Many arguments, misunderstandings and disappointments are caused by two parties attaching different meanings to the same word. In fact, most words only mean what we decide them to mean.
What does it mean when your patient volume is down? Here are some possibilities:
I’m a failure. (Find a new career?)
I’m going out of business. (Cut costs?)
I need to make a change. (New report?)
Get more new patients. (Advertise?)
I need to help more people. (Look for opportunities?)
Market my services differently. (Lectures or a website?)
I’m not relevant. (Discover what patients really want?)
The meaning you attach to it affects how likely you’ll be able to correct it.
Before you can effectively overcome a challenge, make sure you know what it means. Otherwise, you may apply the wrong solution. That’s what patient education is: helping patients attach a new meaning to their symptoms and its correction.