Wednesday’s Patient Tip of the Day - August 15, 2012

If it’s not important to you, it won’t be important to them. During every visit, you have to take the time to tell your patients how important it is they make their next appointment, said Linda Miles, founder of Miles Global.

If you don’t take the time to educate your patients about why they need to keep coming back, don’t be surprised when they decide to blow off appointments. If you don’t care, why should they? The more time you spend educating them about their oral health, the more likely they’ll be to follow through with treatment and appointments.

And when a patient calls to cancel at the last minute, let the patient know you’re disappointed and that this cancellation is an inconvenience to the practice. Be friendly yet firm. When your patients truly understand the importance of maintaining their oral health and what it means for the practice when they cancel at the last minute, they’ll be more likely to take their appointment time more seriously. And that not only means your patients will get the care they need, your appointment coordinator will have fewer cancelled appointments to fill.  

Your patients are your practice. Without them, where would you be? You have to know the best ways to attract them to your practice, get them to accept treatment and make them happy, life-long patients.

That’s where we can help. Check back regularly for tips on how to keep your patients happy, healthy and loyal.