Skip to content

How to Decrease Last Minute Cancellations with Email & Text Reminders

Cartoon image of Email message on screen in laptop. Message reminder concept.

Nothing plagues dental offices more than last-minute cancellations, and almost every healthcare provider can say the same. While most chronic patients never forget a thing, the average dentist’s office visit is only 1 to 2 times a year – and most people find it easy to forget that they have a scheduling conflict.

Here’s how healthcare providers can stay on top of their schedule with a simple email or text reminders.

Why Cancellations Are a Pain – For Dentists

Cancellations are one of the potential things that can cost a dentist’s office thousands per year in lost appointments. Unfortunately, when people cancel or move an appointment due to a scheduling conflict, they rarely imagine what effect this is going to have on the dentist on the other end – and unfortunately, it’s a disaster.

When procedures or appointments are cancelled last minute, dentists lose valuable time they often can’t afford to fill up on such short notice.

How Cancellations Happen

For patients, most dental cancellations happen as a result of scheduling conflicts or simple forgetfulness. Appointments that are scheduled far in advance (or in the middle of a busy schedule) are easy to forget – and when push comes to shove, and the appointment is tomorrow, people often forget entirely.

Dentist’s offices are still businesses, and cancellations don’t do anyone a favour!

A dental office isn’t just about patient care while they’re in the dentist’s chair but also about how to get patients into the office in the first place.

A Simple Reminder

A simple reminder can be sufficient to avoid scheduling conflicts for most people. When people track their appointments, it’s way too easy to forget – but with a simple email or text reminder that says you’ve got an appointment coming up in a week, there’s a more personal relationship with your patient (and nobody can say that they forgot!).

When cancellations cost your office hundreds, a simple reminder can be the best way to cut down on the cancellations you get.

Just like everything from bank account costs to Netflix subscriptions, if people aren’t reminded, they will likely forget!

Email or Text?

There are two ways to set up a simple reminder system for your patients so that nobody ever forgets an appointment: email and text. Text and email services are affordable in bulk, and most services can be set up to send automatically.

When patients make their appointment, include a check-box to opt in for reminders with a short sentence that patients will be reminded via their chosen method a week (or more) before their appointment takes place.

The Opt-Out Notification

In the days of cybersecurity, notifications from any healthcare provider (or, for that matter, private company) require one thing: an opt-out notification for the customer. So make sure that your message – whether text or email – includes a straightforward way for customers/patients to “check out” if they are confident they don’t want to receive correspondence.

You could be guilty of spam if this critical step is left out.

Cartoon image of new comment notification on smartphone. Notification concept

Wondering what to do now? If you want to find out more about Our companies press the buttons below.

Other Posts in this Category

Netflix Faces User Backlash After Trying To Tackle Password Sharing

Netflix Faces User Backlash After Trying To Tackle Password Sharing

In recent weeks, popular streaming service Netflix has faced a user backlash on social media following an announcement of plans

HSBC’s Acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank Presents Opportunities for UK Tech Businesses

HSBC’s Acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank Presents Opportunities for UK Tech Businesses

The news that HSBC had bought the British arm of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) for £1 came as a great

Even After Opting Out, Your Data May Still Be Shared

Even After Opting Out, Your Data May Still Be Shared

Recent US research has revealed that, in many cases, user data is still being collected, processed and shared even when

Revolutionary 3D Printing: Scientists Leverage Bacterial Ink for Revolutionary Results!

Revolutionary 3D Printing: Scientists Leverage Bacterial Ink for Revolutionary Results!

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have taken an innovative approach to 3D printing with their

Protecting Dutch Digital Resilience: How to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Well-Being in Cyber Professionals

Protecting Dutch Digital Resilience: How to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Well-Being in Cyber Professionals

The modern workplace is more than ever under the threat of cyber-attacks, making it a necessity for organisations to protect