If you’re like most dentists, you’re always looking for ways to improve your practice. After all, a successful dental practice requires more than just providing great care. It also takes strong marketing and business acumen.
One of the most important aspects of running a successful dental practice is continuing to evolve and improve. With new technology and techniques emerging all the time, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve in order to provide the best possible care for your patients. Here are some ways you can do just that:
Improve Your Customer Service
One of the most obvious ways to retain your patients is by improving customer service. How you manage your practice and attend to them will leave a lasting impression and are usually significant with retention rates. However, if you think you’re already doing well enough in servicing your patients, then take this chance to add something new or integrate a revolutionary software that could help streamline your practice.
Here are two things you can look into to give you an idea of what your clinic might need.
Dental Practice Management Software
You should never forget that your clinic’s organization starts with you, so you’ll need reliable software that can assist you. A dental practice management software like Dental Intelligence provides insights and tools to help you streamline the process of running your practice.
It holds tools like schedules, digital forms, online scheduling, virtual check-in, payment options, automated recalls, and others. In other words, it’s like a secretary or assistant software that does most of the jobs that involve dealing with customers for you.
Scheduling System
This software is an appointment scheduler that helps streamline productivity within your staff and the appointments booked for your services. There are many types of this system, one of which also integrates an automated appointment reminder to your patients where they can receive alerts or notifications to remind them about their schedule in your practice.
In this way, you can also minimize no-show people by maximizing workplace productivity with less stress.
Provide a Flexible Payment Option
Another way you can retain and attract new customers is by enticing them with flexible financing options. You need to understand that every person handles their finances in various ways and what may work for your other patients may not be as effective for some. So, providing them with a wide range of payment opportunities can attract them to try out what you offer and return for their next appointment.
A relatively new type of payment option you can consider getting for your practice is e-money. It’s money electronically stored on a technical device to make online transactions easier. This way, you can accept and cater to a broader target market while avoiding the risk of bad debt.
Hire Qualified Staff
You must understand that your staff is also the face of your dental practice. It’s also a significant element that can affect patient satisfaction and experience. So, you’ll need to hire qualified people who can achieve your clinic’s standards.
In addition, you’ll need to consider their attitude, professionalism, and communication skills, which could leave a lasting impression on your patients. As such, you have every right to take the time to consider who you would want to be on your team.
Offer a Wide Selection of Dental Services
One thing you should keep in mind is that if you want to reach different audiences, you need to step up with the services you offer. Similarly, the dental industry is competitive. So, you need to make an edge to stand out. Likewise, new procedures and new tools are introduced to people more frequently than you think.
Concerning this, there are far more people interested in “new things,” and you might get their attention if you showcase the new innovations you offer. You can take this chance to practice new dental services that you can offer to your patients and others.
You can consider offering dental assessment for orthopedics surgery, root canal, or even providing other customer services that you may not have tried before. In this way, you’re constantly offering something new as the needs of your patients grow. Still, while doing so, you mustn’t forget how you deliver them to the people. Always keep in mind the reputation you need to uphold.
Improve Patient Referrals
Another way you can improve your services and gather new patients is by referral. Most people trust referrals from people who are dear to them, like their family, friends, or colleagues. So, proactively ask your patient to refer your clinic to their family that needs dental services.
Aside from giving a satisfactory service, you can also ask for a patient referral by providing them with your referral cards that they can easily give to their friend or family member or a bonus program that can encourage them.
Additionally, since other people head to the internet to search for a reliable clinic, you can use social media sites and ask them to post their reviews and comments on their services on your account page or in their profile. Alternatively, if you have an active website, you can get their testimonies and write them on your page as a blog.
Final Thoughts
Your success defines your effort. If you put great importance on the comfort and experience of your client, then you’ll put in the effort to satisfy them. This way, you can improve patient retention and attract more possible prospects. In doing so, you can rely on this article to look for a good upgrade in your clinic and find out what will suit your practice’s current situation.
