Stop The Bleeding: End Patient Cancellations With These Quick Tips

1. No-shows and last minute cancellations
can bleed tens of thousands of dollars
from your practice every year.
However, with a few insider tips, you can
combat the “curse of the no show” like a pro.
$TOP THE B L E E D I N G !
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :

2. Missed appointment fees are a popular strategy
to dissuade patients from cancelling last minute.
Unfortunately, communicating a new policy of
missed appointment fees can be an awkward task.
When informing your patients about your new policy,
be sure to stress two ideas:
““Missed appointments threaten our ability to stay
open and serve the community.”
“Even with the small fee, we still lose money when
patients cancel their appointments last minute.”
T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
With precise scripting, missed appointment fees can reinforce the importance of treatments without alienating patients.
T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S

3. No-shows and last minute cancellations
can bleed tens of thousands of dollars
from your practice every year.
However, with a few insider tips, you can
combat the “curse of the no show” like a pro.
$TOP THE B L E E D I N G !
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :
Missed appointment fees are a popular strategy
to dissuade patients from cancelling last minute.
Unfortunately, communicating a new policy of
missed appointment fees can be an awkward task.
When informing your patients about your new policy,
be sure to stress two ideas:
““Missed appointments threaten our ability to stay
open and serve the community.”
“Even with the small fee, we still lose money when
patients cancel their appointments last minute.”
T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
With precise scripting, missed appointment fees can reinforce the importance of treatments without alienating patients.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
Last minute cancellations prevent a large percentage
of your patients from completing their treatment.
To get in front of the issue and ensure that the patient
follows through, consider offering same-day treatments
while your patients are in the office.
T A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T S
With some planning and organization, you can avoid giving your patients the opportunity to cancel their appointment.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E SO F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E ST A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T S

4. No-shows and last minute cancellations
can bleed tens of thousands of dollars
from your practice every year.
However, with a few insider tips, you can
combat the “curse of the no show” like a pro.
$TOP THE B L E E D I N G !
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :
Missed appointment fees are a popular strategy
to dissuade patients from cancelling last minute.
Unfortunately, communicating a new policy of
missed appointment fees can be an awkward task.
When informing your patients about your new policy,
be sure to stress two ideas:
““Missed appointments threaten our ability to stay
open and serve the community.”
“Even with the small fee, we still lose money when
patients cancel their appointments last minute.”
T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
With precise scripting, missed appointment fees can reinforce the importance of treatments without alienating patients.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
Last minute cancellations prevent a large percentage
of your patients from completing their treatment.
To get in front of the issue and ensure that the patient
follows through, consider offering same-day treatments
while your patients are in the office.
T A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T S
With some planning and organization, you can avoid giving your patients the opportunity to cancel their appointment.
If your patient cancels his appointment out of the blue, it’s important to have
a back-up plan. Keeping a running list of patients who’d prefer to be seen as
soon as possible gives you a resource to quickly fill the holes in your calendar.
T A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”
When last minute cancellations happen, find someone available to fill the hole in your schedule immediately.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E SO F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E ST A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T ST A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”

5. No-shows and last minute cancellations
can bleed tens of thousands of dollars
from your practice every year.
However, with a few insider tips, you can
combat the “curse of the no show” like a pro.
$TOP THE B L E E D I N G !
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :
Missed appointment fees are a popular strategy
to dissuade patients from cancelling last minute.
Unfortunately, communicating a new policy of
missed appointment fees can be an awkward task.
When informing your patients about your new policy,
be sure to stress two ideas:
““Missed appointments threaten our ability to stay
open and serve the community.”
“Even with the small fee, we still lose money when
patients cancel their appointments last minute.”
T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
With precise scripting, missed appointment fees can reinforce the importance of treatments without alienating patients.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E S
Last minute cancellations prevent a large percentage
of your patients from completing their treatment.
To get in front of the issue and ensure that the patient
follows through, consider offering same-day treatments
while your patients are in the office.
T A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T S
With some planning and organization, you can avoid giving your patients the opportunity to cancel their appointment.
If your patient cancels his appointment out of the blue, it’s important to have
a back-up plan. Keeping a running list of patients who’d prefer to be seen as
soon as possible gives you a resource to quickly fill the holes in your calendar.
T A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”
When last minute cancellations happen, find someone available to fill the hole in your schedule immediately.
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E SO F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E ST A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T ST A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”T A C T I C # 4 : D I F F E R E N T I A T E C O M M U N I C A T I O N T Y P E S
In the “age of mobile”, your patients are almost always receiving communications. How do you get yours noticed?
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E SO F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E ST A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T ST A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E SO F F I C E M A N A G E R S :T A C T I C # 1 : M I S S E D A P P O I N T M E N T F E E ST A C T I C # 2 : S A M E D A Y T R E A T M E N T ST A C T I C # 3 : K E E P I N G A N “ A S A P L I S T ”T A C T I C # 4 : D I F F E R E N T I A T E C O M M U N I C A T I O N T Y P E S
Your patients recieve countless calls, texts, and
emails from marketers every day. To get your messages
noticed – and to encourage your patients to honor their
appointments – consider diversifying your
patient communication methods.
According to a recent study, the 4 most popular
and effective methods are:and effective methods are:
Text Messages – 92%
Email – 85%
Phone Calls – 83%
Postcards – 44%

6. T A C T I C # 5 : T R E A T M E N T P L A N R E M I N D E R S
Developing a series of communications before and after appointments can keep patients reminded and engaged.
T A C T I C # 5 : T R E A T M E N T P L A N R E M I N D E R S
Practices that leverage their office managers
(or communication software) to reach out to
patients at designated intervals can expect a
significant decrease in no-shows.
Try building out a calendar of reminders
before, day of, and after to keep
patients on track.patients on track.
Additonally, consider utilizing different methods
of communication: texts, phone calls, emails,
and postcards/letters should all be in the mix.
Mix up your messaging – send appointment
reminders, customized greetings, and even
the impact of their treatment.

7. No-shows and last minute cancellations
can bleed tens of thousands of dollars
from your practice every year.
However, with a few insider tips, you can
combat the “curse of the no show” like a pro.
$TOP THE B L E E D I N G !
O F F I C E M A N A G E R S :
W A N T T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T L I G H T H O U S E 3 6 0 ?
to change everything you thought you knew about
what a practice management software can do.

8. S O U R C E S