“If it’s not already obvious, I’m absolutely convinced thank you notes are one of the best over-the-counter remedies a medical office can use to apply first aid for treating those stressed out, grouchy, grinch-like moods [during the holidays] that happen in almost every practice."

By Editor, Concierge Medicine Today

The holiday season is like a golden ticket for doctors to shine bright in your community and creatively engage with your patients!

With creative thinking, time, and a clever marketing idea (or three!), I believe you can roll out the red carpet and make memorable patient and staff connections during this busy season.

Here are a few bright ideas we’ve observed over the years that we hope you might find helpful!

1. Organize a Community Charity Drive: Engaging in charitable acts can infuse your practice's office culture with positivity—it's a win for everyone involved! Consider collaborating with a local charity for a canned goods or toy drive. Reach out to a nearby charity or non-profit to find out their needs. Then, launch a giving campaign that includes information about the organization. This could be as straightforward as collecting socks and toothpaste, organizing a coat drive, or gathering food for a local shelter. You might even take inspiration from some medical offices we've seen by wrapping a large box in festive gift wrap, placing it in your lobby, and sending a social media post or email to patients about your holiday collection drive. Include easy instructions on how, where, and when they can drop off their unwrapped donations while enjoying some holiday hot cocoa (or tea, if that's more your style!). This initiative not only spreads joy but also brings smiles to your patients and staff who are eager to contribute. For instance, Children's Hospital Colorado has partnered with local charities during the holidays to encourage patient involvement and strengthen community ties. (Source: Children's Hospital Colorado annual reports) Approaches like these not only support local causes but also enhance goodwill among your community, as well as current and prospective patients and your team. 
2. What about a Holiday-Themed Patient Appreciation Event? Many concierge medical offices have decked the halls with festive parties, practice birthdays, and open houses to shower their patients with gratitude! Take a page from Mayo Clinic's playbook; they’ve hosted community health fairs during the holidays, complete with free health check-ups, tasty healthy treats, and wellness tips. It's a win-win—boosting patient loyalty while weaving stronger community bonds together! (Source: Mayo Clinic Community Engagement)
3. Holiday Wellness Kits offer a distinctive approach to health during the festive season. One great example we recently read about was the Cleveland Clinic, which occasionally supplied kits containing hand sanitizers, vitamins, nutritious recipes, and stress relief items to patients throughout the holidays. This initiative not only demonstrates genuine care but also promotes healthy lifestyle habits and practices. (Source: Cleveland Clinic Seasonal Campaign Reports)
4. Fun Social Media Activities: Plastic surgery, aesthetics, and concierge medicine are confidently showcasing their services on social media as if they own the stage! They’re connecting with their local social media audience and gaining new followers through holiday posts that are even more enjoyable than a snowball fight. Picture a local dentist launching their "12 Days of Smiles" celebration, delighting us with daily contests and health tips like it's confetti, all the while rewarding patients for their participation and commentary online! And let’s not overlook the pediatric doctor sporting those vibrant, eye-catching fun socks his patients love to comment about —talk about serious sock style! You could offer on your own social media accounts the opportunity for some lucky local follower to win some fun, quirky socks of their own or promote a new product or service offering you have just implemented in your practice to also help spread some holiday joy -- all the while transforming your online presence into a winter wonderland or warm, seasonable and festive commentary!
5. Seasonal Health Workshops are another great idea worth considering. You could host festive or seasonal-themed health workshop focused on stress relief strategies, healthy cooking recipe cards for the holidays, or even some winter wellness tips strategically designed to help your patients who are new or unfamiliar with your practice. Cleveland Clinic, for example, has successfully organized workshops that highlight managing holiday stress and healthy eating. (Source: Cleveland Clinic Educational Programs)

At the end of the season, these activities help keep your practice at the forefront of patients' minds while providing invaluable information to your local community. After all it’s no longer about being the best Doctor in the world anymore, it’s about being the best Doctor FOR the world, FOR your Patients and FOR your local community.

Fingers crossed, some of these clever ideas have sparked your holiday spirit and inspired you to spread a little holiday cheer on the bond between your healthcare heroes and your patients. Whatever you decide to do, doing good is always good FOR business, and boosting patient and brand loyalty helps keep the good vibes flowing throughout the holiday season!