Ever lose callers that were put on hold by the front desk? That translates into lost opportunities for getting new patients in the door. Patients don’t like being put on hold and most likely will book an appointment elsewhere.
In addition to being put on hold, approximately 20% of new patient phone calls are missed? What if patients could book appointments during & outside of business hours, from their own device, without a single phone call? So you wouldn’t be missing any more scheduling requests. It would be a win for patients wanting convenience, and a win for your dental practice’s growth.
Patient Convenience
Most patients are tech-savvy, and want an easy online option for almost everything these days. Did you know that around 80% of patients prefer to book their appointment online? Why not give them the choice of scheduling appointments online, on their own time, outside of work hours, from home or even while out running errands?
Access for clients to book appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, guarantees better results for your practice. Patients won’t pass you over when they see that your office prioritizes patient convenience with online patient scheduling software that they can easily access using their smartphone, laptop, or any device.
Appointment bookings can be made directly via your own website (widget), or via a link sent by SMS/Email/Automated Recalls. Scheduling links can also be hosted on your practice’s Google business profile and Facebook page, giving patients added convenience.
Reduces Staff Workload
Answering phone calls and setting up appointments eats up front desk time, keeping staff away from valuable patient care. With online scheduling, staff can quickly customize the schedule with available dates and times for patients to select from, and be hands- off from there. No more manually inserting scheduling information in the system.
Once patients book an appointment online, the scheduled appointment syncs with your practice management system (Open Dental, Eaglesoft, Dentrix). Your office will be able to automate appointment reminders, and send a link to patient intake forms via SMS/Email.
Quick Insurance Verification
Manually calling insurance payers and spending hours verifying eligibility is a burden for team members. There’s an easier, faster way to get it done. Online patient appointment scheduling allows you to get insurance information from patients on the spot, quickly verify eligibility, conveniently send digital forms to patients, and receive submitted forms in your practice management software {Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Dentrix (read only)}.
Conclusion
Online patient appointment scheduling gives your practice the ability to provide the most convenient scheduling option for your patients, and increases your practice’s growth multifold. No more lost patients due to missed phone calls.
It’s a win-win platform for providers and patients. Don’t be left in the dark, while other dental practices take the lead on patient growth. Learn more about online appointments today.
