Getting Patients to Your Flu Clinics - Not The Drugstore

Taking a Proactive Approach to Flu Season

According to the CDC, anywhere from 5 to 20% of the U.S. population will get the flu on average every year. Approximately 200,000 of these Americans are hospitalized each year. Thousands of people die every year from the flu. 

Even with the abundance of flu clinics (including those outside of your practice) and the education from the CDC, there is still a great percentage of Americans that should be getting vaccinated, but who do not.

2016 Stats for Americans Getting Flu Vaccinations:

• 50% ages 6 months to 17
• 31% ages 18 to 49
• 45.2% ages 50 to 64
• 67.2% ages 65+

So what can practices do to educate patients about the importance of flu vaccinations and get them into THEIR PRACTICE?

COMMUNICATE. MARKET. Make it CONVENIENT.

Consider the average person must see or hear something at least 4 to 7 times to remember or take the appropriate behavior, practices CAN'T communicate too much. Consider these simple ideas for getting patients to your practice.

• Flu Clinic inserts in their statements
• Website marketing
• Social Media channels (Facebook, Twitter...)
• Office Signage and Posters
• Automated Messaging (text reminders, emails, phone reminders)
• Direct Mail -- postcards (cross promote with age-based screenings patients need)
• Convenient Hours (early a.m., noon hour, after hours)

These are your patients, not the drugstore down the street.