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How to Reduce Past Due Recare Visits

One of my clients, Dr. Hud Heidorf (winner of the Dr. Pete Dawson Passion for Dentistry Award) and his team have a novel way to invigorate their patients who become past-due for their dental recare visits.  His Business Coordinator, Pam, describes the simple process as follows:

“We identify, via a computer search, those patients who are 3 months past-due for their routine dental maintenance visits.  They are sent a short, personalized letter stating that they are “missed” and that they are concerned for their health and invite them to schedule their recare visit today.  Also in the letter is an inducement….it describes that if the patient calls to schedule their visit within a certain period of time, their name will be entered into a drawing for a fun gift.  The gift can be a $50 gas card; a dinner certificate to a popular restaurant; or we just get creative.”

Now you might think this is superfluous; a waste of time; or a lot of work for little result.  Well, here are there results on their most recent recare initiative:  Pam mailed out 110 letters to past due recare patients and scheduled 35 people within the designated time frame.  That’s a 32% return on effort.  Calculate your typical recare fee and you can quickly see the math makes it all worth while.  If you want to learn more of the details, you can call Pam at Dr. Heidorf’s office at 440-835-4848 or email her at:  heidorfpam@aol.com

Dr. Ron is the only Master Certified Dental Coach (MCC) on the planet. He has blended 20 years of clinical dental practice with executive roles in financial planning and investment management along his graduate business training to provide his clients with the tools, support, and accountability to accomplish more. About Dr. Ron, "I count you as one of life’s best finds", says Dr. Gary Imm of Reisterstown, Maryland. He has authored many articles; manuals; ThinBooks ^tm; TeleClasses and if you visit http://www.drarndt.com you can receive one of his FREE reports, "9 Painful Mistakes Dentists Make in the Hiring Process"

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One Response to “How to Reduce Past Due Recare Visits”

1. Tom Leatherman Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 am

   Hi Ron,
   Wonderful and enlightening as usual. I should give you call to update you on our team. I hired the most wonderful hygienist. I fired the worst team player (not in that order).
   I also need to update you on my father as he has had some serious medical issues. Long story, but he had a stroke and is in the Normandy skilled nursing care in Rocky River. As I said, I should call you to catch you up
   Thanks so much for the Bday card - it is always a nice surprise from a good friend
   Sincerely, Tom
   PS-when is your Bday?
   PPS-the related posts below (4 part series on No shows) had bad 2nd links

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