It goes without saying that your practice should have frequent smiling faces, excellent customer service, warm communication, and clean spaces in order to provide an optimal experience for patients. Let’s face it, a dental office is not a tropical vacation, but try making it seem like a pleasant visit.
It’s about putting in the extra credit!
- Greet them by name
- It helps if there is a photo attached to their chart but be ready to acknowledge who is scheduled to come through the door. Bonus points if you remember to ask them about a recent vacation or family event. Doing this will help the appointment feel more personable as opposed to being just another patient for the day.
- Offering a beverage
- Although a self-serve coffee station is easy, having a small see through refrigerator with bottles of water and other sugar free beverages is welcoming. Feeling extra “spa-like”? Add a pitcher of infused water to the mix.
- Fresh flowers or plants
- Sure, artificial plants are easier to care for, but nothing can compare to a fresh bouquet of flowers. Not only are they pretty to look at, they can also be great conversation starters.
- Weighted blankets and personal headphones in treatment rooms
- Often times a good distraction allows the patient to feel more relaxed and comfortable during their appointment. This is usually the theory behind having a TV in the operatories. Although, pillows, blankets and noise canceling headphones are a nice touch too.
- Follow up call from the doctor or hygienist
- This is the cherry on top. Have the provider make personal phone calls after treatment is completed and anesthetic has had time to wear off. This can help answer any concerns that may arise and to let them know that we still care, even after they have left our practice.
Creating a cozy atmosphere can go a long way in making patients feel comfortable during their visit. It transforms any office from “Dental Office” to “Dental Boutique.”
For more tips on how to transform your practice, contact us at [email protected]
