How patient engagement can help grow your mental health practice

Patient engagement in mental health involves actively involving patients in their treatment, fostering open communication, providing education, and offering support. It can help grow your mental health practice by improving patient outcomes, increasing retention rates, and generating positive word-of-mouth referrals. 

How patient engagement can benefit your mental health practice 

• Improved outcomes: According to a scoping review published on the NIH website, engaged patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, leading to better mental health outcomes. 
• Treatment continuity: Engaged patients are more likely to stick with your practice, reducing the risk of patient turnover. Fewer patient departures mean a more predictable patient load and revenue stream.
• Word of mouth: Satisfied patients who feel engaged are more likely to recommend your practice to others, leading to organic growth. 
• Trust and rapport: Engagement builds trust and rapport between patients and mental health professionals. 
• Efficient appointment scheduling: Engaged patients are more likely to adhere to appointments, optimizing your practice's schedule. This reduces the occurrence of missed appointments or last-minute cancellations, allowing you to manage your time and resources more efficiently.
• Diversified services: Engagement can lead to the expansion of services like group therapy, workshops, or specialized programs. 
• Data-driven improvement: Feedback from engaged patients can guide improvements in your services. Whether through patient surveys, direct feedback, or analysis of treatment outcomes, this data helps you identify areas where you can enhance your practice's effectiveness and patient experience.

Implementing patient engagement in your practice

• Personalized communication: Tailor your communication to individual patient preferences. Some patients may prefer email communication, while others may prefer phone calls. Ensure that patients have the opportunity to communicate with you in the way that is most comfortable for them.
• Educational resources: Share articles, videos, and resources related to mental health conditions and self-help strategies. Consider providing patients with printed materials they can take home for reference.
• Support groups and workshops: Promote and facilitate support groups and workshops for patients. These can provide valuable peer support and additional learning opportunities.
• Self-assessment tools: Provide tools for patients to monitor their mental health between sessions. Encourage them to keep journals, track their moods, or use validated self-assessment questionnaires to gauge their progress.
• Crisis support: Offer emergency contact information and crisis helplines. Ensure that patients know how to reach out for immediate assistance if they are experiencing a mental health crisis outside of regular office hours.
• Patient feedback and surveys: Gather patient feedback to continually improve your services. Ask for input on their experiences, the effectiveness of their treatment plans, and any suggestions they may have for enhancing their care.

What digital tools and technology can be used for patient engagement?

• Email campaigns: Send educational materials, appointment reminders, and supportive messages via HIPAA compliant email. Personalize these communications to resonate with each patient's unique needs and preferences.
• Teletherapy: Use telehealth platforms for convenient and accessible care. Teletherapy can make mental health services more accessible to patients who may have mobility limitations, live in remote areas, or prefer the convenience of virtual sessions.

Measuring the impact of patient engagement

To gauge the effectiveness of your patient engagement efforts:

• Collect patient feedback through surveys: Regularly assess patient satisfaction, their perceptions of engagement, and their treatment progress.
• Monitor treatment adherence and patient outcomes: Keep track of appointment attendance rates, treatment plan adherence, and changes in patient mental health status.
• Analyze the growth of your practice: Measure the impact of patient engagement on your practice's growth, such as increased patient retention, referrals, and expansion of services.

Related: Patient engagement and HIPAA compliance: What you need to know