Dr. Eliot Heisler and team at Elite Dental Spa know that running a successful practice takes the combined effort of everyone in the office, including the dentist, receptionists, hygienists and office managers. When everything is working in harmony, it can make every person better at their job and make the other person’s jobs easier. You are also more likely to encounter satisfied patients who are therefore more likely to recommend your practice to someone else. The goal of any practice is to expand your business while at the same time providing the best service possible. Below are some tips for your dental team to make their jobs easier and keep patients satisfied.
A receptionist is the first point of contact for your practice. Having a receptionist who is warm and welcoming creates a good first impression and provides patients with a positive experience. A patient’s time is always valuable, and it’s important that you show how much you value their time. It could be as simple as prioritizing a patient in the office when the receptionist receives a call and giving a short message when putting the person calling on hold.
The ultimate goal is to make the patient happy and to keep them coming back and engaged in their oral health. Working together ensures that a patient’s appointment is done and a new one is scheduled immediately.
How is your hygienist helping in the mission to provide the best oral health care to the patient? One way to do this is by taking a more leading role in recommending preventive services that can best benefit the patient, such as fluoride treatment or dental sealants. They should be engaging the patient and encouraging them to come in regularly.
Knowing their situation also makes it easier when scheduling follow-ups. When a hygienist knows the patient, they can instruct the front office team about how much time they will require with the patient, as they are familiar with the person and will know how much time is needed. This can prevent issues where the patient is waiting because of overscheduling or there is too wide a gap in time between appointments.
How are you reaching out to patients? Offering a return appointment as soon as they finish their hygiene cleanings makes it more likely that a patient returns in the future and makes sure that they don’t fall through the cracks. Creating a system where you follow up with patients and encourage them to return back to their visits is also important.
Keeping patients satisfied can also take the form of providing options when presenting them with a treatment plan. A patient may not ask too many questions so it’s important to offer them options and flexibility in terms of treatment visits and payment options.
The main role is in maintaining and restoring a patient’s oral health. Having a positive attitude during the visit can make the patient feel relaxed, as well as mentioning if you’ve noticed progress or a positive trend in their oral health. When a patient feels like you have their best interest in mind, they are more likely to be open to treatment recommendations. Being proactive about wanting to get reviews from a client can also let you know how you are doing as a business. If you have a particularly good interaction, it’s always a good idea to encourage them to leave a positive review on your Yelp or Facebook page. If the patient is taking that extra step, they are also more likely to recommend your office to someone else.
Creating a positive interaction with every point of contact all work together to create a positive image in the customer’s mind. Motivated staff and being on the same page will go a long way to create a good impression, a satisfied patient and a good oral health outcome for the patient.
About Us
Dr. Eliot Heisler and his team at Elite Dental Spa offer a variety of dental services in Great Neck, NY. Check our meet our dentist page to learn more!