August 26, 2024

Growing your practice means both adding new patients and keeping existing ones. The following are some tips, which you can start implementing right away, that can help do the trick.

Self-Scheduling. Self-scheduling is a great way to get and keep patients. They have the freedom to book appointments when it’s most convenient for them, rather than having to call your office and speak to the receptionist within specified hours. This also reduces the likelihood of cancellations because patients are able to more easily reschedule appointments. Sending patient reminders by text and/or email in addition to phone calls is also highly recommended.

Welcome Email. Creating personal relationships with your patients is key to patient satisfaction and retention. To leave a good first impression, we recommend sending a friendly welcome email to new patients. Consider including information such as how early to arrive and a brief bio about the dentist or hygienist the patient will be seeing.

Google Reviews. Set up a free Google My Business profile. Besides being able to share contact information and photos, this will allow patients to leave you Google reviews. Most people read online reviews before engaging with a new business, and positive feedback is a great way to attract new patients. However, negative feedback serves a purpose as well. Not only does it lend authenticity to your practice, but it also identifies areas for improvement. So don’t be afraid of bad reviews, but instead respond to them in a positive way, such as with a possible resolution strategy.

Increase Marketing. Another way to increase patient volume is to increase your marketing activities. For instance, social media platforms have quickly become an important part of marketing for businesses. Which platform you choose will depend on the demographic you want to target. Generally, Facebook is better for reaching older patients while platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are more often frequented by younger generations. Also, having a website has become a necessity for businesses. We recommend a website design that is user-friendly and compatible with mobile devices. In addition to maintaining an online presence for your practice, your website helps facilitate self-scheduling and patient reviews. 

Focus on Patient Experience. Once you’ve brought in a new patient, your work doesn’t end there. Now you have to keep them coming back. To accomplish this, try focusing on making the patient experience more comfortable. For example, having a TV in the operatory might help to keep a nervous patient relaxed while you work, and setting aside time to answer a new patient’s questions may put them at ease, especially if their treatment goes beyond a mere cleaning.

Offer Membership Plans. As an alternative to traditional marketing, membership plans can help attract patients who don’t have dental insurance and increase patient retention by encouraging regular visits to the office. A relatively novel idea, offering membership plans will distinguish your practice from the rest, while also providing a steady stream of income.

Post-Appointment Follow-Up. While a welcome email creates a good first impression, it’s only the first step in creating personal relationships with your patients. Continue to build those relationships by following up with your patients after their appointments to see how they are doing. This can be done by phone, email or text, and will show your patients that you care about them and their treatment experience. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask them to leave a Google review.

Questions or comments? Please contact us at (646) 213-9044 or Admin@AndrieuxLaw.com.