The single biggest step you can make to unlock your practice growth is when you start to accept out of area patients. The nature of public transport links / working patterns means that some patients who seem far away can access your practice very easily and efficiently.

For example, taking patients from a 3 mile radius of your practice instead of 1 mile opens you up to 9x more potential people, assuming uniform distribution.

Your findings may inform future plans to open new branch sites as you truly expand your footprint.

However, out of area registration is not appropriate for all patients! For example, housebound patients, those with complex mental health conditions who need local referrals, and those generally less mobile. However, we can offer you flexibility to overcome this.

With Bookable, we introduce new flexibility, letting you decide whether you take out-of-area patients and set a maximum catchment area. This is the maximum area you can safely service (e.g. you can’t refer into local services beyond this point). This area can be a circle radius or a customisable shape.

Also, note that Bookable currently only shows practices up to 5 miles from the patient, so registrations will still remain sensible!

Patients out of your normal catchment area but within your maximum catchment will be shown a warning before they register - using the same communication principles of clarity and transparency that Raj discussed in 003. How to make de-registration crystal clear.

And when expanded...

In addition, we'll also send patients the normal Out of Area communications and place the correct SNOMED code on their record.

824381000000105 | Registered patient lives outside practice area (finding)

Get in touch with us today to make sure your catchment area is set up at [email protected] or by booking a call!