dreading seeing that patient or the team dreading seeing that patient, all of those things affect the big picture of your practice.

You have plenty of patients who are raving fans who you click with and they appreciate your services. Freeing up this dreaded patient will allow them to find a doctor and practice with a better fit and allow you to stop the negativity.

This will let you really free up your brain to focus on all of the patients that love you and love your practice.

Don't feel guilty about releasing them, because if you are dreading seeing this patient it's not fair to them, or you.