COLLECTIONS

Written financial policies which present options for payment including a source of outside financing should be presented to your patients, and acknowledged with the patient's signature. This signed document should be kept permanently in the patient's chart.

Appointments made when the patient has not agreed to financial arrangements have a higher cancellation rate.

Incentives for pre-payment or payment in full at the time of service can be a very effective tool for controlling accounts receivable.

Script

"Mrs. Patient, we have several payment options available which will help you to fit this treatment into your budget, and which will allow you to go ahead and get the treatment that you deserve. Our financial coordinator will be happy to assist you in choosing the option that works best for you."

SCHEDULING

A productive schedule is well planned. Schedule with a financial goal in mind, based on your practice break even point. Block time in your schedule for high production procedures, and schedule only high production procedures in those blocks. Do not release these blocks for other procedures until 48 hours before the appointment time.

Through the use of high production blocks schedule your day to produce 2/3 of your dentistry in 1/3 of your time.

Script
"Mr. Patient, Dr. would like to see you on Friday at 10:00am to begin your crowns. He prefers to do his crown procedures in the morning, when the office is less busy and he is able to give you his undivided attention. We have Friday at 10:00am or Next Monday at 2:00pm available. Which would you prefer?"

CANCELLATIONS

Patients will be more likely to keep appointments if they understand and accept the urgency of care.

Chronically running behind schedule communicates to patients that you do not respect their time. In turn, they will feel no obligation to respect your time, and are more likely to cancel at the last minute or arrive late for their appointments

Script: "Mr. Patient, Dr. would like to see you as soon as possible to take care of the active decay on your upper right side. His next available appointment is Friday at 10:00am.. How does that sound?"