USE ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING TO FREE STAFF TIME AND WIN OVER PATIENTS

 

There are numerous digital administrative tools to make one’s practice run smoothly. One that Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, has found useful is a digital platform that allows patients to schedule their appointments online. “Forty-three percent of patients prefer to book appointments online, yet only a handful of us offer direct online booking in our offices,” she writes. “The average appointment-setting call takes 6 to 8 minutes; at my practice, over 50% of patients now book their own appointments online, which saves us close to 15 hours of phone time each month.”–“Don’t Overlook Administrative Technology."

 

LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS TO GROW A PATIENT BASE

 

Three ODs (Drs. Jason Compton, Dori Carlson, and Shefali Miglani) share how they’ve recently innovated at their practices. For example, Dr. Jason Compton points to social media. “For an influencer to tag me in their post is a lot more powerful than anything I post on my page because they have so many more followers,” he explains.–“Enterprising Optometrists.” 

 

REGULARLY UPDATE A PRACTICE’S WEBSITE

 

“For a practice website to be a successful tool for educating patients on treatments and products efficiently,” writes Whitney A. Jensen, OD, “it must be constantly updated to show both current and prospective patients that the practice is on the cutting edge to maintain traffic and, thus, inquiries.–“Educate Patients on All Offerings Efficiently." 

 

CONSIDER CURRENT CONTACT LENS WEARERS

 

In this month’s “Contact Lens” column, Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, FSLS, offers several strategies to help increase contact lens fitting rates. Her first suggestion: Upgrade current wearers. “At each annual visit, I discuss how a new contact lens technology addresses either a patient complaint, such as lens awareness, or a clinical finding, such as corneal hypoxia, that I identify during the examination,” she writes.–“Fit More Contact Lenses.” 

 

COMMUNICATE WITH STAFF ABOUT INNOVATIONS

 

There are several action steps to take to foster a culture of innovation at your practice, writes Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO. One is clear communication with staff. She says, “I first communicate what the innovation is and describe how it works. Then, I explain how the innovation is different than other products/services/systems currently on the market, and I give examples demonstrating how it will solve problems...”–“Foster a Culture of Innovation."