1. Ask at the peak, not at checkout
The best moment is the minute after the patient feels the result: the drip is done, the treatment looks great, the pain is down. By the time they are paying, they are thinking about parking. Put the ask where they are at the peak: the treatment room, the recovery chair, the lounge.
2. Make it one action, not a promise
"Tell your friends about us" asks the patient to remember later. "Scan this and send a friend a gift" asks them to do one thing now. A QR code on the counter turns a promise into a 20-second action.
3. Let the message come from the patient
A text from a friend gets opened. A text from a clinic number reads like an ad. The invite should leave from the patient's own phone, in their own name, by Messages or WhatsApp.
4. Give the friend a reason to book
A first-visit offer works: $25 off a first drip, $50 off a first treatment, a free assessment call. If your college restricts incentives, a clear "my friend recommended this clinic" link with your booking page is still far better than nothing.
5. Thank the referrer, within your rules
Med spas, IV bars and wellness clinics often give both sides a credit. Regulated professions in Ontario, such as physiotherapy, dentistry, medicine and nursing, restrict rewards for referrals, so a personal thank-you is the safe default. Read referral rewards and college rules before you offer anything.
6. Prove the friend came in
If you cannot tell which new patient came from which referrer, you cannot thank anyone, and you cannot tell if it works. A visit pass the friend shows at the desk solves both.
7. Train the desk with one sentence
Staff will not memorise a script. Give them one line: "Scan that to send a friend a gift." Said to every patient, every day.
8. Ask for the Google review in the same window
Patients who just sent a friend a gift are in a generous mood. That is a good time to ask for a review. Do not tie the review to the reward, and ask everyone, not only happy patients: Google's rules forbid both.
9. Look at the numbers every week
Scans, invites sent, friends claimed, friends who visited. If scans are low, move the sign. If claims are low, improve the offer. If visits are low, check the booking link.
Do all nine with one QR sign
Clinvite handles the ask, the message, the offer, the visit pass, the reward and the weekly numbers. Live in five minutes.
Common questions
When is the best time to ask a patient for a referral?
Right after the treatment, when they feel the result. That is when they are most likely to act, and it is before they leave the building.
Should I pay patients for referrals?
It depends on your profession. Med spas and wellness clinics often give credits to both sides. Several Ontario health colleges restrict rewards for referrals, so regulated clinics usually run a thank-you-only program. Check your college before offering anything.
How do I track patient referrals?
Give each invite a unique link and give the friend a visit pass to show at the desk. When the desk scans the pass, you know exactly who referred whom. Clinvite does this automatically.
What is a good referral rate for a clinic?
It varies widely by clinic type and offer. The useful numbers to watch are how many patients scan, how many invites go out, how many friends claim, and how many come in. Improve whichever step drops the most.