How to Improve Patient Engagement Between Visits (So They Return & Refer)

40% of patients never return after their first visit? (Source: Medical Economics) That’s a nearly half of your impact - unrealized! Not just for revenue but for patient health outcomes.

But it’s not what you think. They report they LOVED the experience – they believe in your service. 

But why patients don’t return—and how to fix it

Between visits, patients get busy, forget their care plan, or lose motivation.The solution? Consistent engagement. 

Patients who stay engaged with your practice are more likely to return for follow-ups, complete their treatment plans, and refer others.

But engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It requires ongoing education, relationship-building, and consistent communication—without overwhelming your schedule (or their inbox).  

So, how do you keep patients engaged? These patient retention strategies show you how to use specific forms of high-value content to maintain patient relationships, keep them informed, and increase return visits—all without adding extra work to your plate.

Why Patient Engagement Drops Between Visits

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s look at the root cause of why patients disengage after their initial visit.

Common Reasons Patients Don’t Return:

❌ Forgetting about their next appointment – Life gets busy, and healthcare isn’t always a top priority. Unless patients are experiencing daily pain or discomfort, follow-up care often takes a backseat to their hectic schedules. Prevention and maintenance don’t feel urgent—until they become a problem. But consistent education and gentle reminders can shift this mindset. Keeping your practice top-of-mind and making it easier for patients to prioritize their health before issues resurface.

❌ Not understanding the long-term benefits of follow-ups – If patients don’t fully grasp why ongoing care matters, they won’t prioritize it. It also has to fit into their view of themselves. When they understand the interconnectedness that their actions/ food choices/ etc. has with their daily experience – it becomes much more real to them. ( As an aside – this is why it is so powerful to have testimonies from your patients and use thier words to explain their transformation).

❌ Feeling uncertain about their treatment plan – Fear paralyzes. When patients don’t fully understand their treatment plan, they hesitate, delay, or abandon it altogether. Unknowns create doubt, and doubt leads to inaction. But when a patient receives ongoing education and clear, consistent communication, uncertainty fades. Knowledge builds confidence, helping patients – and their families – feel informed, reassured, and motivated to follow through with care.

❌ No personal connection with the provider – If a patient feels seen and known – they will stay with a practitioner for years and years – if nothing but for the convenience of not having to rehash their lengthy history. Of getting to “know” a new doctor. Feeling known is tied with an intrinsic impulse toward community we all are born with. But without that vital element patients are way more likely to switch practitioners. The thing is – it doesn’t always have to be a “medical-based” personal connection – My dad’s primary care is a veteran who served at the same time as he did - and he won’t see anyone but him - waiting weeks for an appointment. 

The Business Impact of Lost Engagement:

📉 Fewer return visits = declining revenue & reduced patient lifetime value.
📉 Missed referrals = losing potential new patients from word-of-mouth marketing.
📉 Lower treatment compliance = worse patient outcomes and less trust in your care.

The good news? These challenges can be solved with content 

How to Keep Patients Engaged Between Visits 

The key to retaining patients and increasing follow-ups is to provide ongoing value outside of their appointments. Here’s 3  ways to do it!

1. Send a Monthly Newsletter to Stay Top-of-Mind

A holistic nutritionist publishes a blog post: "5 Foods That Reduce Inflammation"—patients share it with friends, leading to new referrals and engagement. 

A well-written, strategic healthcare newsletter is one of the most effective patient retention tools—keeping your practice top-of-mind, improving patient engagement, and increasing referrals. Email marketing for healthcare providers ensures patients stay connected and take action when needed

How It Works:

• Reminds patients about your practice and their ongoing care.

• Educates them with valuable health insights they can feel connected to

• Encourages action (like making a healthy recipe, scheduling follow-ups or referring friends).

Key Elements to Include in Your Newsletter:

✅ Patient success stories – Build trust with real-world results – putting readers in the shoes of someone you’ve successfully helped - spurring confidence you can help them too.
✅ Helpful wellness tips – Keep patients engaged with useful insights they can take home and implement.
✅ Appointment reminders & offers – Make it easy for them to rebook or respond

2. How Blogging Increases Patient Engagement & Positions You as a Healthcare Authority

When patients have health questions, they turn to Google first—often searching for trusted healthcare blogs, expert advice, and medical content marketing resources before calling a provider.

That’s why an SEO-optimized blog is one of the most effective tools for educating patients, attracting new leads, and strengthening your authority.

Why Blogging Is Essential for Patient Education & Retention (Best Practices for Healthcare Blogs)

✅ Positions you as a trusted expert—Patients see your insights before ever stepping into your office.
✅ Keeps your website fresh—Google favors active sites, helping more people find you.
✅ Creates shareable content—Your blogs can be repurposed for newsletters, social media, and patient handouts.

What to Blog About:

✔️ Answer common patient questions – “What’s the best diet for inflammation?”
✔️ Debunk health myths – “Does cracking your back really cause arthritis?”
✔️ Provide step-by-step wellness guides – “How to Improve Sleep Naturally”

A strategic blog keeps patients engaged between visits, reinforces the value of ongoing care, and brings in new referrals—without you having to ask.

3. How Automated Patient Emails Increase Engagement, Compliance & Retention

Imagine this: You’re a physical therapist, and three weeks after a patient’s visit, they receive a friendly email reminding them of their next steps. They recall how great they felt after their last session and are prompted to reschedule—without you lifting a finger.

This is the power of automated email sequences for patient retention

Patients get busy, and without reminders, their Care Plan can slip through the cracks. An automated email sequence ensures they stay engaged, on track, and connected to your practice. 

Why Automated Email Sequences Improve Patient Engagement & Retention:

• ✅ Patients don’t forget about their care plan—timely nudges reinforce their treatment goals.

• ✅ Saves you time—you (or your team) aren’t constantly sending manual reminders allthe time.

• ✅ More effective messaging—emails are strategically timed to get the intended result.

• ✅ Strengthens trust—consistent communication keeps your practice top-of-mind.

• ✅ Encourages bookings at the right time—when patients are most likely to take action.

Types of Follow-Up Emails to Send:

📧 Check-in email: "How have you been feeling since your last visit?"
📧 Educational email: "Why regular adjustments improve long-term health."
📧 Referral email: "Know someone who could benefit from care? Send them our way!"

A well-planned healthcare newsletter strategy can include all of these elements, strengthening patient engagement, increasing retention, and driving more referrals

Bonus Strategies to Keep Patients Engaged 

Use Lead Magnets to Improve Patient Retention & Generate Referrals

Offer a simple, high-value freebie to help them with something they are struggling with. Patients come across your free offer (A PDF guide, checklist, or mini-course) and it’s a no-brainer.

They quickly put in their email to get your resource sent to them. This “Lead magnet” attracts new leads /prospective clients like a magnet and grows your email list (and influence and engagement with them).  Of course, you tell them they can unsubscribe at any time – but a key bit of motivational gold has already been revealed. 

They want what your resources promised to give them. Bad enough to exchange their email address for it. The key to keeping patients engaged is to always deliver on your promises. And to promise things they care about. 

Examples Lead Magnet
📖 "10 Stretches for Instant Back Pain Relief" (chiropractors)
📖 "How to Improve Gut Health Naturally and Lose The Belly" (nutritionists)
📖 "Stress Management Guide" (holistic health providers)

The Process

✅ You create and post an amazing, top-notch valuable resource YOU would pay for
✅ Patients opt-in to receive the resource FOR FREE → now they’re on your email list.
✅ You nurture them with newsletters and other emails → increasing rebooking & referrals.
✅ Patients share the guide with friends → generating new leads.

TAKE ACTION

Keeping patients engaged between visits isn’t just about retention—it’s about building trust, loyalty, and long-term success.

A strategic newsletter + educational blog are your specific forms of content to reach people where they are.

✔️ More return visits & higher retention rates
✔️ Better patient compliance & outcomes
✔️ Increased referrals from engaged clients

If you’re not using consistent content to stay connected with patients, you’re missing a huge opportunity to share your message with the world.

🚀Ready to make newsletter & content work for you?