
Are you looking for practical ways to improve operational efficiency at your dental practice? Perhaps you want to know how to increase patient volume in a dental office? As your client base expands, it’s important to adapt to the increased demand by identifying areas for growth and capitalizing on your practice’s best qualities.
Managing your office to the best of your ability is a good starting point in terms of improving your practice. Place patients’ needs at the forefront, and stay organized as you work to maintain the best practices in dental care. Learn the most effective ways to increase profits, streamline your office and retain your valuable clients and staff.
If you’re concerned with how to improve your dental clinic, work on your management routines. The benefits of good management include:
While you’re learning how to grow your dental practice, focus on honing your management skills, and consider your own flexibility as you adapt to the needs of your valued workers. Your staff members rely on your leadership and each other to learn and understand the nuances of their roles. Apply the following tips on how to manage a dental practice well by preparing your employees to carry out their daily responsibilities:
In the health care industry, patients are at the center of operations, and we strive to meet their needs safely and effectively. When they trust you as a provider, they will recommend you to others by giving you good reviews online and by word of mouth. Teach your staff to communicate effectively with patients, which is one of the best ways to ensure they have a positive experience.
If you feel that you need to improve your office’s communication and engagement with patients, try some tips for increasing the quality of your provider-client relationships. Knowing how to improve the patient experience in your dental office starts with asking yourself which areas your office needs to engage more effectively in. Here are some common strategies in dental practice management that you can use to ensure that patients feel comfortable in your care:
Always inform your patients of the best possible options, and if they ask for details, describe why you believe the treatment would work for them. Avoid obligating your adult patients to undergo a procedure that they are uncomfortable with. A patient can refuse any procedure by law.
In the case of pediatric dental care, the parents have the authority concerning the treatments you may provide to a child. However, a younger patient’s autonomy is still important, even when a child becomes anxious or noncompliant. For children, tell your staff to use techniques such as the Tell-Show-Do strategy to respect patients’ autonomy while still providing the required care.
It’s always best to put yourself in your patient’s position and consider how everyone’s background differs. Your patients may have limited information about the corrective treatments they might require. They could also have assumptions about those treatments based on personal research or what other patients have told them. You might need to explain how a procedure works for them to feel fully comfortable.
Your patients will appreciate learning about how their treatments are assisting with their oral hygiene or bite alignment. You can educate your patients by printing pamphlets with specific information about standard treatments for them to take home. You could also make a short slideshow explaining common procedures and broadcast it in your waiting room.
When your patients enjoy coming into your office, they will gravitate towards trusting you and your staff. Their trust will create loyalty to your office, making them more likely to return or refer other clients. Get patients to trust you by giving them honest and accurate information. If you are uncertain about something, it is best to let them know that what they’re asking is unpredictable rather than telling them the most likely scenario.
Using the latest software to automate repetitive office tasks will increase your staff’s availability while they work face-to-face with patients. Your team will be able to build relationships with patients more easily with some of the busy work automated, all while saving energy and time.
The expenses of new software are worthwhile when you consider how automation increases productivity. What makes a dental practice successful is often the smooth scheduling. Ways to automate your office include:
Inventory management software is a valuable tool for dental business management because it makes your supplies simpler and easier to track. The staff responsible for making business purchases can access all relevant data without having to sort through layers of paperwork. This will also be helpful during tax season for collecting a list of write-offs.
Investing in management software will reduce the hours your staff spend counting your stock and predicting when the office will need more items. An automatic inventory system will help your office avoid making last-minute orders or overstocking.
Giving patients access to a portal where they can view their appointments and treatment plans will reduce the number of calls to your office. Implementing a self-service appointment system for patients is another way to automate your office. When patients can go online to reschedule appointments at their convenience, your office staff can focus on more critical tasks. This process is helpful for an office that sees a large number of patients relative to the team.
For new patients, automated appointment systems make your practice more accessible. Many patients gravitate toward online systems where they can avoid speaking directly to an employee. You can also collect personal information about patients via your online forms. They can update their email address or phone number at any time and receive information and appointment reminders over these convenient channels.
Offering elective dentistry services will improve your dental practice by drawing in more patients. Many oral hygiene clients are interested in improving the appearance of their teeth along with their oral health. Elective services might be unnecessary, but many patients seek to improve their smile’s attractiveness while undergoing other procedures.
Expand your services by offering elective treatments to patients who want bright, shiny teeth. Common forms of elective dentistry include:
Dental insurance will usually only cover certain elective dentistry options when some aspect of the service treats the patient’s oral health. For example, veneers are generally purely cosmetic, but some insurance plans might cover them if their purpose is to strengthen weak teeth. It is important that patients request these services enthusiastically. Make sure patients are aware of all options by listing these services on your website.
Another way to improve a dental practice by focusing on patients’ experiences is to schedule routine follow-ups. Encouraging patients to go to their follow-up appointments with text or email reminders will result in the best possible plan for their care and your business. Some of the many benefits of follow-up visits include:
Giving your patients access to an online system where they can make an appointment on their own works well for when you are accepting new patients or for when patients want to make return visits. However, it’s best to have your team members schedule follow-up visits with existing patients undergoing treatment.
If you own your dental practice, a healthy office culture begins with you. Productivity goals and financial gains are always beneficial, but having a social culture where people enjoy working will help increase your success. Building a reputation for having excellent care and a friendly culture is also how to attract new patients to your dental practice. An office culture expresses personality and good character, making the atmosphere both unique and cordial.
Ways that you can build an office culture on a foundation of respect and collaboration include:
As you automate your practice and promote a positive office culture for the maximum comfort of your patients and employees, you can also update dental instruments and supplies. Our available new dental instruments include everything from curettes and periodontal sets to excavators and forceps. Whether you aim to improve the quality of your tools or try a new brand, ProDentUSA offers reliable, long-lasting dental instruments.
ProDentUSA stocks disposable supplies and reusable instruments for dental practices of all types. We meticulously craft our premium instruments for efficiency and durability. Contact us to learn more or order now.