Referral & Loyalty Program Preparation: Are Patients Judging You by Your Technology?
Written by David Gane on . Posted in Loyalty Programs, Technology
In dentistry, clinical expertise and experience should count for more than technology systems —but the truth is that patients do judge us by the technology we use. It can take as many as 25 years to become a great dentist, but these days it only take 25 minutes to look the part–especially when leveraging technology at a higher level. Patients do judge us by our technological expertise and their perception starts–even before they walk through the door—with your Internet presence. Check out this great video created by Whitinsville Family Dentistry (http://youtu.be/hVtvW9YuKnE), and count how many technologies they promote in their fun version of The Human Beinz -Nobody But Me. These guys rock with technology! From your web presence, it continues with their interaction with your front desk staff all the way throughout their clinical exam. It’s imperative that your technology impression is a good one from the start.
Keeping your patients happy has a direct impact on your bottom line, which includes:
- Attracting new quality patients
- Increasing treatment acceptance
- Retaining patients and decreasing patient turnover
One of the most beneficial technologies you can implement is digital radiography. To show you what patients expect when it comes to digital radiography, I have created the following chart.
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Expectation |
How It Helps Patients |
How It Helps You |
| Instant Access to Images | Patients these days are busy. Whether a parent has taken his or her child out of school for an ortho records appointment or your patient is missing work for dental restorative appointment, reducing the length of patient visits is important. With fast image acquisitions and efficient access to historical image data, you can get patients in and out in a timely way without them feeling rushed. |
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| Co-diagnosis | Patients want to feel in charge of their health. By “co-discovering” problem areas with you via a monitor, you give them the opportunity to play an active role in their oral health. |
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| Education | Some dental symptoms are asymptomatic, so patients aren’t often aware that a problem exists. By putting an image on the monitor, patients receive visual cues about the treatment needs that must be addressed. |
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Patients are more likely to refer others to you if they feel safe and if they believe that you’re investing in your practice. You show them how much you care when investing in technology that aids in efficiency and raises your diagnostic accuracy.
Updating your technology will not only have an impact on your existing patients—it will also impress prospective patients as well. Featuring technology as an important part of your treatment philosophy–like the Team at Whitinsville family dentistry–will enable you to stand apart from other practices in the community and allow your philosophy of technological competency to ring out loud.
Have you found that your patients judge your practice based on your technology? I look forward to discussing this question in the comments section below.
Tags: Dental Practice Management, Loyalty Program, Modern Practice, New Practice, Referral Program, referring clientele
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