KEYWORDS:
Provider Outreach, Marketing Strategies, Provider Recruitment, Provider Enrollment
BACKGROUND:
Private provider offices are extremely busy. Allotting even 30 minutes of staff time for a registry demonstration can be challenging. The need for lengthy demonstrations can lead to delays in registry appointment scheduling and may create a first impression that participating in a registry will be a burden. In order to create a more favorable first impression and avoid disrupting the clinic flow in private provider offices, Riverside County offers 15-minute in-office demonstrations.
OBJECTIVE:
To illustrate how use of a brief in-office registry demonstration yields high enrollment rates.
METHOD:
As part of an overall marketing strategy, 15-minute in-office demonstrations are offered to potential providers and scheduled at the clinic’s convenience. Because Office Managers believe the brief demonstration will not cause a significant disruption in the clinic flow, offers for demonstrations are typically well-received and appointments are easily scheduled.
During the 15-minute appointment, a Health Educator presents basic information on registries and demonstrates the regional software, emphasizing its simplicity and user-friendliness. He/She also covers the benefits and obligations of registry participation and discusses key topics including parent disclosure, reminder/recall, partnerships with managed care organizations, and historical data entry assistance. After answering questions, the Educator attempts to obtain a signed Provider Agreement.
RESULT:
Between July 2002 and May 2003, 73.8% of the eligible clinics contacted scheduled brief in-office registry demonstrations. Of the eligible clinics that received demonstrations, 77.5% enrolled in the registry.
CONCLUSION:
A 15-minute in-office registry demonstration is sufficient to communicate the information necessary to enroll new providers.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will be able to describe the rationale for and benefits of offering brief in-office demonstrations.
Handout (.ppt format, 614.0 kb)
Back to Show Me the Money! Marketing Strategies and Tools to Increase Provider Participation
Back to The 2003 Immunization Registry Conference (October 27-29, 2003)