Researching online for ways to improve and grow your practice can yield multiple results. However, implementing, measuring, and nurturing those opportunities may not provide the results you want. During the two years of COVID-19, many dental practices remained stable in their performance and profitability. But, for some practices, those two years were the most successful ones. Our dental practice consultants at Bryant Consultants share on the blog three things to grow your dental practice that is proven to boost your bottom line.
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Focus on Patient Growth
Many dental practices that focus on patient growth typically associate it with bringing in new patients. Our dental office coaches explain that although new patients can grow your practice, it should not be your only source for growth. For example, patient retention can mean the difference between success and failure. Successful practices contacted current or inactive patients and scheduled them for an appointment to ensure they were up to date on their dental hygiene care, presented with needed treatment options, and family members were receiving care.
Patient Growth Formula
New patients + Reactivated patients – Patient Attrition = Patient Growth %
To understand patient growth, using the above formula is necessary. So, when you add or reactivate 50 new patients, lose 40 of them, and retain 10, you’ll experience positive patient growth. Whether you choose new marketing tactics to bring in more patients or reach out to inactive patients, you can drastically impact your patient growth percentage like other dental offices did during the pandemic.
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Daily Morning Huddles
Even though morning huddles may not be a new concept for your dental practice, they are effective communication opportunities that can prepare your team for success. Our dental practice coaches explain that meeting topics in each practice will vary, but there are a few key elements you should implement into your daily meeting.
- Data-Driven Discussion – Data-driven discussions go beyond reviewing numbers on a report. Using KPIs to understand the previous day’s activities, what is on the schedule for today, and what is expected tomorrow can help your team quickly adapt and adjust their performance accordingly.
- Involve Team Members – Fostering a team environment can begin with the morning huddle. Ask team members to prepare a contribution for a huddle meeting instead of depending on a doctor or an office manager to run the huddle. Including team members in the meeting leads to a sense of ownership and accountability.
- Set Goals and Celebrate Success – A successful practice can thrive with a positive growth culture and team member validation activities. For example, making your morning huddle a celebration time highlighting small wins unifies and energizes your team, even if you missed the previous today’s goals. Setting smart goals daily can keep morale up while ensuring your patients and practice remain the focus.
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Focus on Hygiene Re-Appointment Percentage
Hygiene re-appointment percentages are the measurement of hygiene patients that schedule their next appointment before leaving your office the same day as their visit. During the pandemic, successful dental offices scheduled over 90% of their patients for their next hygiene appointment while the patient was still in the office. Therefore, you can boost practice growth when you make scheduling hygiene appointments a Standard Operating Procedure before the patient leaves. Our dental office consultants explain that by doing so, you can significantly impact your patient’s oral health and your schedule.
If a patient refuses to book an appointment or says that they will have to check their schedule and get back to you, kindly let them know that available appointments are filling up and that you’d hate for them not to get in when they need it. Then, offer some days and times of day that could work for them. They can always check back with you and change if they later see that it’s not going to be a good time. However, don’t assume that you know the reason they aren’t scheduling. Ask! The only way to offer the proper solution is to pinpoint their reason for avoiding the schedule.
Help My Practice Grow
Growing your dental practice doesn’t have to include added expenses. By focusing on patient growth, morning meetings, and hygiene re-appointments, you can experience the growth you desire. If practice growth is your goal, but you are unsure of the best approach, feel free to connect with our dental practice consultants at Bryant Consultants for guided assistance. Please call our office at (877) 768-4799 or contact us online to schedule a consultation today.
