title: Effect of a public relations staff member on new patient visits in an established private practice.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to relate the short-term effect of implementation of a public relations program (internal marketing), utilizing a public relations staff member (PRSM) in an established pediatric dental private practice. The public relations staff member performed numerous duties previously performed by many staff members. The results showed an increase in new patients for the six months studied between 22 percent to 111 percent. The number of Hispanic new patients was also compared and also increased significantly. Consideration should be given to having a public relations staff member to handle all incoming calls.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nacht
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trupkin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trilnik
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000379:methods; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D011641:Public Relations