Do you have a no-show problem? Even if you struggle with unexpected holes in your schedule only occasionally, you can take steps to improve your patient-contact rates and turn those no-shows into visits.
Try to automate your messaging as much as you can and reach patients through their preferred method of contact, be it email, phone or text message contact, experts told
Part B News in
the Feb. 8 issue.
Use the following two examples, one for email and one for text messaging, to adapt to meet your practice's needs.
First, here’s an example of a default email message: “We look forward to seeing [patient] at your next appointment on [date] at [time]. Please arrive five to 10 minutes prior to your appointment time and update us if your contact or insurance information has changed. If you need to cancel or reschedule this appointment, please select the appropriate choice below, and call our office as soon as possible at [phone number].”
Second, here's an example for text message:
[Your practice name]
Appt. reminder:
[date] [time]
Call [your phone number] if you cannot keep this appt.
Reply STOP to block future alerts
You can build these default messages into your electronic health record (EHR) system, whether your vendor provides patient-contact services or you use a third-party vendor to conduct your communications. And, of course, ask your patients which method they prefer for contact. They'll likely save you time and money with their responses.