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Keeping Detailed Medical Records
Keeping on top of patient records is a monumental task but it’s imperative. Failure to maintain them accurately can lead to medical record errors, and you can end up facing medical malpractice suits. Patient records are useful for local orthodontist to know what treatment has already happened, informing their practice. Further, in the case of a claim, insurance companies will require access to certain data.
Automated Confirmations
Physically contacting patients to remind them of their appointments is extremely time-consuming. Consider automated text confirmations to save yourself a lot of time. If you are worried that recipients may not read their text messages, then be rest assured. In a study, VentureBeat found that 90% of people read a text message within the first 3 minutes.
Scheduling at Checkout
Before patients leave the practice, get them booked in for their next appointment. Keeping on top of your scheduling like this will save your administration staff a lot of time, as they won’t have to spend weeks attempting to make contact.
Front Staff Triage
When patients call for appointments, they don’t want to wait for someone to assess their urgency and get them booked in. Having your front staff trained to triage patience will streamline your practice, making it as smooth as possible. Given that your front staff manage practice schedules, it just makes sense for them to carry out triage.
Cut Waiting Times
The average wait time in medical practices is roughly 18 minutes. If you find that waiting times at your dental practice are creeping up, then you should implement policies for late patients and no-shows. If your wait times increase, make sure that you communicate these to impacted patients.
Management Software
Given the hard work that goes into streamlining processes, investing in dental management software can be extremely useful. Using management software will help maintain more concise scheduling, treatment planning, dental charting, and billing. Automated billing will be beneficial for your practice as it will mean that patients aren’t unnecessarily queuing just to payafter they have been seen.
Running a dental practice is no easy feat, but with logical management and an organized approach, you can make a difference in no time. Streamline your processes by keeping accurate records, expertly scheduling appointments, automate billings, and train your front staff to triage.