[Practice marketing. Data analysis of a urological group practice]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Healthcare Management
• Medical Marketing

Background:

• The German urological practice landscape is shifting towards group practices.
• Marketing is increasingly vital for urological practices.
• Understanding patient acquisition is crucial for practice growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient flow and referral sources for a German urological group practice.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the practice's patient recall system.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was administered to 2112 new patients.
• Data collected included patient demographics and reasons for choosing the practice.
• The efficacy of the recall system was assessed.

Main Results:

• Patients ranged from 18-93 years (mean 57), with 68% male and 32% female.
• Top referral sources: general practitioners (38%), friends/relatives (27%), specialists (11%).
• Internet attracted 5% of patients, primarily younger demographics (31-40); phone books accounted for 10%.

Conclusions:

• Strong reputation and medical/community referrals are paramount for urological practices.
• Internet presence is growing in importance, especially for younger demographics.
• Recall systems offer a valuable tool for patient retention in urology.