Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 In a message dated 12/8/04 10:15:52 PM, Chinese Medicine writes: << Would you explain how you schedule your patients. How much time do you take for each person. How many do you see in an hour. How many rooms. Do you have an assistant. How many days a week do you do this. Do you do a lot of marketing - what type. Thanks, Anne >> Sure Anne. I have 2 treatment rooms and book every 30 minutes. EAch patient is there for an hour. (10-15 minutes for exam and diagnosis, 5-10 minutes to get needles inserted/ apply moxa etc). Then they get to rest with needles while I attend to the next patient. New patients are seen for a solid 90 minutes (no double booking) and I may or may not do a treatment on the first visit, depending on the complexity of the case. I practice the Shen/Hammer pulse diagnosis system, so the initial treatment pulse differentiation may take 30 minutes, on return visits that can be reduced to 5- 10 minutes I stay on time, attempting to honor everyone's schedule, (In NYC this is very important) by doing this patient's in turn respect my time and show up promptly for their appointments. (There is a strict 24 hour cancellation policy) I do all of the booking and receive payments myself. I do not answer the phone when I am with patients but do return calls on breaks. I do this three days a week from 8:30am - 8pm. (including a 90 minute lunch break, with 20 minutes for meditation) I have NEVER done any type of marketing or advertising. When I first started in practice, one of my teachers told me not to worry about advertising, he told me all that one had to do, was do the work. 'If you do good work the patients will follow'. At the time, I thought that was a cop out of an answer. But quite honestly it is the truth. Help one patient and they will send 7 others in your direction. (You will end up treating entire neighborhoods, circles of friends and extended families) Of course people skills are very important, knowing how to take the fear out of health problems and even death while reframing issues in an understandable manner for your patients will make a huge difference. Can't forget creating a safe, clean and comfortable enviornment and knowing how to listen to your patients. Finally treatments that work and are comfortable, offering sound advice (dietary, herbal and life style) along with a kind heart make the practice grow! :> Hope this is helpful Good luck robbee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Thanks so much robbee, I am starting my fourth year of practice on my own (we had to get our own patients in the clinic or no graduate - so I did that for 2 years - also my community was 1 1/2 hrs from the school; it was a challenge but I got patients to travel that far - some are still in my practice). Your advice is well taken. I have been seeing 1 patient an hour which is how the school trained us. I was reluctant to go to 2 per hr but feel I must do this - one to earn a living, but two I think it will actually benefit the patient in the long run - to get to issues, the heart of the matter, more quickly. I have done very little marketing but find when I go out and give a talk it does generate interest and often new clients. I still have only one tx room in my house. I have a choice to rent a space with two rooms (now) or to stay in the house (it's very pretty here) and see people in 45 min slots. In the fall I will be in a new office with plenty of room and starting a holistic center - acupuncture, massage, and other related modalities. I'm not in a big city so I have to do some planning to get practioners. These recent fires that have been in the news - where an arson torched a big new sudivision. I live near there. Also we had an F5 tornado in 2002 in LaPlata that hit my office. I don't like to be known for negative news but it seems that is how people hear of your area. Things are growing in LaPlata and is should be nice. Thanks again, so much, for your advice. TashiDelay wrote: > > > In a message dated 12/8/04 10:15:52 PM, > Chinese Medicine writes: > > << > > Would you explain how you schedule your patients. How much time do you > > take for each person. How many do you see in an hour. How many rooms. > > Do you have an assistant. How many days a week do you do this. Do you > > do a lot of marketing - what type. > > > Thanks, > > > Anne > > >> > > Sure Anne. > > I have 2 treatment rooms and book every 30 minutes. EAch patient is > there > for an hour. (10-15 minutes for exam and diagnosis, 5-10 minutes to > get needles > inserted/ apply moxa etc). Then they get to rest with needles while I > attend > to the next patient. New patients are seen for a solid 90 minutes (no > double > booking) and I may or may not do a treatment on the first visit, > depending on > the complexity of the case. I practice the Shen/Hammer pulse diagnosis > system, so the initial treatment pulse differentiation may take 30 > minutes, on > return visits that can be reduced to 5- 10 minutes I stay on time, > attempting to > honor everyone's schedule, (In NYC this is very important) by doing this > patient's in turn respect my time and show up promptly for their > appointments. > (There is a strict 24 hour cancellation policy) I do all of the > booking and > receive payments myself. I do not answer the phone when I am with > patients but > do return calls on breaks. > I do this three days a week from 8:30am - 8pm. (including a 90 minute > lunch break, with 20 minutes for meditation) > > I have NEVER done any type of marketing or advertising. When I first > started > in practice, one of my teachers told me not to worry about > advertising, he > told me all that one had to do, was do the work. 'If you do good work > the > patients will follow'. At the time, I thought that was a cop out of > an answer. > But quite honestly it is the truth. Help one patient and they will > send 7 > others in your direction. (You will end up treating entire > neighborhoods, circles > of friends and extended families) Of course people skills are very > important, > knowing how to take the fear out of health problems and even death while > reframing issues in an understandable manner for your patients will > make a huge > difference. Can't forget creating a safe, clean and comfortable > enviornment and > knowing how to listen to your patients. Finally treatments that work > and are > comfortable, offering sound advice (dietary, herbal and life style) along > with a kind heart make the practice grow! :> > Hope this is helpful > Good luck > robbee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 TashiDelay wrote: > > > In a message dated 12/8/04 10:15:52 PM, > Chinese Medicine writes: > > << > > Would you explain how you schedule your patients. How much time do you > > take for each person. How many do you see in an hour. How many rooms. > > Do you have an assistant. How many days a week do you do this. Do you > > do a lot of marketing - what type. > > > Thanks, > > > Anne > > >> > > Sure Anne. > > I have 2 treatment rooms and book every 30 minutes. EAch patient is > there > for an hour. (10-15 minutes for exam and diagnosis, 5-10 minutes to > get needles > inserted/ apply moxa etc). Then they get to rest with needles while I > attend > to the next patient. New patients are seen for a solid 90 minutes (no > double > booking) and I may or may not do a treatment on the first visit, > depending on > the complexity of the case. I practice the Shen/Hammer pulse diagnosis > system, so the initial treatment pulse differentiation may take 30 > minutes, on > return visits that can be reduced to 5- 10 minutes I stay on time, > attempting to > honor everyone's schedule, (In NYC this is very important) by doing this > patient's in turn respect my time and show up promptly for their > appointments. (There is a strict 24 hour cancellation policy) Anne: This issue continues to plague me. Even if I give this written notice to people when they start treatment, they always seem to have something come up. A loyal patient will be forgetful, new patients don't show up and don't call back, first or second time; even a patient getting a lot out of treatment will mix up appointments because has stressful time going on, a patient will have a sick child, they can be called to a funeral. Well - they all seem understandable and some seem like emergencies, e.g. sick child - but lost income to me. I get to know my patients quite well, so they feel like friends as well as patients. Also I live in a small community someone will come in and start talking about the local event that was in town. I started calling people a day in advance who I know are more forgetful. If I started calling everyone and they answer and say, oh, I forgot or oh, I am really busy let's do it next week.Or they call back - now that you reminded me, I remember I have this going on. That would drive me nuts. Anyway - I have to be firm about this again. One year when it was really out of hand I lost $3K on this, on a rather small beginning salary. I just think some people think you should not charge them if things come up in their lives - but it in effect means a payroll deduction for me. Any advice? > I do all of the booking and > receive payments myself. Anne: Do you do this in the last five or ten minutes of their treatment time? > > I do this three days a week from 8:30am - 8pm. (including a 90 minute > lunch break, with 20 minutes for meditation) Anne:This is a great practice. > > > Help one patient and they will send 7 > others in your direction. (You will end up treating entire > neighborhoods, circles > of friends and extended families) Anne: This is true in general. Some people don't refer because they want it to be " their " escape and secret or " their " practitioner. > Of course people skills are very important, > knowing how to take the fear out of health problems and even death while > reframing issues in an understandable manner for your patients will > make a huge > difference. Anne:We spent a lot of time learning how to relate to people. A lot of practitioners from my school treat 1 per hour. I do want to go to 2 per hour as others have done. When you have something big come up in the treatment room - and I mean emotional what do you do - reschedule them - since you will have to stay on schedule. One possibility is have a third room available to let the patient stay and move in and out until they are ready to go. > > knowing how to listen to your patients. Anne:Again, only in the first 10-15mins - I find things come up (emotional) after needles are in. How would you work this with scheduling? > http://babel.altavista.com/ > > > and > adjust accordingly. > > If you , it takes a few days for the messages to stop being > delivered. > > Messages are the property of the author. Any duplication outside the > group requires prior permission from the author. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 > > I just wanted to add my two cents for something I've found helpful... I too work out of 2 treatment rooms and do 3 full days per week (plus a half day on Saturday mornings) and do everything (billing, take money, make appointments, answer the phone, etc.), but instead of scheduling every 30 minutes, I fill each room every 75 minutes. So, in room A, I begin at 10AM and the next appointment in that room is at 11:15. In room B, I begin at 10:30 and the next appointment in that room is 11:45. This allows for patients to be a little tardy because of traffic and gives me a little breather to fix up the room, go to the bathroom, return a phone call, etc. If that next patient shows up a few minutes early, I can take them (and they are happy and impressed that I'm ready for them a little early). Like Robbee, I am respectful of people's time and have never (well, maybe once) began a patient late. There have been perhaps 2 people in 8 years who run consistently tardy; nearly all run ahead of time like me. I don't take a lunch because I find I have plenty of time to eat while patients are " cooking " , and I have 14 patient slots per day. Admittedly, 10AM is a late start, but I enjoy my morning time at home alone and think it's important (for me) to not ever have to wake to an alarm. Exercise/meditation happens then too. I tried to do the 30 minute scheduling Robbee spoke of, but found I was at the mercy of everything going perfectly. And for me, a lunch break made the day too long if I am going to get 13 or 14 people in. My brain turns to jello after about 8 hours! > > > > > > Thanks so much robbee, I am starting my fourth year of practice on my > own (we had to get our own patients in the clinic or no graduate - so I > did that for 2 years - also my community was 1 1/2 hrs from the school; > it was a challenge but I got patients to travel that far - some are > still in my practice). > > Your advice is well taken. I have been seeing 1 patient an hour which > is how the school trained us. I was reluctant to go to 2 per hr but > feel I must do this - one to earn a living, but two I think it will > actually benefit the patient in the long run - to get to issues, the > heart of the matter, more quickly. I have done very little marketing > but find when I go out and give a talk it does generate interest and > often new clients. I still have only one tx room in my house. I have a > choice to rent a space with two rooms (now) or to stay in the house > (it's very pretty here) and see people in 45 min slots. In the fall I > will be in a new office with plenty of room and starting a holistic > center - acupuncture, massage, and other related modalities. I'm not in > a big city so I have to do some planning to get practioners. These > recent fires that have been in the news - where an arson torched a big > new sudivision. I live near there. Also we had an F5 tornado in 2002 > in LaPlata that hit my office. I don't like to be known for negative > news but it seems that is how people hear of your area. Things are > growing in LaPlata and is should be nice. > > Thanks again, so much, for your advice. > > TashiDelay wrote: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Thanks so much for your input. This may be a good way for me to move from 1 per hr to 2 patients. How do you handle the 24hr cancel. Do you strictly enforce it even in emergencies, or forgetfulness of long time patient, no show new patient or 2nd time (my photographer takes a credit card when he books a new patient - you have to cancel within a certain time or card gets charged, so does my hotel for that matter.) I know some people on the site would cringe at that but its an interesting thought. Thanks again, Anne bbeale wrote: > > > > > I just wanted to add my two cents for something I've found helpful... > > I too work out of 2 treatment rooms and do 3 full days per week (plus a > half day on Saturday mornings) and do everything (billing, take money, > make appointments, answer the phone, etc.), but instead of scheduling > every 30 minutes, I fill each room every 75 minutes. So, in room A, I > begin at 10AM and the next appointment in that room is at 11:15. In room > B, I begin at 10:30 and the next appointment in that room is 11:45. This > allows for patients to be a little tardy because of traffic and gives me a > little breather to fix up the room, go to the bathroom, return a phone > call, etc. If that next patient shows up a few minutes early, I can take > them (and they are happy and impressed that I'm ready for them a little > early). Like Robbee, I am respectful of people's time and have never > (well, maybe once) began a patient late. There have been perhaps 2 people > in 8 years who run consistently tardy; nearly all run ahead of time like > me. I don't take a lunch because I find I have plenty of time to eat > while patients are " cooking " , and I have 14 patient slots per day. > > Admittedly, 10AM is a late start, but I enjoy my morning time at home > alone and think it's important (for me) to not ever have to wake to an > alarm. Exercise/meditation happens then too. > > I tried to do the 30 minute scheduling Robbee spoke of, but found I was at > the mercy of everything going perfectly. And for me, a lunch break made > the day too long if I am going to get 13 or 14 people in. My brain turns > to jello after about 8 hours! > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks so much robbee, I am starting my fourth year of practice on my > > own (we had to get our own patients in the clinic or no graduate - so I > > did that for 2 years - also my community was 1 1/2 hrs from the school; > > it was a challenge but I got patients to travel that far - some are > > still in my practice). > > > > Your advice is well taken. I have been seeing 1 patient an hour which > > is how the school trained us. I was reluctant to go to 2 per hr but > > feel I must do this - one to earn a living, but two I think it will > > actually benefit the patient in the long run - to get to issues, the > > heart of the matter, more quickly. I have done very little marketing > > but find when I go out and give a talk it does generate interest and > > often new clients. I still have only one tx room in my house. I have a > > choice to rent a space with two rooms (now) or to stay in the house > > (it's very pretty here) and see people in 45 min slots. In the fall I > > will be in a new office with plenty of room and starting a holistic > > center - acupuncture, massage, and other related modalities. I'm not in > > a big city so I have to do some planning to get practioners. These > > recent fires that have been in the news - where an arson torched a big > > new sudivision. I live near there. Also we had an F5 tornado in 2002 > > in LaPlata that hit my office. I don't like to be known for negative > > news but it seems that is how people hear of your area. Things are > > growing in LaPlata and is should be nice. > > > > Thanks again, so much, for your advice. > > > > TashiDelay wrote: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Hi Anne, The 24 hour cancellation. I have a notice form that the patient signs letting them know what the policy is on the first visit. If they miss the appointment, there is a $25.00 fee, for late cancellations or no shows. Although this is technically my policy, I have never charged a patient for a cancellation, even if it was within an hour of the appointment because AT LEAST they called! I tend to let regular patients by with one " no show " . A few patients have absolutely insisted on paying for the whole appointment even without me saying anything. No shows are rare, and I do get aggravated by them, but especially so. I have " fired " 3 patients over the years for repeated " no shows " by not allowing them to reschedule. Other than that, I'm somewhat of a wimp when it comes to the 24 hour policy. Personally, I would not take a credit card number on their first visit for the purpose of charging for no-shows/cancellations. I kind of admire practitioners that have the balls to do that, but it's just not my style. And I'm not sure it builds much of an impression from the " get-go " . Plus, in these times of prolific identity theft, I don't want that info anywhere near my office. I don't have social security numbers either and I don't keep patients' personal info on my computer (good thing because my computer was in November). I hope that helps. _____ Anne Crowley [blazing.valley] Monday, December 13, 2004 10:17 AM Chinese Medicine Re: Digest Number 785 Thanks so much for your input. This may be a good way for me to move from 1 per hr to 2 patients. How do you handle the 24hr cancel. Do you strictly enforce it even in emergencies, or forgetfulness of long time patient, no show new patient or 2nd time (my photographer takes a credit card when he books a new patient - you have to cancel within a certain time or card gets charged, so does my hotel for that matter.) I know some people on the site would cringe at that but its an interesting thought. Thanks again, Anne bbeale wrote: > > > > > I just wanted to add my two cents for something I've found helpful... > > I too work out of 2 treatment rooms and do 3 full days per week (plus a > half day on Saturday mornings) and do everything (billing, take money, > make appointments, answer the phone, etc.), but instead of scheduling > every 30 minutes, I fill each room every 75 minutes. So, in room A, I > begin at 10AM and the next appointment in that room is at 11:15. In room > B, I begin at 10:30 and the next appointment in that room is 11:45. This > allows for patients to be a little tardy because of traffic and gives me a > little breather to fix up the room, go to the bathroom, return a phone > call, etc. If that next patient shows up a few minutes early, I can take > them (and they are happy and impressed that I'm ready for them a little > early). Like Robbee, I am respectful of people's time and have never > (well, maybe once) began a patient late. There have been perhaps 2 people > in 8 years who run consistently tardy; nearly all run ahead of time like > me. I don't take a lunch because I find I have plenty of time to eat > while patients are " cooking " , and I have 14 patient slots per day. > > Admittedly, 10AM is a late start, but I enjoy my morning time at home > alone and think it's important (for me) to not ever have to wake to an > alarm. Exercise/meditation happens then too. > > I tried to do the 30 minute scheduling Robbee spoke of, but found I was at > the mercy of everything going perfectly. And for me, a lunch break made > the day too long if I am going to get 13 or 14 people in. My brain turns > to jello after about 8 hours! > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks so much robbee, I am starting my fourth year of practice on my > > own (we had to get our own patients in the clinic or no graduate - so I > > did that for 2 years - also my community was 1 1/2 hrs from the school; > > it was a challenge but I got patients to travel that far - some are > > still in my practice). > > > > Your advice is well taken. I have been seeing 1 patient an hour which > > is how the school trained us. I was reluctant to go to 2 per hr but > > feel I must do this - one to earn a living, but two I think it will > > actually benefit the patient in the long run - to get to issues, the > > heart of the matter, more quickly. I have done very little marketing > > but find when I go out and give a talk it does generate interest and > > often new clients. I still have only one tx room in my house. I have a > > choice to rent a space with two rooms (now) or to stay in the house > > (it's very pretty here) and see people in 45 min slots. In the fall I > > will be in a new office with plenty of room and starting a holistic > > center - acupuncture, massage, and other related modalities. I'm not in > > a big city so I have to do some planning to get practioners. These > > recent fires that have been in the news - where an arson torched a big > > new sudivision. I live near there. Also we had an F5 tornado in 2002 > > in LaPlata that hit my office. I don't like to be known for negative > > news but it seems that is how people hear of your area. Things are > > growing in LaPlata and is should be nice. > > > > Thanks again, so much, for your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Thanks so much. Do you call patients a day or two before the appointment to remind them. I find some I have to do this but am considering doing it for all. It seems very time consuming. Anne Barb wrote: > > Hi Anne, > > > > The 24 hour cancellation. I have a notice form that the patient signs > letting them know what the policy is on the first visit. If they > miss the > appointment, there is a $25.00 fee, for late cancellations or no shows. > Although this is technically my policy, I have never charged a patient > for a > cancellation, even if it was within an hour of the appointment because AT > LEAST they called! I tend to let regular patients by with one " no > show " . A > few patients have absolutely insisted on paying for the whole appointment > even without me saying anything. No shows are rare, and I do get > aggravated > by them, but especially so. I have " fired " 3 patients over the years for > repeated " no shows " by not allowing them to reschedule. Other than that, > I'm somewhat of a wimp when it comes to the 24 hour policy. > > > > Personally, I would not take a credit card number on their first visit for > the purpose of charging for no-shows/cancellations. I kind of admire > practitioners that have the balls to do that, but it's just not my style. > And I'm not sure it builds much of an impression from the " get-go " . Plus, > in these times of prolific identity theft, I don't want that info anywhere > near my office. I don't have social security numbers either and I don't > keep patients' personal info on my computer (good thing because my > computer > was in November). > > > > I hope that helps. > > _____ > > Anne Crowley [blazing.valley] > Monday, December 13, 2004 10:17 AM > Chinese Medicine > Re: Digest Number 785 > > > > > Thanks so much for your input. This may be a good way for me to move > from 1 per hr to 2 patients. > How do you handle the 24hr cancel. Do you strictly enforce it even in > emergencies, or forgetfulness of long time patient, no show new patient > or 2nd time (my photographer takes a credit card when he books a new > patient - you have to cancel within a certain time or card gets charged, > so does my hotel for that matter.) I know some people on the site would > cringe at that but its an interesting thought. > > Thanks again, > > Anne > bbeale wrote: > > > > > > > > > I just wanted to add my two cents for something I've found helpful... > > > > I too work out of 2 treatment rooms and do 3 full days per week (plus a > > half day on Saturday mornings) and do everything (billing, take money, > > make appointments, answer the phone, etc.), but instead of scheduling > > every 30 minutes, I fill each room every 75 minutes. So, in room A, I > > begin at 10AM and the next appointment in that room is at 11:15. In > room > > B, I begin at 10:30 and the next appointment in that room is 11:45. > This > > allows for patients to be a little tardy because of traffic and > gives me a > > little breather to fix up the room, go to the bathroom, return a phone > > call, etc. If that next patient shows up a few minutes early, I can > take > > them (and they are happy and impressed that I'm ready for them a little > > early). Like Robbee, I am respectful of people's time and have never > > (well, maybe once) began a patient late. There have been perhaps 2 > people > > in 8 years who run consistently tardy; nearly all run ahead of time like > > me. I don't take a lunch because I find I have plenty of time to eat > > while patients are " cooking " , and I have 14 patient slots per day. > > > > Admittedly, 10AM is a late start, but I enjoy my morning time at home > > alone and think it's important (for me) to not ever have to wake to an > > alarm. Exercise/meditation happens then too. > > > > I tried to do the 30 minute scheduling Robbee spoke of, but found I > was at > > the mercy of everything going perfectly. And for me, a lunch break made > > the day too long if I am going to get 13 or 14 people in. My brain > turns > > to jello after about 8 hours! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks so much robbee, I am starting my fourth year of practice on my > > > own (we had to get our own patients in the clinic or no graduate - > so I > > > did that for 2 years - also my community was 1 1/2 hrs from the > school; > > > it was a challenge but I got patients to travel that far - some are > > > still in my practice). > > > > > > Your advice is well taken. I have been seeing 1 patient an hour which > > > is how the school trained us. I was reluctant to go to 2 per hr but > > > feel I must do this - one to earn a living, but two I think it will > > > actually benefit the patient in the long run - to get to issues, the > > > heart of the matter, more quickly. I have done very little marketing > > > but find when I go out and give a talk it does generate interest and > > > often new clients. I still have only one tx room in my house. I > have a > > > choice to rent a space with two rooms (now) or to stay in the house > > > (it's very pretty here) and see people in 45 min slots. In the fall I > > > will be in a new office with plenty of room and starting a holistic > > > center - acupuncture, massage, and other related modalities. I'm > not in > > > a big city so I have to do some planning to get practioners. These > > > recent fires that have been in the news - where an arson torched a big > > > new sudivision. I live near there. Also we had an F5 tornado in 2002 > > > in LaPlata that hit my office. I don't like to be known for negative > > > news but it seems that is how people hear of your area. Things are > > > growing in LaPlata and is should be nice. > > > > > > Thanks again, so much, for your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 > > > I only call those who've made it a habit to miss appointments. After their one allowed no show, they go on my list. The problem is, if they become dependent on your call and you don't for some reason call (too busy, forgot, etc.), then they can feel justified to miss the appointment saying, " Well, YOU didn't call. " I've gotten to the point, though, that I think adults should be able to keep a calendar and be responsible. But, saying that, I still call the ones who can't seem to keep it together (we all have some of those). I'm admittedly a little inconsistent with the whole 24 hour, missed appointment and reminder call thing. You might want to ask new patients (as they come into your practice) if they need reminder calls and put an asterisk next to their name in your schedule book if they do. I've had offices (hairstylists, doctors, etc.) ask me that question and I always say no. Less work for them and one less time I have to answer the darned phone! I never miss appointments. > > > > > Thanks so much. Do you call patients a day or two before the > appointment to remind them. I find some I have to do this but am > considering doing it for all. It seems very time consuming. > > Anne > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Good suggestion - ask them if they need a reminder call as you are explaining the cancellation policy. Anne bbeale wrote: > > > > > > I only call those who've made it a habit to miss appointments. After > their one allowed no show, they go on my list. The problem is, if they > become dependent on your call and you don't for some reason call (too > busy, forgot, etc.), then they can feel justified to miss the > appointment saying, " Well, YOU didn't call. " I've gotten to the point, > though, that I think adults should be able to keep a calendar and be > responsible. But, saying that, I still call the ones who can't seem to > keep it together (we all have some of those). I'm admittedly a little > inconsistent with the whole 24 hour, missed appointment and reminder > call thing. You might want to ask new patients (as they come into your > practice) if they need reminder calls and put an asterisk next to their > name in your schedule book if they do. I've had offices (hairstylists, > doctors, etc.) ask me that question and I always say no. Less work for > them and one less time I have to answer the darned phone! I never miss > appointments. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks so much. Do you call patients a day or two before the > > appointment to remind them. I find some I have to do this but am > > considering doing it for all. It seems very time consuming. > > > > Anne > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://babel.altavista.com/ > > > and > adjust accordingly. > > If you , it takes a few days for the messages to stop being > delivered. > > Messages are the property of the author. Any duplication outside the > group requires prior permission from the author. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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