The Key to Increasing and Maintaining Volume is Proper Scheduling.

Proper scheduling and prescheduling are the key components to a successful practice. Each practice should have a scheduling guideline for each doctor and provider. The success comes in training the staff to adhere to these guidelines and adhere to the protocol and procedures.

There needs to be a script for treatment plan patients that is separate and different from the script you use for management patients. However, all patients should have a future appointment. Treatment plan patients should always be scheduled a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks in advance, preferably for the duration of their treatment plan. Maintenance patients should be scheduled for 3 to 12 months out.

In order to ensure the success of proper scheduling, a reminder postcard or email should be sent to all maintenance patients, and confirmation calls or texts are essential for all patients. The statistics for scheduled and prescheduled patients must be tracked and analyzed to maintain volume, reach practice goals, and instill staff accountability.

These scheduled appointments will provide a convenient time and routine for the patient, thus increasing retention, volume and improving patient outcomes, as well as the efficiency and flow of the office.

The true key to this success is having all staff, including doctors and administrative staff, speaking the same language and educating the patient on value and benefit of care.

Follow this Checklist to Increase Your Volume Today:

  • Establish a scheduling guideline for each doctor and provider
  • Use proactive scripting to guide and lead the patient in scheduling, not allowing the patient to control the schedule
  • Use a Maintenance Postcard to remind maintenance patients of their upcoming appointments
  • Provide confirmation calls and/or texts to all patients
  • Keep, track, and analyze scheduling statistics