Marketing for Physicians

Develop Your Patient Base

HCMS offers no cost and low-cost resources to help its members market their practice and develop their patient base.


Set Yourself Apart with a Practice Description

As a member, your biographical information is listed in the online Physician Directory. This information is helpful, but it does not communicate the many unique practice details that optimize patient referrals. Now you can promote your practice all year round by including these additional details in the Practice Description section of your Physician Directory profile. All HCMS members receive a free Practice Description.

Include procedures performed, specialized services offered, number of office locations, website address, and more. The Practice Description section is located at the bottom of your Physician Directory profile, below the office contact information. Click here for an example. 

To add a Practice Description and/or update your record: Click here for instructions, terms and conditions.
Note: If you do not have a TMA login/password, you must register on the TMA website first. Once registered, you can use this same login/password to access the Physician Directory. Then you can enter your member profile to create a Practice Description.


Find Networking Opportunities

Build your patient referral network and earn ethics CME credit by attending the following HCMS meetings:   

  • Meet physicians in your community at branch meetings.
  • Meet physicians from the Greater Houston area at the Business Expo.
  • Meet early career physicians at upcoming annual events
  • Attend the Marketing 101 ethics CME to learn about HCMS and TMA resources available to you to grow your practice.
  • New: Following each meeting, attendees will receive a follow-up list, to maximize the networking experience.

Targeted Direct Mailings with DocList

The DocList is a great way to build your practice and share information with colleagues. Use these mailers to: 

  • Share details about your practice (i.e., office hours, languages spoken, etc.);
  • Communicate changes (i.e., relocating, new staff, new procedures, etc.);
  • Build your brand awareness by sharing a practice newsletter;
  • Promote educational opportunities;
  • Send greeting cards and more. 

Order the full HCMS membership, or just by specific specialty, zip code, age preference, practice setting (independent practice, academic, hospital employed), and/or newly licensed physicians. Costs range from approximately $53 to $315. Click here for an example mailing letter.

NEW: 
All new HCMS members and physicians in their first and second year of practice are eligible to receive one set of FREE electronic labels per year. Click here to get started. 
For more information, contact Suzy Pero at 713-524-4267 or suzy_pero@hcms.org.


Additional Resources:

HCMS Reputation Management/Physician Profiling Websites Grid - Provides hyperlinks to several websites' policies for creating and updating a physician profile, requesting the site to review or remove an inappropriate posting, FAQs, etc. 

TMA website section dedicated to all issues related to marketing 

The site includes:

Articles 

  • How to Improve Your Web Presence to Attract More Patients (Texas Medicine Today, Mar. 8, 2018)
  • Marketing Is Not a Luxury ― Marketing Is a Necessity (Texas Medicine, Oct. 2017)
  • Online Reviews Can Have a Big Impact on Your Practice
  • Physicians Can Help Shape Their Presence on Influential Online Rating Sites
  • Guide to Responding to Yelp Negativity 
  • Simple Ways to Keep Your Website Fresh
  • Four Ways to Increase Physician Referrals 
  • Seven Ways a Practice Newsletter Can Work for You 

Tools and Resources 

  • Practice e-Tips on Marketing Your Practice
  • Practice Brochure Templates 
  • Webinar: 10 Ways to Turn Satisfied Patients Into Loyal Patients - TMLT policyholders who complete this course will earn a 3 percent discount (not to exceed$1,000), which will be applied to their next eligible policy period.
  • Publication: Get Social: Put Your Practice on the Social Media Map - provides 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, teaches social media newcomers about branding, online ratings, and how to use social media without violating HIPAA