Dental practices across the United States are suffering from the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19. From lost revenue to canceled dental appointments, dental offices are struggling to serve their patients and community. Therefore, your dental practice marketing specialists, Bryant Consultants is helping you navigate these uncertain times with 10 ways to prepare your practice for the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Control Your Waiting Room
Social distancing is a critical way to help you keep your patient’s health and safety under better control. When scheduling appointments, request the patient remain in their car while waiting for their treatment room. Upon arrival, they should call the office to complete a phone call check-in process. The process will allow staff members to ask questions about changes in information such as insurance, address, or phone number. Once the patient’s treatment room is ready, a staff member will call the patient in for treatment.
-
Raise Hand Washing Awareness
According to the CDC, washing your hands often with soap and water is key to reducing the risk of transmission. Therefore, requesting patients to wash their hands and rinse with hydrogen peroxide upon entering the office. Also, placing signs near sinks in the restrooms and staff handwashing stations may serve as a reminder for hand washing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Variances in Payment Collection
To help reduce the risk of contracting the virus from surfaces of cash or checks, you may benefit from credit card or debit card payments only during COVID-19. Using an online payment service such as PayPal or Square to process credit card payments is a touchless way for patients to pay. Offer to either email or mail the patient their receipt.
-
Cancellations Cause Lost Revenue
Cancellations during the pandemic are going to happen as some individuals are in the high-risk category and may not leave home. Therefore, if you have patients that have been postponing necessary procedures, now is the time to contact them to see if they are prepared to move forward with their treatment.
-
Update Your Business Information
A change in your practice hours or if your practice is accepting appointments will not be common knowledge. Therefore, it is important to update your business information on your voicemail, social media platforms, website, or other locations where your business information is displayed.
-
Increase Methods of Communication
In addition to the standard use of the telephone, it could help your practice to communicate effectively through Facebook Messenger, texting, or email. The increase in communication methods allows your customers to reach out in a method that is comfortable for them. Another option is virtual consultations, which allow you to consult with patients interested in cosmetic dentistry or other procedures that are considered non-emergent at this time.
-
Pre-screen Patients
To protect patients and staff, pre-screening patients before their appointment could reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in your dental practice. When contacting patients, inquire about their current health condition, travel history within the last six months, and potential exposure to someone who has tested positive. Express to patients the need for their honesty about their responses and your desire to protect their health and safety.
-
Communicate With Employees
Having open and honest communication with your employees about daily operations, if you change your hours or need to close your doors, may create a bond between employees and employers. Understand that your staff probably feels as stressed as you do, but these tips may help reassure your team during this difficult time. Also, when your staff is informed and well prepared, they can conduct their jobs with confidence. Bryant Consultants offers a coronavirus survival kit for dental practices to remain successful during the shutdown and beyond.
-
Support Your Patients and Your Community
Building relationships with your patients during hard times can build strong relationships that last years. Supporting your patients by asking if there is anything you can do to help show them, they are more than a dollar sign to your practice. Also, helping serve the community when possible during COVID-19 could bring in new patients as they see the heart of the dental practice.
Dental Practice Consulting
Owning a dental practice during these unprecedented times can be difficult. However, with preparation, your practice could survive the COVID-19 pandemic with minimal impact to your bottom line. If you are struggling to keep your practice running during COVID-19 or need some direction, feel free to contact Bryant Consultants in Kingsport by calling (877) 768-4799 or contact us online.
