Calls have been made for dentists to return to their practices. This is good news but it should be noted that your practice will not simply pick up where you left. You will need a plan to get back to “the new normal” while keeping the vibrancy you had. We have come up with a few pointers on how your practice can better ease back to business.
Stay informed
There have been several new regulations that have been put in place for safety in dental practice. These are liable to constant change depending on your state. The most important thing is to stay informed on any new policy changes or any additions that need to be made to your team training or practice premises.
Join dental service organizations (DSOs) this makes for security for you and your practice. It can also prove to be an information hub of choice depending on how reliable your (DSO) of choice is. At this juncture, we would recommend you partner with a support and advisory company to make the best of your transition.
Revisit your marketing
The importance of marketing is greater now than before. With many practices now returning to business, the race is on to keep and get new patients to make up for the downtime.
- Social media posts.
- Blog posts.
- Video content.
- Article publication dates.
Should have content that is insightful and relevant in addition to putting your brand out there. Communicate with your patients and assure them that with you is where they will get the best dental care.
Spend a little to make a lot
It seems laughable to ask you to spend as you are coming out of a lockdown. The old cliché` ‘you must spend to make a profit’ comes into play. Patients are going to want to feel safe, investing in better space management for your practice is a must.
There is also a need to invest in online platforms. Here patients can schedule and check their appointments and status. Make it easy for patients to follow up on any applications without them coming into your practice.
Insurance verification
As the name suggests insurance eligibility verification is the process of verifying a patient’s insurance. The COVID – 19 pandemic has hit many an income maker hard. Throe is a need to know who still has medical and dental insurance and whether it is still up-to-date.
In this you look at:
- Is the patient still covered?
- Is the insurance policy still in effect?
- Is the insurance policy not in arrears?
- Does the patient information and that on the insurance policy match?
These along with other verification steps can cut the number of claims that are denied for your patient and your practice. Insurance verification goes beyond simply making sure of successful claims, however, it helps with keeping the whole practice running smoothly.
Promotions
This is the most common factor of a starting or returning practice. Give your patients something to look forward to. In a time where many feel as if the world is simply taking from them, it is good to have a place where your presence is being rewarded and appreciated. Communicate with existing patients and create a great review base for potential patients.
Conclusion.
There is a lot to be done in the form of revamping your practice. The good news is you are now able to rebuild your practice and take care of your valuable patients again.
SupportDDS is a leading Texas-based in-sourcing company that provides virtual assistants and administrative support for dental practices. Moreover, we provide both short and long term virtual outsourcing services customized to suit your business process needs.
