How to Keep Patients Coming Back

[Elliot Pearson]

In this economy, loyalty is something which is extremely invaluable Marketing your practice. to new prospects can cost you thousands of dollars and you’re not even very sure about the payoff with the lowered consumer spending. You may be able to gather a lot of people who are interested in your services but they may not have enough resources to schedule an appointment. In this case, all of the money which you’ve funneled into your advertising campaign will be all for naught. For this reason, it is wiser to rely on repeat patients. Here are some ways to continue to capture the hearts of your patients:

A smile brightens everything.

 

People keep going back to businesses which treat them nicely. Naturally, your patients will not be very forthcoming to your front office worker who always sounds cranky on the phone and seems very intimidating in person. On the other hand, if your staff is very accommodating, helpful and warm, this will do a lot in keeping your existing patients.

 

Goody bags for adults.

 

You certainly do not have to purchase a very expensive gift in order to appease your patients. A simple loot bag containing a toothbrush and dental floss will go a long way in putting a smile on your patients’ faces. It’s above and beyond the items they receive. Cliché as it may seem, it’s the thought that actually counts.

 

Set a friendly atmosphere for your patients when they’re in the chair.

 

Your patients aren’t actually feeling so comfortable when they are in the chair and they have to open their mouths while you stick sharp, metal objects in your mouth. If the thought of pain is not enough to make them feel uneasy, hygienists talking about their boss rudely behind his or her back or dentists complaining about their work load won’t make things any easier.

 

Be more intuitive.

 

In an effort to make your patients more comfortable, it helps to take note of their physical cues. When you’re doing a routine dental procedure to something more complicated like oral surgery, your patients won’t be able to signal that easily that they need to gargle or drink water. And if you aren’t attentive enough, a simple procedure could become excruciating for a patient. For this reason, it pays to be intuitive and take note of your patients’ gestures especially when they are in a compromised position to ensure your patient’s convenience.