How Is Your Practice Measuring Up? Are You A Leader Or A Follower?

Since the Summer months, OptiCall has recorded a 40% increase in call volume nationwide! And more good news, month to date for November has already shown a 6% increase over October’s call volume. Why such a jump in volume? Simple...some practices have decided to advertise again. Patients are responding to well thought out marketing messages and appointments are being booked. There is one caveat to increased call volume this time of year. In addition to the marketing messages driving patient calls, this is the time of year when people are calling to check on pricing information for their Flex Spending accounts. Since they have to wait until 2010 to have surgery, they are putting off their consultation and surgery until their Flex Spending account kicks in. Of course, we will do our best to stress the importance of them having a consultation in this process to determine first if they are a candidate before committing the dollars.

What portion of this percentage increase in calls is yours? If patients are calling about Flex Spending accounts, do you have a way to follow up when they are ready to be treated? Do not assume these patients will call your practice back when it is time to be treated. It is your role to massage these potential patients by following up with a simple phone call, email or letter. Make your patients feel important so they choose your practice to perform their surgery.