Quite a few dental office front desk staff

Quite a few dental office front desk staff members and even Dental Managers dread making affirmation calls. But the fact is, unconfirmed appointments bring about missed consultations, which can cripple a orthodontic practice. It can wreak havoc about revenue and customer service, as well as punctual dental team members to become frustrated (no one likes to be bored at your workplace. )

Therefore, effective appointment affirmation is a process designed to produce desired results: full schedules, ample revenue, and satisfied employees. Below are some recommendations to boost your practices appointment affirmation efforts.

Because everyone in our modern society is busy, even the most dependable patients may forget an appointment. Therefore, instituting a policy dentist management to place a verification call for every appointment is a good idea. And confirming 48 hours forward is more effective than confirming 24 hours forward. That's because, occasionally during a affirmation call, the patient will want to reschedule. Contacting less than 48 hours ahead results in insufficient time to fill canceled visit slots. So while some practices still prefer to confirm only 24 hours ahead, the benefits of 48-hour confirmation calls very good outweigh the risks.

Another key point in the confirmation process is to speak with the patient directly if at all possible. Many times when a sales message is left, the patient will declare he or she never received it. This may result in no-show and unfilled visits, which are not productive. As a Oral Manager or front office part of the team, when calling to confirm, always question to speak to the person who is on your timetable. If they are unavailable, ask if there is another number where they can be reached. (Do not leave a message with a kid. ) This will facilitate a much cheaper cancellation rate.

Also, do not think about a "left message" as a confirmed consultation. When you do reach an answering equipment or voice mail, or if you leave a message with another person, notice this on your confirmation list. Next, continue trying to reach the patient throughout the day in order to speak with him or her directly.

When you do reach the patient, use positive verbal skills to confirm. For example, state that you will be "Calling to say that we are looking forward to seeing you" rather than that you are calling to "confirm" or "remind. " The word "confirm" implies that you aren't sure they decide to keep the appointment. The word "remind" implies that they are not responsible and need to be told. Even though both of these may be the case, create want to create that impression using a patient.

When you speak with the patient, obviously state the appointment day, time frame, and time. After you have stated the reason for the call, as well as the day, date, in addition to time, pause and wait for these to acknowledge their appointment. If there is a good pause, ask the patient "

" Do not ask, "

? " Of which implies the appointment is recommended. Even though cancellations are acceptable, they may not be desired.

When leaving a message on a recorder, voice mail, or along with another person, always ask the patient to return your call in order to let you know these people got the message. Once you have proved helpful in a dental practice for a while, you will know the patients who always keep their consultations and the ones who need constant prodding. Just about every practice has some of each. But in the start, until you know individual tendencies, it is advisable that you follow up carefully. But you need not follow up repeatedly. You do not want individuals to perceive that they are being hassled, or that they are not trusted.

The moment more patients keep their arranged appointments, the dental practice's revenue increase, employee satisfaction rises, and patients receive the care they need to achieve optimal oral health.