TIME IS THE MOST valuable commodity in any business. Equipment and supplies can always be restocked, but lost time is not as easily replaced.
There are countless ways time slips away in a busy dental practice—from late and cancelled appointments to being unable to efficiently move between treatment rooms, the list goes on and on. So how do you make the most of your time while dealing with the usual hiccups throughout the day? We have a few tips to help you out.
Maximize Your Practice Potential With These Simple Scheduling Tips
Be proactive vs. reactive. Ensure you are viewing your schedule 3 days in advance and communicating during your morning huddle of any potential openings in the schedule. This helps facilitate a team effort in creating a productive schedule. Hygienists should schedule next preventative appointments upon completion of treatment, as patients are more apt to keep their hygiene appointment when the Hygienist has scheduled it. Doctors should communicate to the front office, while patient is listening when he/she wants the patient scheduled as this creates a sense of urgency. Make sure your patients are confirmed at least 48 hours of their appointment. Don’t wait till the day before and begin your confirmation. When calling patients to remind them of their appointment, let them know this is a courtesy call to remind them of their upcoming appointment. If you have a 3rd party communication confirmation system, it is important to review when those calls are being made including email and text messages. It is very important to value the patient’s time, courtesy is contagious! If patients have to wait to be seen on most visits, they are likely to devalue your time by showing late or broken appointments. Be prepared for your patients visit, show your patients what makes your practice different and reinforce their positive experience!
Time Is An Invaluable Asset
We know managing a successful practice isn’t an easy task. That’s why we’re here. If you have questions about improving the efficiency of your day-to-day operations, let us know! We can provide you with proven time-management and scheduling strategies that not only improve your team’s workflow, but will add to your bottom line as well.
Do you have any scheduling strategies that have worked in your office? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from you.