Malaysia has always been one of the most preferred tourist spots of South East Asia. Now, the country is becoming increasingly popular for another kind of tourism – medical tourism. Every year several thousands of medical travelers come to the state-of-the-art hospitals of Malaysia to be treated for various ailments, and recuperate in calm, scenic natural surroundings including beaches.
The hospitals of Malaysia are highly advanced and boast of the latest technological of the excellence of treatment that they will receive. Moreover, the medical professionals of Malaysia are highly qualified and have extensive international exposure and qualifications. Since the doctors and other healthcare professionals are well versed in English, communication is also not a problem. While the treatment, usage of diagnostic equipment and the cost of facilities and hospital care are quite reasonable as compared to western countries, the standard of medical expertise of Malaysian professionals is ranked among the best in the world.
The country is able to offer excellent medical facilities at such discounted prices mainly because of the government’s involvement in promoting it as a medical tourism destination and of course due to other geographical advantages.
Traveling to Malaysia for Medical Care – The Process
The patient must initiate the process with comprehensive research on the medical facilities and the doctors who are experienced in the medical treatment that they seek. The internet is a treasure trove of information for this level of research; there are tour and travel operators as well as hospitals that have a well established online presence.
Once a hospital and a doctor are finalized, the patients can consult the doctor with his medical history and reports. The doctor will chart out a detailed treatment plan that the patient will have to follow. This is the time for extensive discussions on the treatment suggested, other available options, recovery period, possible complications etc. Once the patient is completely satisfied with the answers given by the doctor as well as the facilities available at the location, he can prepare for travel.
For Second Home Residents
Malaysia is a popular second home for many people who are middle to old aged. These people have a definite advantage over their counterparts in the domestic country on the affordable but high quality medical facilities that are available in Malaysia. Medical conditions that are common in these age groups – such as obesity, knee or hip replacement, ophthalmologic or dental conditions etc. are practiced as specializations by highly qualified doctors in the country.
Treatments such as weight loss may be offered as a package where education on nutrition, therapy for change in behavior, and medical care are provided with or without surgical/drug treatment. If a person is seriously overweight, a clinical program is advisable. For those who live in Malaysia, this may actually be a very effective option because they are under no pressure to travel back at the stipulated time.
Support by the Government
The Malaysian government takes a very active role in promoting medical tourism in the country. It is treated as a strategic industry in the healthcare field. There are several incentives and guidelines that are provided by the government to encourage new and existing entrants and to standardize the facilities. Patient safety is top priority and the government insists on strict compliance to international standards of healthcare.
Malaysia is a safe and affordable alternative to those patients who face problems in getting the right medical treatment due to inordinate delays in the waiting lists or inflated costs back home.
For more log on to medical practice marketing
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Marketing
You might be an established physician with years of practice behind you. Perhaps you are also completely aware of all the latest developments in your field. But experience and expertise alone simply do not cut it anymore, in the modern world. Marketing and branding of your practice is absolutely important to beat the competition in this day and age.
A good medical marketing campaign can not only help retain your patients, it can also help grow your practice and inspire your staff as well.
Identify Your Goal
The first step towards medical marketing is to identify your goal or mission. You might feel the need to project a certain image to your patients and fellow physicians. The goal of your medical marketing plan is to assist you in achieving this. You must have a long tem goal which is flexible enough to accommodate short term goals as and when needed.
Highlight Strengths and Improve on Weaknesses
Take stock of your strengths and specialties. There must be something that sets you apart from your competitors. Also take the opportunity to survey your competitors. Check out the ones whom you believe to be threats for you. Maybe they are in the same locality or offer similar services. So step up your plan and begin with offering something unique.
Solicit your patients’ help and consider their views about your practice. They will tell you what they find most trustworthy and attractive about you, your clinic and your staff. Also ask them where they would like to see an improvement. If there is any confusion or misinterpretation, clear it pronto. Take adequate steps to address any complaints that your patients may have.
Keep an Eye on the Competition
See how your competitors are marketing their services. Keep a check on yellow pages, TV and radio commercials, newspaper ads and even websites of your competitors. Make the most of what you can afford. Internet marketing is inexpensive and far reaching compared to other forms of marketing, but don’t adopt it as the only marketing medium. Usually a combination of online and offline marketing efforts work best.
Budget and Allocate Resources
Give a thought to your budget, not only in terms of money, but also human capital and the time that you are willing to invest in your marketing campaign. Then you can devise strategies for the campaign. You can first try a promotional activity to educate people about your clinic and its specialties, and then move on to more elaborate activities.
Choose the Right Medium and the Right Team
There are many mediums available for medical marketing and each comes with its own rules and regulations. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Evaluate them carefully before you select the medium to showcase your practice. Choose the right mix of print, television and internet exposure.
When your plan is in place, make sure you have a good team which understands you completely and is qualified and efficient enough to carry out your plans successfully.
Go Ahead and Launch
Once you launch your campaign, there are bound to be comparisons with your competitors. Create a unique branding strategy. You can have your letterhead, business card, prescription pad and envelopes specially designed. Go a step further and give similarly designed folders to your patients to store their medical records. These are small things that go a long way in creating a brand.
A good medical marketing campaign can not only help retain your patients, it can also help grow your practice and inspire your staff as well.
Identify Your Goal
The first step towards medical marketing is to identify your goal or mission. You might feel the need to project a certain image to your patients and fellow physicians. The goal of your medical marketing plan is to assist you in achieving this. You must have a long tem goal which is flexible enough to accommodate short term goals as and when needed.
Highlight Strengths and Improve on Weaknesses
Take stock of your strengths and specialties. There must be something that sets you apart from your competitors. Also take the opportunity to survey your competitors. Check out the ones whom you believe to be threats for you. Maybe they are in the same locality or offer similar services. So step up your plan and begin with offering something unique.
Solicit your patients’ help and consider their views about your practice. They will tell you what they find most trustworthy and attractive about you, your clinic and your staff. Also ask them where they would like to see an improvement. If there is any confusion or misinterpretation, clear it pronto. Take adequate steps to address any complaints that your patients may have.
Keep an Eye on the Competition
See how your competitors are marketing their services. Keep a check on yellow pages, TV and radio commercials, newspaper ads and even websites of your competitors. Make the most of what you can afford. Internet marketing is inexpensive and far reaching compared to other forms of marketing, but don’t adopt it as the only marketing medium. Usually a combination of online and offline marketing efforts work best.
Budget and Allocate Resources
Give a thought to your budget, not only in terms of money, but also human capital and the time that you are willing to invest in your marketing campaign. Then you can devise strategies for the campaign. You can first try a promotional activity to educate people about your clinic and its specialties, and then move on to more elaborate activities.
Choose the Right Medium and the Right Team
There are many mediums available for medical marketing and each comes with its own rules and regulations. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Evaluate them carefully before you select the medium to showcase your practice. Choose the right mix of print, television and internet exposure.
When your plan is in place, make sure you have a good team which understands you completely and is qualified and efficient enough to carry out your plans successfully.
Go Ahead and Launch
Once you launch your campaign, there are bound to be comparisons with your competitors. Create a unique branding strategy. You can have your letterhead, business card, prescription pad and envelopes specially designed. Go a step further and give similarly designed folders to your patients to store their medical records. These are small things that go a long way in creating a brand.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Medical Marketing Basics
In the competitive world of today, it may not be wise to depend only on word of mouth to keep your medical practice a step ahead of your competitors. You need to promote your clinic or hospital actively to ensure that there is a steady incoming stream of patients. As in any other profession, advertising and marketing have come to play an important role in the success of medical profession as well.
Medical marketing helps boost your visibility, and ensures that competition cannot take your loyal patients away from you. Newer patients are also brought in regularly. It makes for smooth practice and also provides scope for expansion.
You must make sure that the unique offers and exclusive services that you offer are known to patients. Only when people become aware of these services will they approach you for it. With a careful marketing plan, you can get good public exposure - which means more patients, more income and also better reputation.
There are various methods of medical marketing, some of which are expensive while some others are time consuming. You cannot depend on a single marketing method though, a balanced strategy is what is preferable.
First identify your preferred group of patients and then set about making your mark in that niche.
Keep in Touch With Current Patients
It is a good idea to pay more attention to public relations than advertising to build your trust quotient and this needs to be done at a personal level. You should stay in touch with your current patients who will refer you to the people they know. You can maintain a database containing contact information of your patients and intimate them about any specialties you add to the hospital, upcoming events like free checkups or gifts at your clinic.
Build On Your Image
You could also be part of a local charity or fundraising events to add to your image. You should be open to feedback from your patients and be quick to take remedial measures if they find any service or product unsatisfactory; for example they may complain that your billing process is slow or there is not enough room in the waiting area. Little touches like reminding patients of their appointments may go a long way in creating a professional and caring image.
Reach Out to Potential Patients
Consistent efforts are needed to attract new patients. For this there are conventional methods like distributing leaflets and brochures, television, radio and newspaper advertising or the modern internet marketing.
You can circulate brochures containing information about treatments and services that you provide. This is not very expensive but the visibility is usually limited to a certain geographical area. You can even organize a promotional event in your locality where you conduct free examination and provide tips on healthcare. You can promote your product or service at this platform. Your personal interaction will add to the promotion, but the drawback here is again limited visibility.
Television and radio advertising have a wider audience but may be too expensive for a clinic. Having an interview on the local television channel is also a good idea.
Comparatively, internet marketing is cheaper and has a bigger impact. You can get listed on online directories and websites as well as have a website of your own. That is just for starters. Many companies offer internet marketing services for physicians and doctors, within any budget. If you are a doctor, a clinic or a hospital that is looking to get out there and be more visible, you might want to get in touch with a professional medical marketing firm.
Medical marketing helps boost your visibility, and ensures that competition cannot take your loyal patients away from you. Newer patients are also brought in regularly. It makes for smooth practice and also provides scope for expansion.
You must make sure that the unique offers and exclusive services that you offer are known to patients. Only when people become aware of these services will they approach you for it. With a careful marketing plan, you can get good public exposure - which means more patients, more income and also better reputation.
There are various methods of medical marketing, some of which are expensive while some others are time consuming. You cannot depend on a single marketing method though, a balanced strategy is what is preferable.
First identify your preferred group of patients and then set about making your mark in that niche.
Keep in Touch With Current Patients
It is a good idea to pay more attention to public relations than advertising to build your trust quotient and this needs to be done at a personal level. You should stay in touch with your current patients who will refer you to the people they know. You can maintain a database containing contact information of your patients and intimate them about any specialties you add to the hospital, upcoming events like free checkups or gifts at your clinic.
Build On Your Image
You could also be part of a local charity or fundraising events to add to your image. You should be open to feedback from your patients and be quick to take remedial measures if they find any service or product unsatisfactory; for example they may complain that your billing process is slow or there is not enough room in the waiting area. Little touches like reminding patients of their appointments may go a long way in creating a professional and caring image.
Reach Out to Potential Patients
Consistent efforts are needed to attract new patients. For this there are conventional methods like distributing leaflets and brochures, television, radio and newspaper advertising or the modern internet marketing.
You can circulate brochures containing information about treatments and services that you provide. This is not very expensive but the visibility is usually limited to a certain geographical area. You can even organize a promotional event in your locality where you conduct free examination and provide tips on healthcare. You can promote your product or service at this platform. Your personal interaction will add to the promotion, but the drawback here is again limited visibility.
Television and radio advertising have a wider audience but may be too expensive for a clinic. Having an interview on the local television channel is also a good idea.
Comparatively, internet marketing is cheaper and has a bigger impact. You can get listed on online directories and websites as well as have a website of your own. That is just for starters. Many companies offer internet marketing services for physicians and doctors, within any budget. If you are a doctor, a clinic or a hospital that is looking to get out there and be more visible, you might want to get in touch with a professional medical marketing firm.
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