Provide excellent customer service with the help of these 10 words

One of the most important aspects of five-star customer service is being able to handle any issues with patients immediately no matter what. For example, it’s not unusual for patients to ask the wrong person in a dental practice for information. When a dental assistant gets a question that doesn’t concern them, it may feel natural for them to point the patient to the front desk. This isn’t a terrible response but it’s not five-star customer service. Instead the answer should be: "I don’t know, but I will find out for you.”

These words are a powerful part of excellent customer service. They say much more than you will get the information. This sentence tells patients …

• You will take care of them. Everyone likes to be taken care of. In fact, research by the Ritz Carlton reveals people want to be treated as if they were being cared for by their mother. When you were sick your mother took care of you. When you had a question, your mother would find the answer. When a patient asks a question in a dental practice and you tell them “I don’t know, but I will find out for you.”, you‘re saying: “I will take care of you.”                                                                      

• You will make things easy for them. How often have you asked people for information or guidance on something and been told you’ll have to check with another person? There is almost always that moment when you think to yourself: Really? Now I have to talk to yet another person who probably won’t know the answer either. Five-star customer service proactively removes this burden from the patient.

• You are committed to them. When you say, “I don’t know, but I will find out for you." , you are demonstrating a level of commitment to the patient and that helps build dental practices. In the changing world of dentistry this can really differentiate your practice.

• They can count on your practice. When patients meet staff members who will take care of it for them, find out for them and solve it for them, they have found five-star customer service. This creates an atmosphere where patients want to come back to. Why would they even consider going anywhere else when your office goes out of its way to create an efficient, enjoyable and easy experience?

Related reading: The secret to great customer service

Summary

Dentistry can be complex for patients. They don’t really understand clinical terms, insurance or treatment financing, so it’s inevitable they’ll have questions. Practices who want to provide a five-star customer service level must always be ready to respond.