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create efficient dental schedules

create efficient dental schedules

by | Sep 7, 2022 | Client Service Skills, Hospital Management, Scheduling Secrets

create efficient dental schedules

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

A distraught technician explained that her hospital schedules 14 dental procedures per day, and she’s worried about her health. After four procedures in a row, her arm goes numb. The technician sought advice from conference speaker Mary L. Berg, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (Dentistry) of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education in Lawrence, Kan., and author of Dental Radiographs Made Easy and Companion Animal Dentistry for Veterinary Technicians.

Avoid overcrowding dental schedules, which can put patient and technician health at risk. “If a practice wants to embrace dentistry, they can’t schedule eight or more per day because they will do poor procedures,” advises Berg. “Take time to look for disease, take radiographs, and address problems.”

Teams can be more efficient with smart scheduling and setting clients’ expectations. Here’s expert advice:

budget enough time

Rushing to complete procedures can leave some disease untreated, Berg warns. The 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats provide a 12-step protocol for oral health assessment, dental cleaning, and periodontal therapy.

Create scheduling guidelines for client service representatives (CSRs) and other employees who book procedures. Berg shares estimated procedure times based on the stage of periodontal disease. Procedure times are “table time” from induction to the start of recovery and include taking radiographs and performing some extractions. Patient preparation and recovery time are additional. Multiple and/or difficult extractions also will increase times.
  • Stage 1 procedure: 1 hour
  • Stage 2 procedure: 1 to 1 ½ hours
  • Stage 3 procedure: 2 to 2 ½ hours
  • Stage 4 procedure: 3 hours

Let’s say the dental team will perform procedures from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for four hours of procedure time. The team could do four Stage 1 procedures, two Stage 2 procedures, or one Stage 1 and one Stage 4 procedure. Berg advises limiting to two Stage 3 or 4 procedures per day.

If the procedure will require more than three hours, consider staging care, Berg suggests. The first procedure is a dental cleaning while the second is oral surgery about a week later. Debra Bohnke, DVM and medical director of Cimarron Animal Hospital in Tucson, Ariz., explains in her blog that staging dental treatments also spreads out expenses for clients.

“Seventy-five percent of dogs and cats have more dental disease than can be detected when pets are wake because they don’t let anyone do a thorough 360-degree tooth-by-tooth examination while they are awake,” Dr. Bohnke writes. During the first procedure, Dr. Bohnke calls the client to explain any additional treatments and extractions. She discusses doing everything at once or delaying care along with an appropriate timeline based on the severity of disease. If staged care is performed within the time specified, Cimarron Animal Hospital offers an $85 credit toward the second anesthesia.

ASSIGN A DENTAL TEAM

Use two to three technicians and assistants based on your staffing levels, Berg advises. An anesthesia technician does hands-on patient monitoring and watches electronic monitoring equipment. “Don’t rely on electronic monitors only,” Berg warns. Periodically use a stethoscope as a doublecheck. The second teammate is a dental technician who completes an oral examination, takes full mouth dental radiographs, and performs the procedure. An optional third member is a veterinary assistant who available to assist the dental technician with charting and radiographs.

SET THE ORDER OF PROCEDURES FOR DOCTOR AVAILABILITY

Don’t schedule an orthopedic surgery at the same time as a Stage 4 dental procedure, which will require the doctor’s time simultaneously. Veterinarians will perform most oral surgeries. Consult your state board of veterinary medicine on which duties technicians and veterinary assistants may or may not perform, including extractions.

A smart scheduling approach is to have the doctor performing a spay, neuter, or shorter surgery while the dental team is doing Stage 3 and 4 procedures.
 

SET clients’ expectations when booking procedures

Clients at VCA Sheridan Animal Hospital & Veterinary Specialists of Western New York in Buffalo, N.Y., get an admission process sheet upon scheduling. Instructions explain what to do or not do 10 days before the pet’s procedure, the day before, what to bring, and what to expect on procedure day. Download the form.

The admission process sheet tells clients they will get preadmission calls the day prior, which will last 10 minutes. Hospital Manager Holly Monroe says a triage technician calls clients with CSRs as backup. Questions are prepopulated in electronic medical records based on the type of procedure and patient history. All clients are asked if pets have taken any medication within 24 hours, including NSAIDs, fish oil, or aspirin; any issues to be aware of before procedures; who will bring the pet; confirm vaccines are up to date; and discuss any additional services. A client with a diabetic pet will be asked about the brand of insulin, how much is given, when the last dose was administered, when the pet will eat, and when the next insulin dose will be due. Clients receive individual treatment plans and anesthetic consents by email or through the MyVCA App, which allows digital signatures.


The admission process sheet and preadmission calls have cut surgical and dental check-in times in half. “This has helped the admission process in so many ways,” says Monroe. “We can admit six to seven clients smoothly and quickly. Medical records are more thorough. Every staff member is asking consistent questions. We have fewer no-shows. It’s been a huge deal for us. The more communication you have with your clients, the better.”

Clients also pay 75% of the treatment plan upon booking. Watch my video on “Stop Saying Deposit! Say This.”

HAVE PREOPERATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Suffolk Veterinary Group Animal Wellness & Laser Surgery Center in Selden, N.Y. created preoperative appointments to avoid surprises on surgery days. “Our veterinarian was tired of not knowing what type of surgery he was walking into that day,” explains Practice Manager Nicole Carucci-Winkler, LVT. New clients would call, schedule surgery, and drop off patients. “We’d have no idea who these people were, who patients were, and what, if any, contraindications to surgery there might be,” says Carucci-Winkler. “A canine neuter could be a 5-pound Yorkie with a portal-systemic liver shunt. You want to know about the shunt prior to surgery, not the morning of surgery. No human doctor would do surgery on a patient without a preoperative appointment. Why should a veterinarian be required to?”


Preoperative appointments are with a veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician (LVT). Before the preoperative appointment, the LVT contacts the referring or previous veterinarian for medical records, reviews and audits patient history, checks vaccination status, and writes a case summary for the veterinarian. The doctor examines the patient to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR), which is required by state law and the AVMA.

“Introducing the LVT as part of the surgical team helps build clients’ trust and educates the public about who an LVT is and the importance of his or her role in veterinary medicine,” Carucci-Winkler says.

During the preoperative appointment 10 to 14 days before the procedure, the doctor and technician explain the procedure, fees, third-party financing, and expected outcomes along with possible complications and post-operative care. The technician collects blood and urine samples to send to its reference lab.

You don’t want abnormal results the morning of the procedure such as the patient with a portal-systemic shunt, Carucci-Winkler explains. “You don’t want to call the client while she’s at work or otherwise occupied and tell her you’re cancelling surgery because blood work indicates the patient needs additional diagnostics before you would put it under anesthesia,” she says.

Preoperative appointments let the team choose appropriate dates and times based on the type of procedure. Clients sign treatment plans and anesthetic consents in advance. When patients are admitted for procedures, clients just sign to acknowledge they are admitting the patient and confirm contact information for today.

Talk with your team about ways to streamline admissions, budget procedure time, and set clear expectations for clients. You and your clients deserve smooth, efficient check-ins.

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Stop Leaving Voicemails For Clients

Stop Leaving Voicemails For Clients

by | Aug 12, 2022 | Client Experience, Client Service Skills, Exam Communication Skills, Hospital Management, Phone Skills

Stop Leaving Voicemails For Clients

STOP LEAVING VOICEMAILS FOR CLIENTS

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

You call a client about her cat’s lab results and leave a detailed voicemail, explaining that you need to discuss the diagnosis and treatment. After two days with no response, you leave a second voicemail. 

Even if clients have your hospital’s phone number saved in their contacts, research shows 67 percent don’t listen to voicemails.[1] I understand why. Clients can’t skim voicemails. They must listen to the entire message, call back, wait on hold, and leave a message because the veterinarian isn’t available. 

Text is a better choice. Text dialogue can happen asynchronously. Both parties don’t have to be on their phones at the same time. Veterinarians and clients can reply when they’re available. Up to 80 percent of callers choose texting over voicemail. Millennials are the largest pet-owning segment and 60 percent prefer to communicate with businesses via text.[2],[3] 

Let’s end your frustration with unreturned calls and phone tag. Turn your callbacks into “textbacks.” Texts rarely go unread or unanswered. Ditch the 10-minute task of calling and leaving a voicemail. Replace it with a 2-minute text. Create templates in your texting platform for these common responses:

TEXT AFTER DISCHARGE

After each hospitalized patient is discharged from surgery, dentistry, or treatment for an illness, your medical team follows up with clients. Set expectations for a textback during the discharge appointment. 

Say this: “You will get a text/app message from us tomorrow to confirm that <pet name> is eating, drinking, and taking medications. If you have questions or concerns, reply to the text, or call us at 555-555-5555.” 

The next day, text this: We are checking on <pet name> after surgery yesterday. Is <pet name> eating, drinking, and taking medications? Reply Y or N. Reply with questions. 

If the client replies “Y” for yes, document the communication in the electronic medical record and reply to thank the client. If a client replies “N” for no, call to discuss the pet’s symptoms and next steps. The client’s answers may prompt an appointment for a progress exam or telemedicine consult. 

Create a series of text templates when patients require multiple follow-up messages. Text campaigns should notify, educate, support, and steer pet owners. In your texting platform, link the series to trigger in sequential order. 

Let’s say you perform a dental treatment with several extractions. Send this series of texts after the dental discharge appointment:

  • 1 day later: We are checking on <pet name> after oral surgery yesterday. Feed a soft food, no hard treats or chews, and refrain from brushing teeth for X days. Is <pet name> eating, drinking, and taking medications? Reply Y or N. Reply with questions.
  • 4 days later: <Pet name> may eat regular food now. No hard treats or chews for X days after oral surgery. Reply with questions.
  • 7 days later: You may gently brush <pet name>’s teeth with pet toothpaste and a soft toothbrush now. Click here <link> to watch our video on how to brush your pet’s teeth. Reply with questions.
  • 14 days later or based on next appointment date: <Pet name> has a progress exam to check on healing from oral surgery on <date, time>. Reply C to confirm or RS to reschedule. 

TEXT AFTER SICK OUTPATIENT EXAMS

Let’s say you saw an urgent care patient for loose and watery stools. You determine the gastrointestinal upset was due to high-fat table scraps at the family barbeque, and radiographs confirm no bones were ingested. You prescribe medication and instruct the client to feed a bland diet for several days. The outpatient technician who assisted the veterinarian with the exam will be responsible for follow-up communication. 

Text this: We are checking to see if <pet name> is feeling better. Feed a bland diet for X days. Is <pet name> having normal stools and a good appetite? Reply Y or N. Reply with questions. 

The client already has a relationship with this technician, who is familiar with details of the case. If the health concern has not resolved, schedule a progress exam.

TEXT PREVENTIVE LAB RESULTS

Share lab results for intestinal parasite screens that you send to your reference lab. I provided consulting and onsite training for a 10-doctor hospital where the medical team told clients “No news is good news” for intestinal parasite test results. Being busy isn’t a good excuse and may harm compliance for preventive diagnostics. Pet owners are paying to learn results. Clients will be more likely to accept screening in the future if they understand today’s results. 

Text clients about negative results and reinforce timely dosing of preventatives. Call clients about positive results so you may discuss treatment and medication. 

Text this: <Pet name>’s intestinal parasite screen was negative with no egg cells or parasites seen. Give <brand> each month for heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention. Click here to view lab results <link to patient portal on your website>. Reply with questions.

TEXT AS BACKUP TO VOICEMAILS

A client calls and tells your client service representative, “Someone from your hospital just called me. What do you need?” While you might find the answer in the electronic medical record, the staff member may not be available. 

Whenever you leave a voicemail, send a backup text to lead the client to listen and promptly call back. Your text should include the best time to return the call based on the staff member’s availability. 

Text this: “Dr. <Name> left you a voicemail about <pet name>’s lab test. Please listen, and then call 555-555-5555 to discuss the diagnosis and treatment. Dr. <Name> will be available between 2:00 and 2:20 p.m.” 

Veterinarians need administrative time blocked in their schedules to review lab results, update medical records, approve prescriptions, and call/text/email clients and vendors. Learn how to add doctor-client communication blocks so veterinarians can batch tasks. Read my blog on “Overwhelmed With Callbacks and Emails?”

Clients will get cranky if they leave multiple messages without returned calls. Watch my 2-minute video on  “I need to talk to the doctor now!” Find out what to say when a client demands to talk with the veterinarian, but he isn’t available.

Have a doctor and technician list the top callback scenarios at your hospital. Identify which callbacks could be converted to textbacks, which will improve your team’s productivity and increase response rates from clients. Write templates for your texting platform to save time and have consistent messaging from your hospital.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Enroll your team in the 1-hour course: Technology Tools Every Practice Needs.

References:

[1] 22 Business Phone Statistics. Numa. Available at: https://www.numa.com/blog/22-business-phone-statistics. Accessed Aug. 11, 2022.

[2] Share of Pet Ownership in the United States in 2021-2022 by Generation. Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130651/pet-ownership-by-generation-us/. Accessed Aug. 11, 2022.

[3] Svyrydenko A. Why Millennials Love Texting. TextMagic. Available at: https://www.textmagic.com/blog/why-millenials-love-texting-infographic/. Accessed Aug. 11, 2022.

 

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How to Handle Late Clients

How to Handle Late Clients

by | Aug 8, 2022 | Client Experience, Client Service Skills, Hospital Management, Scheduling Secrets

How to Handle Late Clients

How to Handle Late Clients

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

You’ve heard the excuses: “I got stuck in traffic.” “I had to crawl under the bed to catch my cat and wrestle to get him in the carrier.” “I was in a meeting at work that ran late.” Whatever!

When one client runs late, it causes a domino of late starts for the remaining appointments. Multiple consequences happen: 1) Your team looks disorganized, 2) Late arrivals increase wait times for on-time clients, and 3) Your medical team feels rushed.

With current out-of-control appointment demands, you must be the boss of your schedule. You want to be able to give each client and patient the full amount of time set aside for their appointments. Let me share options to handle clients who are late for appointments.

CREATE A LATE POLICY.

While clients may occasionally show up late, habitually tardy clients disrespect your time and services. You can prevent this bad behavior.

Just as your hospital has a financial policy, have a late and no-show policy that holds clients accountable and sets expectations in a professional, respectful way. Add the policy to your new client registration, online patient history forms, and online or app scheduling tools.

Here is a sample late policy: “We ask you to arrive before your scheduled appointment time so you may benefit from your full exam time. New client and patient history forms should be completed in advance to help our medical team prepare for your pet’s visit. A grace period of __ minutes will be granted for unforeseen delays that you may encounter while traveling to our hospital. If you arrive more than __ minutes late for an appointment, we will offer options of being seen as a work-in, day admission, or rescheduled if our schedule permits. We strive to ensure clients and patients are seen in a timely manner and appreciate your on-time arrival. Clients who have three or more late arrivals for appointments cannot schedule future appointments and will only be seen as emergencies or day admissions. Additional fees will apply.”

Start with a warning on the first offense.

Explain, “I understand that you were 15 minutes late to your appointment today. We want you and your pet to benefit from the full exam time with our medical team. To best serve you, please be on time for future appointments. We send confirmations upon booking and reminders two weeks, four days, and two days before your exam. Let me confirm that we have your correct cell number for texts and your email. We appreciate your timeliness so we can give all patients the time they need.”

put alerts in your practice-management software.

Track the number of times that a client is tardy to identify when a one-time occurrence becomes a chronic behavior. I follow a “three strikes and you’re out” policy. Forgive a first offense. You’ve been unexpectedly delayed in traffic, too. When you see three late arrivals within one year, decide whether to keep or end the client relationship. Allowing the chronic behavior to continue is your fault.

text clients when they are 5 to 10 minutes late.

This puts you in control and lets you determine options for the late arriving client. If you see appointments every 15 minutes, send the text when the client is 5 minutes late. For 30-minute exams, reach out when the client is 10 minutes overdue. Send this text: “We expected to see you at 3 p.m. for Max’s appointment. Reply YES and your expected arrival time if you’re on the way here, or RS to reschedule.” Obviously, clients should follow laws about not texting while driving.

show appreciation when clients call ahead to explain, “hey, i’m running late.”

This is honest and conscientious behavior. Reply, “Thanks for calling to let us know. What time will you arrive?” If you get a vague response of “I’m leaving my house now,” ask again, “What time will you arrive at our hospital?” Reply with, “Thanks for letting us know. Please drive carefully. We look forward to seeing you soon.”

Don’t make promises over the phone. If the client is 25 minutes away and has a 30-minute appointment, only 5 minutes of exam time will remain. Explain, “Once you get here, I will let you know options for us to see your pet today.” Never punish on-time clients by letting a late client cut in front of them.

Once the client arrives, look at your options.

Option 1: If the client arrives a few minutes late with three-fourths of the appointment time remaining, go ahead and see the patient (20 minutes of the 30-minute appointment remain). Alert a technician or assistant who can start the appointment now and help get the schedule back on track.

Option 2: See another doctor if one is available. Explain, “Dr. Jones has started his next appointment. Dr. Smith can see you now. Let me take you to Exam Room 3.” Unfortunately, every veterinarian at your hospital is likely fully booked with the current appointment demand. This option may be a rare choice.

Option 3: Ask if the client can wait and be seen as a work-in. Explain, “Dr. Jones has started his next appointment. We want Max to get the care he needs. We will see Max as soon as the first doctor becomes available, which may be 45 or more minutes. Are you able to wait, or do you prefer to reschedule?”

Option 4: Offer to reschedule. Use the yes-or-yes technique, focusing on what you can do. Say, “My next available appointment is <date, time 1> or <date, time 2.. Which do you prefer?”

Option 5: Offer a day admission. Never use the term “drop-off,” which is tacky and unprofessional. Explain, “We can see your pet as a day admission. For 10 to 15 minutes, you will meet with a technician who will get your pet’s vital signs, ask questions about your pet’s symptoms to share with the doctor, set a pickup time, and provide the expected cost of care. Because your pet will stay with us throughout the day and receive nursing care, there is a day admission fee of $XX. Shall we admit your pet to the hospital, and have you talk with the technician?”

I advise charging a 1- to 12-hour hospitalization or boarding fee to cover the cost of nursing care. The Veterinary Fee Reference, 11th ed., reports an average fee of $48.94 for hospitalization without an IV and no overnight stay (day hospitalization) for a 25-pound dog, $49.97 for a 60-pound dog, and $47.28 for a cat. [1] Boarding fees for 30- to 60-pound dog in a medium run average $27.29 while cat boarding is $21.07. For consistency and simplicity, I suggest creating a flat rate for day admissions such as $50. This day admission fee is charged in addition to the exam fee and other services delivered.

Options to see late-arriving clients will vary based on your schedule in that moment. You may only have one option or all five available. When a late client arrives at your hospital, your goal is to be a problem solver. You’ll hear words of thanks from the client for making care happen.

When you set clear expectations and follow your late policy, you will stand up for your time, your schedule, and your employees’ mental health. Remember, you train your clients how to treat you.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Enroll your team in the 1-hour course: Secrets to Keep Exams on Time.

Reference:

[1] The Veterinary Fee Reference, 11th, AAHA Press:2020; 245, 264, 248, 104, 105.

 

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Phone Frenzy? 7 Ways to Cut Call Volume

Phone Frenzy? 7 Ways to Cut Call Volume

by | Oct 2, 2020 | Client Experience, Client Service Skills, Phone Skills

Phone Frenzy? 7 Ways to Cut Call Volume

Phone frenzy? 7 ways to cut call volume

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

Call volumes have more than doubled at practices nationwide, according to GeniusVet survey data (1). Front-desk teams are struggling to answer the onslaught of calls to schedule the three-month backlog of checkups and elective procedures, refill medications, and curbside arrivals. Clients’ phone experiences have rapidly deteriorated, with calls frequently rolling into voicemail when employees can’t keep up.    

You need to fix phone experiences now or risk losing client relationships and revenue. Here are strategies to stop the phone frenzy: 

1. Have clients text (not call) when they arrive for curbside appointments.  

Signs instruct clients to call your hospital upon arrival for curbside care, resulting in more call volume. Switch out the “Call us when you arrive” sign for “Curbside appointment? Text this: ARRIVED, your name, your pet’s name, parking spot #.” Reply to confirm the arrival and explain you’ll text again when your nursing team is ready to go to the client’s car. 

2. Reduce prescription refill calls.    

You get 50 or more calls a day for prescription refills. Why do clients wait until the last pill is gone before calling for refills? Because you don’t remind them! Turn on refill reminders in your practice-management software for every drug that clients will need to repurchase, from preventatives to allergy medications.   

Text this: “Max needs a refill of <brand> for flea and tick protection. Click here to refill in our online store with home delivery OR reply Y to refill and get curbside pickup at our hospital.” 

The nurse who fills the medication will send a text to the client when it’s ready: “Max’s medication has been refilled and is ready for pick up. Please park in our curbside pickup spot and text us when you arrive. We’re open until 6 p.m. today.” 

3. Designate a parking spot for pick up. 

Just as restaurants have reserved parking for to-go orders, do the same for clients picking up medication and food. Post a sign instructing clients to text you upon arrival for contactless pick up. Clients can push their trunk release buttons for your staff to load items. Have a local sign company print your curbside parking signs. To design your sign, use free websites such as www.canva.com.   

4. Get text- or email-to-pay solutions. 

Don’t take credit card numbers over the phone and get slammed with the extra 2 percent merchant fee for manually entered credit cards. Ask your practice-management software or third-party providers about text- or email-to-pay options. Also check with your local business bank about mobile payment devices.  

A Weave survey found 30 percent of small business customers would “frequently or always” pay with a text from their phone if they could (2). Among buyers under age 35, customer preferences doubled to 62 percent.   

5. Offer online and app scheduling.  

The average veterinarian sees 30 patients daily. That’s 30 scheduling calls at eight minutes each, totaling four hours of talk time. Update text and email reminders with links to online scheduling or prompt clients to download your clinic app.  

Many hospitals are scheduling appointments two to six weeks out. To end the backlog chaos, send reminders six to eight weeks in advance and use forward booking. Text this: “<Pet name> will be due for a checkup Feb. 15. We are experiencing increased appointment requests. Book now to ensure your first choice of time, day, and doctor. Click here to book online or download our app.”  

Email reminders need powerful subject lines that motivate clients to forward book. Use the pet’s name and a benefit statement. Here’s a strong subject line: “<Pet name> needs a checkup soon | Book now for best availability.” The body of your email would explain: “Because many pets became overdue when COVID safety guidelines limited us to urgent care and emergencies, we are experiencing increased appointment requests. <Pet name> will be due on Feb. 15. To ensure your first choice of doctor, time, and date, we need to forward book your pet’s appointment now. Click here to book online or download our app.”  

6. Update your voicemail greeting to set expectations. 

A generic voicemail greeting may be leaving clients confused and even angry. Clients think, “Why aren’t they answering phones during business hours? My pet is sick, and I need to talk to someone NOW!” 

To stop the disappointment, update your recorded greeting. Tell callers what specific information they need to leave in their messages and when to expect returned calls. Record this: “You’ve reached the voicemail of <Hospital Name>. Our client care team is helping other clients and is unable to take your call. Instead of putting you on hold and taking up your valuable time, please leave your name, pet’s name, phone number, and how we can help you. You also may text us at 555-555-5555. We will return your call or text within 15 minutes.”  

Giving callers two options of leaving a message or sending a text will have them feel in control and confident that they’ll promptly hear back from your team. Front-desk employees should watch for the flashing red voicemail light like it’s a siren. When you provide timely answers, clients will reward your practice with loyalty and positive interactions. 

7. Add direct-dial lines to reduce phone traffic on your main number. 

Set up direct lines for pharmacy, ask-a-nurse, boarding, and grooming. Have voicemail on each direct-dial line in case an employee isn’t immediately available to answer. You’ll spend $30 to $50 per month for an additional phone line but save time for clients and your front-desk team. 

Here is a sample voicemail greeting for your pharmacy direct-dial line: “You’ve reached <Your Veterinary Hospital>’s pharmacy line. Please leave your name, your pet’s name, the prescription you need refilled, dosage, and phone number. Leave your cell number and let us know if you prefer a text response. We will review messages at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Thank you!”  

Talk with your client care team about strategies that will save their sanity while improving client experiences. Embrace technology tools that will become long-term solutions. Hurry, the phone is ringing!

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Enroll your team in the 1-hour course: End the Phone Frenzy. 

References: 

  1. GeniusVets to Host “Defeating the Phone Frenzy” Webinar to Help Practices Improve Communication During COVID. PRWeb. Available at: https://www.prweb.com/releases/geniusvets_to_host_defeating_the_phone_frenzy_webinar_to_help_practices_improve_communication_during_covid/prweb17351746.htm. Accessed Oct. 1, 2020.
  2. A New Payment Solution Is Taking Over: 30% of Customers Prefer Paying With Phone Texts. Weave. Available at: https://www.getweave.com/a-new-payment-solution-is-taking-over-30-of-customers-prefer-paying-with-phone-texts/. Accessed Oct. 1, 2020.

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How to Prevent No-Shows

How to Prevent No-Shows

by | Oct 15, 2019 | Client Service Skills, Hospital Management, Scheduling Secrets

How to Prevent No-Shows

How to Prevent no-shows

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

His frustration had reached the boiling point. After three no-shows this week, a veterinarian asked me if he should start asking clients to prepay for surgeries. While I empathize with his angst, don’t punish 99.9 percent of good clients for a few bad apples. Imagine you are a client of 12 years who now has to pay before services get delivered. You might get so mad that you leave the practice. Instead, use these proactive techniques to prevent no-shows:

Text or email appointment confirmations immediately after booking.

A client schedules a spay one month from today during her puppy’s last checkup. If you wait until the day before the procedure to remind her of the surgery and fasting instructions, you chance that she may forget or need to reschedule. When she books today, immediately text or email an appointment confirmation that she may add to her calendar. Set up appointment confirmations in your practice-management software or third-party apps. Text: “<Pet name> has a surgical admission appt on <date> at <time>. Reply C to confirm or RS to reschedule.” If a client replies RS, call to have her select a new time and date.  

This double confirmation at the time of booking reiterates the importance of the exam or procedure. My dentist does this. When I booked my next hygiene appointment, I got a text on the elevator ride to the parking garage. I added the appointment to my calendar before I unlocked my car.

Confirm earlier and multiple times. 

Don’t wait until the day before appointments or procedures to remind clients. Set up a series of confirmations and reminders: 1) Upon booking, 2) Four days before the appointment or procedure, 3) Two days ahead, and 4) The day of the appointment, reminding of fasting instructions for procedures or bringing stool samples for checkups. 

Gather new client information during scheduling calls. 

Go beyond collecting a name and phone number. When scheduling, take 2 minutes to enter the client and patient names, address, email, cell number, and patient breed and birthdate. You’ll avoid the negative experience of “clip-boarding” a new client when you hand her a registration form at check-in while she struggles with her Jack Russell terrorist on a retractable leash. You’ll suck away valuable exam time with busy paperwork. Because you have gathered the majority of client contact information during the scheduling call, you’ve established a “know, like, and trust” relationship. 

Perform preanesthetic testing when clients book procedures. 

If you diagnose my cat with dental disease on Wednesday and I schedule treatment for Friday, collect blood and urine samples for preanesthetic screening today. This lets you choose the most cost-effective diagnostics from the reference lab or in-house testing. The client pays for lab tests today, reassuring she will show up two days later for the procedure. Your nursing team also will appreciate one less task to perform the morning of the dental treatment. 

Have clients sign anesthetic and surgical consents before booking. 

Let’s say you diagnose dental disease and explain the need for treatment. The client agrees. Get signatures on the treatment plan and anesthetic consent form today. You’ll dodge the time-suck of paperwork and get written commitment to show up. 

An alternative is use text and email together. When you confirm the surgery two days in advance, text the client: “See you Friday at 8 a.m. for <pet name>’s surgical admission. No food after 10 p.m. Water is OK. We emailed surgical forms to <email>. Reply with questions.” The text prompts the client to check her email, where you can provide detailed fasting instructions and attach consent forms and treatment plans.

Your email message would say, “We will see <pet name> for surgery on Friday at <Your Veterinary Hospital>. Please withhold food after 10 p.m. tonight. Water is OK to drink to prevent dehydration. Your surgical admission begins at 8 a.m. with a nurse, who will spend 15 minutes reviewing the consent form, answering your questions, and getting phone numbers where we may reach you the day of the procedure. I’ve attached your treatment plan and anesthesia consent forms. To speed your admission, please bring these signed forms with you, or we are happy to answer questions during check-in. Please allow at least 15 minutes for <pet name>’s admission to our hospital. If you have questions, call or text 555-555-5555.” 

Text driving directions to new clients. 

When you confirm exams two days in advance, text: “We’re excited to meet you and <pet name> on Friday at 4 p.m. Bring a stool sample that’s fresh within 4 hours. Get driving directions at <link>.” When new clients click the link on their smartphones, map apps will give them estimated travel time along with turn-by-turn directions. You’ll enjoy on-time arrivals and create “wow” first impressions. 

Send a final text or email confirmation the day before appointments and procedures. 

Text the client: “We will see <pet name> tomorrow for an appt with Dr. <Name> beginning at 9 a.m.” The word “beginning” trains the client to be in your lobby at exam time, not down the street at Starbucks (unless she’s fetching you a pumpkin spice latte!). 

Mail thank-you cards after the first visit. 

This is the first date that starts a lifetime relationship. Don’t default to a templated email or text that will get scanned and deleted. People receive hand-written greeting cards in the mail on birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries. Make the new client appointment a standout occasion. Have the doctor and hospital manager sign the card and add a personal message such as “We loved meeting your kitten, <pet name>, and look forward to watching him grow up!”

Start no-show strategies today.

A dog owner may spend nearly $700 for a checkup that includes an exam, vaccines, diagnostics, and 12 months of flea/tick and heartworm preventatives. Surgical and dental procedures may have even higher dollar values to your practice. Stop the anxiety of whether clients will show up as promised. Reclaim the confidence that you’ll have long-term, loyal relationships with these approaches.

Author: Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

 

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Avoid a Meltdown When Dr. Popular Isn’t Available

Avoid a Meltdown When Dr. Popular Isn’t Available

by | Sep 27, 2019 | Client Experience, Client Service Skills, Hospital Management, Scheduling Secrets

Avoid a Meltdown When Dr. Popular Isn’t Available

By Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, President, Communication Solutions for Veterinarians

A longtime client calls and requests and appointment with Dr. Popular. While this veterinarian is blessed to be busy, you don’t want clients to have meltdowns when they can’t see their preferred doctor. What should you do? 

focus on what you can do.

Don’t tell the pet owner that the doctor is booked three weeks out because it will create a negative impression and could incite an argument. Say, “Dr. Popular’s next available appointment is Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. If your pet needs to be seen sooner, Dr. Next could see you tomorrow at 4 p.m. Which do you prefer?” 

practice forward booking.

When clients want their first choice of time, day, and doctor, have them book the next appointment during today’s exam. Use forward booking for progress exams, checkups, and disease-management exams for pets with chronic health conditions.  

When wrapping up today’s exam, Dr. Popular should introduce the concept of forward booking. If you have computers in exams rooms, he should schedule it now (Yes, the veterinarian needs to know how to use the scheduling tool in your practice-management software). Here are two examples of client conversations: 

For a disease-management exam, explain the “why” behind the change in the frequency of exams and use benefit statements. Dr. Popular would say, “Because Molly was diagnosed with arthritis today and will begin long-term medication, I will need to see her every six months to manage her arthritis and check blood work in case we need to adjust medication dosages. Booking her next exam now will let you get your first choice of a time and date with me. Six months from today would be Jan. 9. I could see Molly at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. Which do you prefer?” 

For a checkup, lead the client to book the next six- or 12-month exam. If the receptionist is scheduling the exam during checkout, she would say, “Just as your dentist has you schedule your next appointment at checkout, we do the same to proactively manage your pet’s health. Let’s book your pet’s next checkup for this same day and time next year. We will confirm two weeks before the exam, so if you need to change the appointment it will be easy. By scheduling today, you will get your first choice with Dr. Popular. He could see your pet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12 or 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. Which do you prefer?” The first choice is the same day of the week and time as today’s appointment. The second choice is a different day of the week and time of day (morning vs. afternoon). Get scheduling techniques in my article on “Four Ways to Use Forward Booking” (https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/four-ways-to-use-forward-booking/).   

be persistent when pets require progress exams.

Because Dr. Popular is booking weeks in advance, the entire healthcare team must be dogged and communicate the importance of scheduling follow-up care today. After explaining how to clean a dog’s ears and apply ointment for an ear infection, the nurse would say, “Dr. Popular needs to perform a follow-up exam in two weeks for your dog’s ear infection. We strive to book follow-up care with the same doctor because Dr. Popular wants to see the condition successfully resolved. This will be a 15-minute appointment to examine your dog’s ears and determine if additional treatment will be needed. Dr. Popular could see your dog on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. or Friday, Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. Which do you prefer?” 

If the client procrastinates and waits to call your hospital in two weeks when care is due, Dr. Popular won’t be available. Booking with the same veterinarian helps you achieve exam efficiency. If Dr. Next will see Dr. Popular’s patient for follow-up care, he will need to spend more time reviewing the medical record to get up-to-date on the diagnosis, treatment, and prescribed medications. The follow-up visit may take twice as long if a different doctor sees the patient.  

add more urgent care slots to dr. popular’s schedule.  

I advise receptionists to block three urgent-care slots per doctor per day for same-day sick patients. Because clients will call every morning with sick patients that must be seen today, plan for them in your daily schedule. You may need more urgent care slots on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, when hospitals typically see higher volumes of sick patients.  

To determine how many urgent care slots Dr. Popular will need, create a spreadsheet that totals the number of exams he sees by day of the week. Let’s say he saw 22 patients on Thursday. Approximately 20 percent of patients are same-day sick appointments. Based on this formula, Dr. Popular would need seven urgent-care slots on Thursdays. Block an urgent-care slot at the top of each hour in Dr. Popular’s schedule on Thursdays. Get more insight in my YouTube video on “Overbooked and Can’t See Sick Pets? Here’s the Solution” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_oWxml2qyc&t=9s.  

Talk up other doctors.  

You want clients to feel confident and comfortable with every doctor in your practice. Dr. Popular, nurses, and the client-care team need to praise the skills and knowledge of other veterinarians in your hospital. When a client sighs after hearing Dr. Popular isn’t immediately available, promote Dr. Next. The receptionist would say, “Dr. Popular’s next availability is Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. I could schedule you with Dr. Next. He has a special interest in feline medicine and would love to meet Alex. I’m confident you’ll be satisfied with the quality of his medicine. Dr. Next could see Alex tomorrow at 4 p.m. Shall I schedule this exam?”

During his appointments, Dr. Popular also can share praises of his colleague, Dr. Next. Afterall, Dr. Popular may be the practice owner and hired Dr. Next. To transfer the client’s trust to another veterinarian, Dr. Popular might say, “Dr. Next has been part of my medical team for five years. We went to the same veterinary college and share similar medical interests and philosophies. If I’m unable to promptly see your pet, I’m confident that Dr. Next will do an exceptional job.” 

Because Dr. Popular will take vacations or may sell the practice one day, you must build trust in every veterinarian. Have your team discuss ways to equally distribute appointments amongst all doctors because the hospital’s goal is to have every veterinarian fully booked every day.

 

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