"Good call, doctor interested." I have read that note more times than I can count. It is useless.
A call note is not a report for your manager. It is a message to yourself for the next visit. When I review CRM records with reps, the difference between the strong and the average ones is rarely the number of calls. It is whether the notes could actually run the next call.
The four fields I ask for:
- Patient type discussed. Where you start next time.
- What he said. His words on his need or concern, not your summary.
- Commitment agreed. The specific next action he accepted.
- Your promise and date. What you owe him, and by when.
Three habits that make it work:
- Write it in the car, before the next call.
- If the commitment field is empty, ask yourself honestly what the call achieved.
- Read the note before you walk in next time.
And keep it clean: what the doctor said about his practice, never patient-identifiable details.
“A call note is a letter to yourself for the next visit. Write it so you can use it.”
Lesson 1 of 7 in Step 7: After the visit, with the full guide and a checklist for this week.