How do I tell my hearing clinic’s patients their audiologist is changing?
Tell patients personally, in the order of how much they rely on you, and before they hear it elsewhere. Pair the news with a face-to-face introduction to the incoming audiologist, explain what stays the same, and give each patient an easy way to ask questions or request a handover appointment.
Begin with your own planning, not the announcement. Decide with the buyer who will say what, and agree the wording so patients hear one consistent story. Confidentiality usually limits when you can tell people, so ask your lawyer when it is safe to start. Staff should hear first, since patients will turn to them with questions.
Then sort patients by how closely they depend on you. Those with complex fittings, children, and long-time wearers deserve a personal call or a visit. Everyone else can receive a letter or email followed by a notice in the waiting room. Offer an overlap period where the new audiologist is introduced during your appointments, so the handover is visible.
Afterwards, watch for patients who go quiet. A short follow-up note from the new clinician, a reminder of how to book, and a clear answer on where records and warranties go will settle most worries. Keep a log of questions you could not answer, and fix them quickly. Reply to every question within a day or two, since silence after an announcement is read as bad news. Tell the front desk what to say when someone calls in upset.
Key takeaways
- Agree the message with the buyer first, and tell staff before patients.
- Call or meet your most dependent patients personally; write to the rest.
- Introduce the new audiologist during your own appointments if you can.
- Answer patient questions within a day or two, and brief the front desk.
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustryHow to sell your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is succession planning?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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