Operating a successful dental practice can be challenging, particularly in a competitive environment. Utilizing effective marketing techniques to attract new patients is a must. However, it is important to adopt solid patient retention strategies to ensure they return to you after their first appointments.
There are various approaches you can take to this. Some practices offer loyalty rewards, while others focus on building strong patient relationships. While these can be positive methods, investing in resources that improve patients’ experiences in your dental office is also important. Technology can play a key role here.
Let’s look at ways technology can improve patient retention in your dental office.
Remote Technology
Convenience and simplicity are vital components of patient retention for dentists today. Patients often have busy lives and want to minimize their appointments’ disruptive impact. Therefore, it’s important to adopt technological tools that help patients integrate their dental health needs into their lives. Devices that support remote interactions are key to this.
Naturally, for annual check-ups and surgeries, patients must attend in-person appointments. However, it can be wise to offer the option for telemedical meetings to patients with questions about their oral health or concerns about acute pain symptoms. Video calls can also be useful for follow-ups after surgery or treatment.
Alongside telemedicine, remote technology can help arrange the administrative elements of your business. Staff in billing, records, and patient outreach may be able to perform their duties from home or coworking spaces. Remote teams can benefit your business through greater productivity, improved efficiency, and reduced absenteeism. Not to mention that greater flexibility can result in lower turnover and improved worker engagement. These advantages get passed on to your patients through more timely, convenient, and reliable services.
Accessibility Tools
Equal access to services is a key point of public discussion as of late. Ensuring your practice is available to everyone isn’t just a legal and ethical duty. Your efforts here can also make a big difference in patient retention. After all, the easier and more comfortable you make your dental practice for patients, the more likely they may be to utilize your services repeatedly.
In your physical space, various examples of technology can support accessibility. If you’re located on a higher floor, ensure that you provide stairlifts for those with mobility challenges. Check-ins via voice assistant software can also make for more inclusive patient appointments. It’s also important to offer digital versions of paperwork compatible with screen reader software for those with vision impairments.
Your telehealth tools should incorporate accessible design features too. As telehealth platforms offer better inclusivity for patients with disabilities, it’s important to make these as easy to use as possible. Work with your application and website designers to ensure good colour and contrast differences between text and background elements, as this can aid use for those with vision challenges and colour blindness. Wherever possible, arrange for text and images to be adjustable to the user’s preferences. Make certain all aspects of your online materials can be navigated using keys alone and adaptive technology.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is seeing increased adoption in various areas of society. This has been particularly prevalent in medical circles, where these tools can improve efficiency, accuracy, and innovation. Your dental office can also utilize AI systems to support patients in ways that can impact retention.
Firstly, there have been big strides in AI software platforms that assist with diagnosis and treatment. This isn’t a way to replace skilled professional dentists. Rather, the software acts as a collaborator. Cameras and other imaging tools can be connected to AI platforms to help to provide additional insights for identifying early signs of decay through object detection methods. The software scans X-rays and other images to spot even small elements, such as lesions and swelling – the naked eye may miss that. These tools can result in earlier diagnosis and treatment of decay, which gives patients the positive experiences they will keep returning to your practice for.
Another way AI can help your dental practice is through cybersecurity systems. Increasingly, patient data is being held electronically and transferred between specialists using cloud systems. Sensitive patient information is precious to cyber criminals, and breaches put individuals and your practice at risk.
AI-driven cybersecurity software scans networks in real-time, identifying points of vulnerability and emerging threats. Many platforms also address issues automatically as they occur. This can help maintain your patients’ privacy and ensures they have the confidence to remain with your practice.
Patient retention is essential for ensuring that your dental practice enjoys success and longevity. Certain technologies can be key components to your efforts here. Remote tech helps you offer convenient telehealth services while investing in accessibility tools promotes greater inclusivity. You may also find that AI platforms can enable you to demonstrate the efficacy and security patients prioritize. With a mindful application of these tech components, you can create patient experiences that result in long-term relationships.
About the Author
Beau Peters is a creative professional with a background in service and management. He is also an avid researcher and a writer of “all the things.” He has a passion for purpose-driven content and bettering the human experience. In his free time, he enjoys having a good cup of coffee and seeing the world.
