What if one of the biggest determinants of your success as a podiatrist has almost nothing to do with your clinical skills?
It's your ability to connect with your patients.
Clinic can be tough. Tight schedules, difficult patients, insurance headaches. It's easy to focus on simply getting through the day.
But successful practices don't just treat patients; they create relationships.
You know when it happens. A patient goes from "I'm not sure" to "Doc, I trust you. What should I do?"
That's what I call a Golden Patient.
They trust your recommendations, follow their treatment plan, and soon their spouse, neighbor, coworker, and friends start showing up saying:
"They told me I needed to come see you."
Over 20 years in private practice, I became very intentional about creating these relationships, and it changed the way I practiced.
The best part? You don't need more time with each patient to do it.
There are five simple things you can start doing tomorrow to strengthen patient relationships, build trust, and generate the kind of referrals that can transform a practice. Two of them happen before you ever walk into the exam room, which makes this a habit for the whole practice, not just the provider.
5 Steps to Take
1. Make Every Patient Feel Welcome
Every patient, especially a new patient, deserves a warm, personal welcome. Your front desk team should greet them by name as they arrive and make them feel expected and valued.
"Dr. Smith is very excited to meet you." This simple gesture is golden!
2. Deliver the VIP Experience Before You Enter
Your staff should obtain X-rays when clinically indicated, document the chief complaint, and give the patient attentive, thoughtful care from the start.
It does not take much extra effort, but it does require intention. Plan for this experience during your morning team huddle.
3. Connect Personally as the Provider
Do not keep new patients waiting unnecessarily. Enter warmly, use their name, make eye contact, offer a handshake when appropriate, and thank them for trusting you.
Ask questions, listen carefully, and repeat key details to confirm your understanding. Review the intake form so you can make a personal connection: "I see you work just down the road from here."
I always sat near the patient's feet while discussing their concerns, checking pulses, range of motion, and other relevant findings. That personal touch communicates that you care and are fully engaged in their treatment.
4. Recommend a Clear Treatment Plan with Confidence
Patients want to know what you, the specialist, recommend and why. Rather than presenting a confusing menu of equally weighted options, explain your preferred evidence-based approach while discussing reasonable alternatives and involving the patient in the decision.
Briefly review relevant X-ray findings, ultrasound images, or gait analysis results so patients understand the reasoning behind your recommendation.
5. Provide Value and a Specific Next Step
Make the first visit count. Great care does not require a long, unfocused appointment. Guide the conversation toward the patient's primary concern, establish a practical plan, and invite the patient to participate.
"What would it mean to you to have relief from this pain?"
"I would like to see you next week to check how you are responding, and here is why."
When follow-up is clinically appropriate, explain exactly when to return, why it matters, and what the patient stands to gain. Avoid a vague "follow up as needed" when a specific reassessment is important.
A free physician-to-physician webinar is coming. You will be notified once it is out.
About the Author
Ryan K. Anderson, DPM, specialized in sports medicine, chronic foot conditions, diabetic foot care, and surgical interventions. He saw patients at Foot and Ankle Specialists in Bountiful and Draper, Utah, where he scaled a single-provider practice into a 26-provider practice across multiple states before joining Allevio Care to provide a platform to help empower other providers. He has extensive experience consulting other practices. He is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and was an attending physician in the IHC residency program.