The 2020 Guide To Dental Appointment Scheduling Software

Let’s say I went to your website right now. Could I make an appointment without having to send you an email, filling out a contact form, or picking up the phone? In other words: has your practice invested in online dental scheduling software?

If not, you’re getting left behind. Recent research shows that 33% of people are still making appointments over the phone. However, 67% of people say that booking online is their #1 choice when scheduling an appointment and 59% say they are frustrated when put on hold or an office is not open when they call to make an appointment.

In today’s post we’ll talk about the advantages of online dental scheduling software, take a closer look at the main players in the field, and answer a few common questions.

Why online appointment scheduling?

Do you only answer the phone during your practice’s business hours? Does it take you a day or so to respond to inquiries sent through your website’s contact form? What do you think potential patients are doing while waiting for a response?

Many will keep looking for a new dentist, especially if they’re in a hurry to get an appointment. Online appointment scheduling offers instant gratification and gets new patients started right away without any unnecessary waiting.

Key benefits of dental scheduling software

At :Delmain, we work with dentists around the country. Many have increased their new patient appointments and overall patient satisfaction by investing in dental scheduling software for their practices. While there are a variety of options to choose from, most of the practices we work with use Localmed, Nexhealth, or Zocdoc based on their unique needs.

Check out a few of our dental clients and see how they’ve made scheduling software part of their websites:

• Bowles Dental
• Children’s Dentistry of Charlottesville
• Elite Dental Care

What to think about when choosing a dental scheduling platform

HIPAA compliance

Take your patients’ privacy seriously. Before you sign up for any dental scheduling software, ask about its HIPAA compliance. While there are many new startups creating dental scheduling software, they may not take patient privacy and security as seriously as more established companies.

Practice management system integration

Dentrix, Lighthouse 360, PracticeWorks, EagleSoft, and SolutionReach are a few of the most practice management systems used by dental practices. When selecting a scheduling platform, find out how it will integrate with your current workflow.

Essential features for your practice

If your practice has more than one dentist, more than one location, or offers unique specialty services, make sure to take these into consideration when allowing patients to book appointments online. Will the software allow patients to pick their provider or office location? Will they be able to request a longer appointment to discuss implants, veneers, or gum disease treatments? Look for flexibility and software that can grow with your practice.

Ease of use and user experience

The proof is in the results

Dr. Patel, a San Francisco holistic dentist, used a traditional contact form on her website to solicit new patient inquiries. After investing in an online appointment booking solution, she saw her appointments increase by nearly 400%.

Dr. Patel says of the success she’s seen working with :Delmain,

“Dan and his team do quality and amazing work. I love my new website and all the work you’ve been doing. I’ve had more time to focus on my non-profit and to work on my book, Age With Style. Thank you so much!”

Read more about Dr. Patel’s success with online appointment scheduling and how we redesigned her website and created a winning SEO strategy.