Are last-minute cancellations a big problem for your dental practice? You’re not alone. In a recent survey, dentists and office managers agreed that cancellations are their number-one pain point.
Not only do cancellations leave costly holes in your schedule – they disrupt your front desk too, forcing the team to scramble to find a new patient to take the spot. Bottom line: these empty chairs cost you time and money you can never get back.
So how can this be solved? Here are 7 secrets to help solve last-minute cancellations.
- Never let your patient forgot their appointment. Use automated appointment reminders by phone, text or email (or a combination of these) to make sure the appointment stays top of mind.
- If patients say they’re too busy to keep their appointments, try offering same-day treatment when possible so they don’t need multiple visits.
- Is cost a reason patients are canceling? Consider offering payment plans, financing, or discounts for early payment. Easing their mind about payment can help motivate them to show up for treatment.
- Ever heard this one? “I already have healthy teeth!” Combat this by educating patients on the importance of regular, preventive dental care. This can be with your practice newsletters, or simply in your face to face interactions
- New or dormant patients are often more likely to cancel. Make a welcome call soon after the appointment is booked to reinforce their decision and put them at ease.
- Have a patient who’s consistently unreliable? Consider charging a cancellation fee or require a deposit before making a treatment appointment to encourage them to prioritize the visit.
- In addition to all of these, use Fill-In, from Lighthouse 360.
Fill-In automatically detects cancellations in your PMS and helps find a patient to take the spot. It’s an innovative approach that helps avoid empty chairs and saves time and stress for your team.
To learn more about Fill-In, call 855-888-6474 or visit www.lh360.com/Fill-In.