How do I find out how many of a physio clinic’s patients finish their full course of treatment?
Ask the clinic how it records discharges, then request a report showing how many patients completed their plan, stopped early or never returned after the first visits. Look at when patients drop off and why. Also check whether the clinic follows up with those who stop, since that shapes repeat business.
First, learn how the clinic defines a finished course. Some clinics record a discharge note when a patient reaches their goal; others only note that appointments stopped. If the records are thin, you may need to build the picture from appointment histories.
Next, look at drop-off. Ask for a report of recent patients grouped by how many visits they attended and whether they were formally discharged. Notice the point where patients tend to stop. An early drop-off might suggest a mismatch between what patients expect and what the clinic delivers, or a problem with scheduling or cost. Ask about causes. Does the clinic call patients who miss visits? Do referral sources, such as a doctor or an insurer, set limits on how many visits a patient can have? Each reason points to a different fix.
Finally, ask therapists what they see. They often know which patients lose interest and why. Your accountant can help you judge how much repeat business your plan can safely assume. Compare patients who came through different referral sources, since their completion habits can differ. Ask whether the clinic has ever changed how it explains the plan to new patients, and what effect it saw. Notes from staff meetings can be a useful source here.
Key takeaways
- Ask how the clinic defines and records a finished course.
- Find the point where patients most often stop and ask why.
- Check whether staff follow up with patients who miss visits.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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