Speed to Consult
“How soon can I get in for my initial consultation?”?
Stop reading this, call your front desk, and ask this question right now.
You back? Great!?
When we mystery shopped 30+ clinics a while back, we asked that same question.
“How soon can I get in for my initial consultation?”?
Quickest appointment? Next day.?
Longest wait? 75 days away ??
Average? 18 days.?
Why is this so important??
Because time kills all deals.
Tito Bohrt recently analyzed the relationship between no-show/cancels and how far into the future the appointments were scheduled.
The quick and dirty takeaway is that the single biggest thing you can do to reduce no-shows/cancels is to schedule appointments as soon as you can.?
(I know, I know, easier said than done!)
But if you are not actively tracking this metric and doing everything you can to reduce it, you are leaving surgical volume on the table through “invisible” no-shows and cancellations.?
As days (or weeks) go by for your patients, fears rise, assumptions are made, reasons start to multiply why this isn’t a good time / there’s that other diet to try, etc…?
It’s weird because people will wait for YEARS before they book that initial visit.?
But once they DO book it, nothing helps show-up rate as much as speed.?
How far out are you booking those first appointments??