Dive Into The Main Reasons Why Your Patients Cancel Appointments
Missed appointments, no-shows, and last-minute cancellations are not acceptable for any type of business. They are especially detrimental when appointments are the basis of business revenue.
If your practice is grappling with these challenges, maybe it’s because you are not doing enough to prevent the cancellations in the first place.
Remember that missed appointments, no-shows and last-minute cancellations are the end result of the unspoken messages you convey to patients.
Do you want to find out about the 2 most powerful reasons why patients miss or cancel their appointments? Continue reading…
Lack of interest
It is probably the main reason why patients cancel appointments.
Let’s be honest here! We all know we should be taking care of our oral health, but having dental work is not fun.
Patients tend to prioritize anything else over their dental appointment. It is a fact, and you know it! If it doesn’t hurt, it can wait.
Patient education is crucial to overcoming the lack of interest challenge. Your staff should be able to communicate the information in a way that “hits home” so patients become more engaged with the treatment.
Also, it could be worth while to review the appointment confirmation protocol followed by your front desk staff. Your patients might not be receiving the confirmation calls or texts as they should. Sometimes little changes can give you impact-full results.
Lack of connection
It is the second reason. And, your job is to create an inviting environment for the patient and build a trusting relationship.
How many times did you feel like you didn’t want to go somewhere, but you made an effort to go anyway because you didn’t want to disappoint a friend or family member?
The power of connection is a remarkable tool when dealing with cancellations and no shows. Make their next appointment personal!
This job is not one person’s role. The whole staff should embrace it.
With proper communication, everyone on your team can create and deliver the best patient experience.
About NGT Academy
We are one of the very few turnkey-Learning Management System providers that specializes in the dental industry. Currently, with a library of more than 30 courses created for dental teams, our eLearning platform is one of the easiest to use. Simultaneously, eLearning typically costs at least 30% less than conventional training making for a truly efficient solution for your dental organization.
Do you want to learn more? Contact us for more information or schedule a demo