9 Ways on How Chiropractors Get Rid of No-Shows by Texting
Becca Rolon
?Practice Growth Strategy ?Practice Coaching ?Automated New Patient Scheduling ?Automated Patient Growth ?New Patient Acquisition Systems
You want your patients to keep coming to their appointments so that you can assist them in reducing pain and physical mobility. The problem is that they miss your reminders and offers, which are designed to help them stay focused on their recovery. This is costing you a fortune!
However, this isn't just an issue for your chiropractic practice. Across all medical offices, the typical no-show rate is more than 18%. Given that patients who miss only one appointment are 70% more likely to not return again within 18 months, this becomes even more concerning.
That is why, in the following section, I'll show you how to use texting to grow your chiropractic business and turn those statistics around.
Why should chiropractors use text messaging?
Only 17.4% of chiropractic health-related emails are opened, and fewer than 18% of all phone calls are made on mobile phones.
Texting has a 99 percent open rate, so you can be sure that your patients will read the communications you send them. Because most patients require four to 12 sessions to cure their problems, this is significant. Texting may assist you in sharing more while during those meetings:
And many more!
Here are nine strategies for your chiropractic clinic to text to stay top of mind with its patients and decrease no-shows.
The most common reason patients miss appointments is because they forget. It's also simple to become so caught up in your current schedule that you don't have time to remind them (and, even when you do, you can't be sure they'll pay attention).
So, you need a method to send reminders that is b) easy to accomplish so you can concentrate on current patients and c) one that guarantees your attention.
Reminders can help you avoid no-shows by 30% to 50%. They're simple to set up ahead of time, so you can stay on track with your current commitments. In three minutes, 95 percent of your patients will open and read them.
When you import a CSV file with all of your patients' names and phone numbers in Merge, you may use it to create scheduling reminders for many people at once. Formatting notifications like:
"Hello [name]. This is a reminder that you have an appointment at Hart Chiropractic on [date] at [time]."
The ability to hide certain text has been a popular request from nurses and patients. Although you can't erase or delete individual replies, either individually or in bulk, sending merge messages does function similarly to BCC email. This keeps things informal, so patients will be able to ask you follow-up questions, as well as request to reschedule appointments.
You may use Text Merge to format text for any day of the week, such as all of your Tuesday or Thursday appointments.
2. Make patient scheduling more convenient.
Reminders aren't the only thing that count. To keep your patients interested in working with you (especially when they have to schedule four to 12 treatments), your actual scheduling technique must be simplified.
So, what's the best way to stop yourself from taking this route?
Only 2.4 percent of medical appointments are self-scheduled by patients, according to a recent Medscape survey, but 87% of respondents want the option to book, change, or cancel their appointments online.
The typical procedure is as follows:
It's possible that they'll be a no-show at their next appointment.
However, with texting, you may send Google Calendar or other electronic calendars links so that the patient can quickly pick what works for them and reschedule as needed. This way the patient may ensure that their selected time slot is convenient for them (versus feeling pressured to select anything, as they would at a front desk).
By scheduling the appointment for them, patients will have a better sense of when it is. This, coupled with text-based appointment reminders, can help you reduce no-shows!
3. Use SMS Chat to attract patients who keep their appointments.
Many patients go through several chiropractors before scheduling an appointment with one. How can you ensure that they select you? You might begin by being the first to respond to them when they send out a text—and the way they'll want to communicate is by messaging.
According to a recent poll, 83% of respondents would prefer to text a company rather than call or send an email because it's a quicker approach to obtain the information they require. As a result, when you state on your website that you text, you're more likely to receive contact from them.
You want that. You're 50% more likely to acquire a client when you contact them the first time since they've searched for answers on Google and came across your website.
SMS Chat is a tool that allows chiropractors to advertise their treatments using SMS messaging. It's a widget that you place in the lower corner of your website with a customizable message, such as "Click to Text Us!" Customers may text you directly from your website, and the rest of the conversation takes place on their phone.
This allows potential consumers to ask you anything from types of insurance you accept to the dates they may book a session.
The best thing is that you'll both have each other's contact information for future follow-ups and inquiries!
Patients who obtain answers to their inquiries through SMS Chat are far more inclined to book and attend their first appointment, since they will feel cared for and valued.
4. Keep your team connected and up to date on the latest regulations.
You want to respond to new patient inquiries and general queries throughout the day, but you also need to evaluate, modify, and manage your existing sessions (and spinal adjustments may require both of your hands). That's why everyone in your office needs a location where they can access and respond to text messages from their chiropractic practice.
It is possible to text from a single business number, which keeps your team on track and prevents them from having to text from their personal phone numbers. They'll also be able to utilize a common dashboard that shows which texts have or haven't been responded to yet.
If one chiropractor starts a discussion but has to leave for their next scheduled visit, another free assistant or nurse may take over and finish the conversation.
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All of the messages are also captured and timestamped, so there's a permanent record of who spoke and when.
The following additional security features are included in Matchlight's Email Customization Service:
As a general rule, don't allow your chiropractors to text anything they wouldn't normally leave in a voicemail.
5. Make use of exercise routines to keep your session top-of-mind.
You want your patients to get the most out of their sessions, so they keep returning and enhancing their lives. To do that, you'll need to provide them with support and incentive to continue making progress on their own throughout recovery. That's why texting exercise reminders are a wonderful method to offer encouragement and sustain motivation!
Finally, by providing continuing education to nurses who are in practice today, this program has helped us improve patient outcome rates. It also helps keep your patients' healing in mind, making them more likely to continue their appointments with you if they see positive results.
You might send remote exercise regimens as texts, such as:
“Clara, this is Jadah from Hart Chiropractors. Make time today to help your wrist heal with: 10 power grips, 5 finger spreads, and 7 complete grasps.”
You may even text photographs and video links of the exercise so that your patients can easily execute it.
The more you keep a patient engaged by sending them tailored exercise reminders, the more likely they are to continue their workouts.
6. Promote products that aid their recovery.
Certain patients require assistance with particular difficulties. As a result, these individuals will also require items and medicines to aid their recovery, such as:
You may arrange your patients into categories such as "Spinal" or "Tendonitis," and send them special offers for goods and supplements that cater to their unique requirements.
“Hi, Kara. This is Molly at The Joint Chiro. This week, we're having a 10% discount on all of our biofreeze goods. Would you want me to reserve some for your next appointment or buy them off [website url here]”
Using text messages to push these items to your patients is another way for you to stay in touch with them, emphasize the importance of their recovery, and boost your practice's income!
7. Make payment reminders simple and quick.
When your patients have an average of four to 12 sessions, you need a way to ensure you get paid for all of them.
The number one reason a person does not make a payment is because they forget, just as missed appointments are. Fortunately, you already know that your text reminders will be seen 99% of the time.
Simply state:
“Hi Phil, just a friendly reminder that your last chiropractic session's bill of $65 is past due. Payment for this visit may be made at hartchiro.com/portal. Thank you! - Mariah@TruChiro”
Patients will love that you've made your organization more user-friendly and easy to navigate. You may even provide a link to the payment portal so that the patient may complete the transaction as quickly as possible.
8. Ensure that you are there for your patients when they need it.
You want your patients to be able to contact you at any time if they have questions or need to schedule emergency treatments as their pain increases. As a result, you'll need an after-hours number.
Sending text messages from your business phone number allows you to keep your personal number private while still allowing your after-hours line to be focused solely on patients.
Furthermore, with software that has an online dashboard, mobile app, and Chrome extension tools, you may customize how you want to view and react to emergency texts.
This means you may choose whether to receive emergency text alerts on your phone or your desktop, as desired. Your assistants, nurses, and other personnel will also be able to do so, which is helpful if you want assistance.
Potential patients who know they have the option to contact you at any time if they have an emergency are far more likely to book and keep their initial appointment. They'll be committed to your clinic, which I'll discuss further down (which leads me to my next point).
9. Build your reputation and practice.
If you really want to connect with your patients, one of the simplest things you can do is ask them for feedback between their first and last appointments.
This can be as simple as leaving a message, like:
“Hello, Bethany. How is your back sensation today? Which activity do you believe has the most benefit for you? - Clyde, True Wellness Clinic”
Or you could just directly ask for a review, like:
“Hey Sam! I feel like we're making good progress, and I'm sure you feel the same. If that's the case, could you please leave me a review at [URL here]”
In any case, you're encouraging your patient to think about the outcome of their session, which is a fantastic method to keep their rehabilitation on track.
Asking for opinions may also increase your company substantially, since 90% of consumers use them to see whether they want to work with a firm.
The best thing is that 70% of patients will offer feedback or a review if you simply ask them!