The end of treatment is a major milestone in the recovery journey. Offering continued support to graduates of your program means they don’t have to keep taking steps alone—but it’s also an opportunity to improve your business.
Alumni programs and your bottom line
Keeping in touch with people in long-term recovery isn’t just associated with better health, it can be a boost to your bottom line. For providers in value-based care payment models, alumni programs can reduce the risk of relapse and improve outcomes. Alumni programs are also good sources of word-of-mouth referrals, which can be both highly relevant and valuable.
Long-term recovery & value-based care
The value-based care model is an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model. Instead of charging for a flat fee and being reimbursed, providers are incentivized by payors to demonstrate truly improved patient outcomes. When it comes to behavioral health, one marked indicator of better outcomes is the reduced risk of relapse.
Addiction, by nature, is a relapsing disease, and many mental health conditions are at risk of setbacks, too. Treatment is often the first step in true recovery, and continued support is needed for continued progress. Alumni programs keep former patients engaged with professionals and peers so they can keep making strides.
Word-of-mouth referrals & marketing spend
When you run ads, socials, or other campaigns, you’re casting a wide net to try and get the right people in your doors. Getting your name out there and improving the reputation of your brand is important, and you’ll still need to make efforts, but having word-of-mouth referrals can help you be more selective with your marketing spend.
New patients who know your brand because of how former patients speak of it are more likely to trust it quicker. That’s because they can have a better understanding of what their experience will be like when they enter treatment rather than seeing it through an advertising lens. Alumni programs keep former patients plugged into the treatment process so that when they see others who need help, they can quickly send them your way.
What successful alumni engagement looks like
There’s no one single approach to alumni engagement, but there are a few things that consistently work:
- Support groups: Connecting with others in recovery is one of the most important benefits people get from alumni programming. Connection is necessary for maintaining sobriety and symptom management, and structured meetings led by professionals fosters these discussions.
- Check-ins & progress monitoring: Checking in with alumni via text, phone, or email can keep your team in touch with those most at risk of relapse. Brief surveys can give you a quick look at someone who is showing early signs of relapse so you can connect with them about getting more help.
- Social events: The world after addiction or mental health treatment can be a lot more open, but it can also bring a lot of anxiety. Social events sponsored by your alumni program create safe spaces where people can interact without pressure to drink or go too far out of their comfort zones.
If you’re already running an alumni program, how are you staying in touch with everyone? Running manual email lists or reaching out individually can stretch you thin, keeping you from improving your outreach opportunities.
Improve your outreach with Sunwave
Sunwave Health is a business management platform designed specifically for behavioral health treatment. Bringing CRM, EMR, telehealth, and alumni engagement together in one seamless patient records management platform, your teams can access the information they need, reach out to the right people, and stay connected with everyone without having to close the app.
Waves secure messaging allows team members to communicate with one another directly in Sunwave’s encrypted platform. Mobile and desktop support means that you can take Sunwave with you when you’re away from your desk at group meetings. Customizable automated messaging in the CRM gives you control to set the content of text and email campaigns and push them out to the right people when you want. Event management features collect RSVPs and provide all the details you need to get to your alumni before a big event. And, when you get new word-of-mouth referrals, they can work through connected admissions workflows with your intake team.
There’s no reason to keep using multiple apps to manage your business. Call 561.576.6037 or book a demo of Sunwave Health online now.
