Get Written Up (in a good way)
Author: Landen Green, DO
As Direct Primary Care physicians, one of our biggest opportunities for growth comes from the combination of providing a high-value service and community awareness. Local newspapers, TV, and online outlets are often looking for fresh, human-centered stories—and you and your patients have them. Here’s how to get your practice featured:
Connect With the Right Reporter.
Most outlets have health or community reporters. A quick search of the paper’s website or a phone call to the newsroom will get you their contact info. Aim for the person who covers local business, health, or “human interest” stories. Cold calls and emails haven’t worked for me. What did work was networking with the Chamber of Commerce. Finding a supporter in the Chamber who has a reporter in their network ended up successful. I failed several times in several different ways before this. Now, I would start by asking my current patient panel (no matter the size) if they know of anyone in journalism who’d be interested in your story.
Keep It Simple.
Craft a short, clear pitch email. In two or less short paragraphs, explain who you are, what’s happening, and why it matters to their readers. Avoid jargon—make it about people.
Offer Access.
Invite them to visit your clinic, meet patients (with consent), or attend an event. Reporters appreciate stories they can see and experience firsthand.
Be Ready.
Have professional headshots, a short bio, and a few patient-friendly talking points ready. This helps make their job easier and positions you as a trusted source.
Getting featured in your local news isn’t about selling your practice—it’s about sharing a story that resonates with your community. Take the time to reach out. You may be surprised at how eager reporters are to highlight physicians bringing something new and personal back to healthcare.
If you are able to get a story before Nov 1, be sure to talk about National DPC Day!
Attached is a recent article posted about my practice, Caravel Health DPC.
perfect timing for National DPC Day.
TY !
O.K., good article and my group practice sometimes had “human interest” stories in the local paper. They advertised the new docs who were patient building. I stayed out of it as I had patients out the wazoo. Was good for the new docs to break in when I retired. Ran into a daughter of a patient I took care of years ago just today and told me her mother thought I was the greatest doctor on earth. (I’m not) But it was nice to hear the positive opinion.