1-800-DENTIST’s New Online Self-Appointing Platform Helps Dentists Connect with More Patients
LOS ANGELES, CA – Futuredontics® announced that members of its flagship 1-800-DENTIST® dental referral service are now able to connect with consumers through an exclusive online self-appointing platform. Available to the entire 1-800-DENTIST member network, this new application significantly improves the practice’s ability to fill unscheduled chair time.
The result of a year-long field test, the new online self-appointing platform will enable 1-800-DENTIST consumers to choose a member dentist and appoint themselves in select times pre-designated by the practice without ever having to speak to an operator. Prospective patients will enjoy a seamless online appointing experience while the dental office maintains control over its schedule.
“Our goal is to maximize the number of new patients that walk in through a member’s door,” says Futuredontics President, Fred Joyal. “According to our 2016 study, over 40% of high-value dental patients want to be able to request dental appointments online. Our data further indicates that this trend will grow at an accelerated pace.”
Available at no additional cost to all 1-800-DENTIST members, this self-appointing feature reflects the innovative dental marketing organization’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its services and keeping its dentists in sync with changing consumer habits, thus, well ahead of their competition.
“By meeting this challenge, our online self-appointing application represents a game changer,” Joyal continues. “According to researchers at Accenture, in the next three years, 64% of healthcare patients will be booking appointments online without ever speaking to anyone1. Mark my words, you will see online self-appointing very quickly become the dental industry standard.”
1-800-DENTIST pioneered many of the marketing strategies that are now commonly used in healthcare and other industries. It revolutionized dentistry by being the first to promote dental services via TV and radio advertising. In addition to introducing the 24/7 call center concept to the dental field, 1-800-DENTIST was an early proponent of web-based marketing. Its popular website, 1800dentist.com, went live in 2003 and today ranks as the North America’s largest dental referral website.
1 Source: Accenture Analysis 2014, Patient Engagement: Digital self-scheduling set to explode in healthcare over the next five years