We are medical doctors with a sincere desire to help people with pain. How do we best get our message out?

Question

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans every year. Most of them do not know where to turn for help. I am the director of a clinic that specializes in the treatment of chronic pain. Our clinic consists of well trained medical doctors that follow evidence based guidelines for the treatments we offer. Each year we provide real results to thousands of patients. Yet for every patient we help, there are hundreds of patients in our area that have never heard of us. Most of our referals come from other doctors but recently we have decided to take our message directly to the public. We have rented billboard space for the past several months with no results. We have also tried newspaper and magazine adds without results. I think the decision to go to a doctor is very personal and most people want someone that they can trust. This means they need a referal by someone they trust. How can we break through the trust barrier to reach these people who we know we can help?

Answer 1

"there are hundreds of patients in our area that have never heard of us"

"We have also tried newspaper and magazine adds without results"

The first quote above is a key point.
The second quote tells me two things.
1. Depending on the size of your city, newspapers may or may not be an "investment", but an "expense". My meaning is this. If one is advertising in a large city newspaper, such as NY, for example, one is spending a huge amount of money, based on circulation numbers, and reaching "patients/customers" who will never be seen by the establishment, simply by distance.
I have always looked upon "Yellow Pages" in this same light, in a large city. May not apply in your case.
2.We know that many newspapers are distributed out of state in great numbers. One is paying to reach those at great distances.
Magazines are even worse "investments", unless the intent/need is to reach a greater area, even nationwide.

You mentiond billboards. Have you studied their location relating to the demographics of areas by age in your city? I have to think that billboards, in your case, exposed to an area of young people is not productive. If a retirement area exists, I would be certain that billboards are located near those areas. I say that because the older generation, 50s up, would have more need for your service.
Consider direct mail.

Another important area of need would be "sports figures". That may be a market to be considered, and tapped in a specific way.
It appears that you are already utilizing other doctors as a source.
Again, consider direct mail.

Testamonials are priceless, as is word of mouth, in my own business experience.

Answer 2

I'm 28 years old and living with Multiple Sclerosis. My sister, 34, also has MS with chronic pain as the major side effect. I consider myself a take-charge kind of person when it comes to managing my MS and its pain. Personally, I rely on other methods for choosing a specialist - none of them include billboards, newspaper ads, etc. Why? I don't trust them. My immediate reaction to seeing something like that is to think they're quacks and only after money. If you're also not affiliated with a major hospital, I wouldn't seek your services. My best advice to you would be to get in good with Neurologists and other specialists that treat illnesses that have chronic pain as a side effect. From there, I would suggest pinning up a flyer or two on their bulletin boards in the doctor's office. I think most patients would feel more comfy if they knew that their specialist "endorses" another type of specialist. I say save yourself the money and don't advertise. Do it the old-fashioned way by pounding the pavement and going to medical conventions to networks with the other doctors. Word of mouth, when it comes to something like this, is much better.

Also find out if you can host a support group at the local hospital for chronic pain patients.

Sorry to say, but I truly feel that word of mouth is the best way for you. I'm in marketing and I can put myself in other's shoes (and heck, I'm in chronic pain as well) and I know that most people would not trust hard core advertising.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Pain and suffering is what connects us, not what drives us to be alone. Not a single person exists who hasn't had some measure of pain and suffering. People are like vessels, and the longer we live, the more cracked and damaged our outer casing becomes. It's our choice whether we'll try to hide behind whatever we have left, or whether we use those cracks to look outside of our own vessels. Two people who have experienced suffering can see each other FAR clearer than someone who has experienced very little suffering, because the people who have suffered have much larger gaps through which they can see each other. The person who has only had a little suffering can only see a small portion of their neighbor's true inner self. It is a choice, though, to look outside your own vessel and into the vessel of someone else. And choosing to love is to take a chance on having someone damage you further. But the love comes with rewards, too.

Answer 4

Have you tried sponsoring educational seminars about common pain problems, like back pain, migraines, etc.? You might get some people in the door that way.

Good luck.

Answer 5

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for asking this question!!! Before I answer, please allow me to offer my qualifications to do so.

1) I was an HR Executive for over 30 years; I've been successfully managing Multiple Sclerosis for over 45 years.

2) I was approved for SSDI the first time around in under 30 days; I was approved for, and worked with LTD.

3) My passion and mission are to assist people with disabilities qualify for and acquire the resources they need to successfully become Expert Patients, and chronic disease self-managers. Toward that end, I created a website dedicated to assisting people with disabilities. It contains tons of info; 2 blogs; free downloadable ebooklets; and a small priced 100 page How To with specific examples and documents Disability Workbook: http://www.disabilitykey.com

I have combined my professional and personal expertise in creating a website dedicated to assisting folks with "chronic disease symptoms" better document, communicate, corroborate, and manage their symptoms and the resulting impairments to become expert patients; chronic disease self-managers; and, partner with their doctors to practice patient-centered health care.

4) Currently, through answering questions here on Yahoo, I'm working with my 503rd person!!!

Now, to answer your questions.

1) Please check out my website,

http://www.disabilitykey.com

particularly the disabilitykey blog posts concerning: Chronic Disease Self-Management; Expert Patient; Patient-Centered Health Care. These blog posts will provide you with lots of info about what PAIN PATIENTS AND YOU DOCTORS need to do and achieve to better help each other help the patient!!!

2) Another excellent website is:

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com

This is a website dedicated to help and support folks with Autoimmune diseases. Of particular interes to you would be the Pain and Doctors and Hospitals Forums. By registering and participating by commenting and assisting other Spoonville residents - check out the Spoon Theory to learn more about this name - you can research the concerns, fears, problems that potential clients have. NO SOLICITATION ALLOWED, on the website, but you can become an advertiser.

3) My webdesigner is a master in what is called Internet advertising and promoting. Not quite sure what all is entailed, but he is in great demand. If you would like an introduction to him to see what he can do to assist you reach your target market, please click on my Yahoo name and send me an email.

Again, THANK YOU, for your interest in locating and working with patients. I'd love to help you be successful in any way that I can!!!

Answer 6

probably television?
wish i knew where u r
i have fibromyalgia