Ann answers your questions - I want to increase the number of new patients?

Hi,

I am a 43 years old dentist and new owner of a beautiful new clinic. Le Centre Dentaire 32 is now 3 years old! Before I was working for another dentist. I have four operating rooms and have the possibility for six. The average new patient is 12. I have 1,300 active patients. I want to increase the number of new patients. I am working 4 days and 30 hours/week and have one and a half hygienists. I don't know anything about internal marketing. Can you help me?

Thank you,

Dre Line Haché
Montréal, Québec 


Hello Line in Montreal, Quebec

You asked about increasing the number of new patient visits, a concern for many dentists. With some professionally acceptable marketing efforts, your new office should be a magnet, drawing many new patients. You are fortunate to have the flexibility to add two additional operatories when necessary. If your mix of services is typical, a realistic goal for your practice within the next few years may be 2500-3000 active patients with 20 to 30 or more new patient examinations per month.

Your priorities to achieve these goals, in my opinion, will have to be (1) improve efficiency in every aspect of the office, particularly in clinical procedures, instrumentation, and staffing. And (2) concentrate on marketing your practice through all venues including an attractive, professionally presented website, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media sites. Additionally, increase the visibility of your practice through activities in your community. Such activities include your own interaction with medical as well as dental colleagues informally and through membership in professional organizations. Your staff members’ activities throughout the community are important also; for example, presenting oral health education programs in schools, day care centers, businesses, other health care offices and facilities, assisted living facilities, etc. You or they can participate in community health fairs distributing toothbrushes imprinted with your practice name and number, work with community colleges teaching students about job opportunities in the dental profession, etc.---all in an effort to help people in your area while raising the profile of your practice.

For more information about marketing, use this link to Practicon’s website to see more marketing tips in my area called Free Resources for Your Practice.

Merci Line pour votre très bonne question. Toute l'équipe de Practicon vous souhaite un grand succès et nous espérons pourvoir vous servir comme à l'habitude avec une gamme de produits hors pair.

Sincèrement,

Ann.