On a daily basis, a dentist and staff probably spend more time discussing and dealing with the topic of appointment cancels, broken appointments, and no-shows than any other subject. It is a source of endless frustration. Downtime is also the biggest single source of lost revenue.
A full appointment book translates to revenues and production only if the patients come in. If a practice loses 1 to 2 appointments/day, either on the hygienist’s schedule or on the dentist’s schedule, the lost production from this could be anywhere from $150 (minimally) to $700 per day, depending upon the procedure. Assuming 200 working days during the year, the annual lost production works out to $30,000 at the low end to $140,000 at the high end.
Those figures are for a solo practitioner, with one full-time hygienist. The figures multiply for a multi-doctor office, with more than one hygienist. Improving practice performance in this one area alone could significantly improve the financial status of many dental practices.
It is not possible to eliminate appointment cancels completely, as patients do have legitimate reasons for canceling. However, with proper systems in place, and motivated, diligent staff, it is possible to reduce broken appointments up to 75%. Start with these three fundamental routines.
Three Surprisingly Effective Steps to Fewer Broken Dentist Appointments
1. Communicate the value and the need for treatment or preventive care.
2. Use technology to educate the patient and involve them in diagnosis.
3. Discuss the cost for treatment before scheduling the patient.
…
Peter Gopal, PhD, together with his wife, Hema Gopal, M.B.A. and D.M.D., consults with dentists who are intent on building a more profitable practice. Whether you are leaving money on the table due to broken patient appointments, improper scheduling, poor case acceptance, low hygienist productivity, excessive overhead, or unnecessary reliance on PPOs, they can pinpoint your weaknesses and prescribe remedies. Receive a free, realistic assessment of the earning potential of your dental practice by going to: http://www.visionary-management.com/assessment.php
Read more articles written by Peter Gopal
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