The word *confirmed* means: to state with assurance.
Why just make an appointment for a patient when you can confirm the appointment at the actual time they make the appointment
Making an appointment for a patient involves definite steps.
- Ensuring the patient is ready
- Asking if the patient prefers morning or afternoon
- Offering two times to choose from
- Booking in the appointment
If we follow all these steps then we usually say:
“I have made your appointment for….”
Why not say:
“I have now confirmed your appointment time for…..”
When I book my airline flights online I press a button at the end of the online process that reads *CONFIRM*.
When I book movie tickets online I press a button at the end that reads *CONFIRM*
Before I press the *CONFIRM* button I double check my choices.
Why then do I make an appointment for a patient and not say: “your appointment is now confirmed”?
If you change this one phrase when you schedule your patients’ appointments, the difference is amazing.
Your patients will actually start to believe and understand that their appointment is now set and confirmed and will consider the appointment time more carefully.
By using the word *confirmed* will actually have your patients believing and thinking that their Appointment will not change.
The confirmed appointment time is now agreed upon and changes will be less likely.
There is never a need to let your patient know you will call them two weeks before their appointment and again two days before.
Often your patients start to expect what we refer to as the confirmation call, SMS or email.
If you confirm the appointment at the time of making the appointment, then do we actually need to confirm the appointment again?
You do need to know that the initially confirmed appointment is absolutely confirmed.
Using the word *confirmed* when the appointment is first made helps to create a mindset in the patient that they won’t change the appointment.
You still need to reinforce the patient’s appointment is confirmed by contacting your patient before their appointment but NEVER to actually say you are contacting them to confirm their appointment.
When you contact your patient prior to their appointment you let them know you are looking forward to seeing/meeting them at their appointment. Because you have confirmed their appointment already when they made it, you already know they are coming and looking forward to seeing them.
Your patient will now see the “confirmation call” as a courtesy call and look forward to their appointment!
This blog will feature simple practical ideas that are easy to implement tomorrow in your Dental Office, impacting immediately on your Patients’ Dental Phone Experiences, and ultimately, improving your practice profitability.
At present I have availability for two new private clients. For more information on how I can improve your Dental Office’s Phone Numbers contact me, Jayne Bandy at jayne@theDPE.com
