How to Increase Dermatology Patients & Profits With an Online Scheduling Platform

By Chloe From Clearwave | October 21, 2024

Picture this: A patient notices an unusual mole after returning home from a trip to the beach. Concerned, they immediately want to schedule a dermatology appointment. In the past, they’d have to wait until morning, call during work hours and potentially play phone tag with your office. What if they could book an appointment right then and there, turning that moment of concern into action?

This scenario isn’t just a hypothetical – it’s the reality that forward-thinking dermatology practices are creating with patient self-scheduling platforms. These innovative tools are transforming the way patients interact with healthcare providers, bridging the gap between the moment a skin concern arises and the point of scheduling an appointment.

A well-implemented Dermatology Patient Scheduling Platform can be the key to unlocking numerous benefits for your practice. Let’s explore how this technology can revolutionize your patient acquisition and retention strategies.

Meeting Modern Patient Expectations

Gone are the days when patients were content to wait on hold during office hours to schedule an appointment. Today’s dermatology patients expect the convenience of booking their appointments anytime, anywhere. This shift in patient expectations is not just a minor trend; it’s a seismic change in how healthcare services are accessed and delivered. In fact, the adoption of self-scheduling platforms by medical practices has surged dramatically, jumping from 34% to 75% in just one year. 

This rapid increase highlights the urgency with which healthcare providers, including dermatologists, are embracing this technology to stay competitive and meet evolving patient needs. By implementing a robust Dermatology Patient Scheduling Platform, you can meet this demand head-on and increase both your patients and profits.

The Rise of Self-Scheduling

Offering online scheduling is essential in today’s market. A striking 82% of patients express a preference for providers who offer this convenience, indicating that online scheduling has moved beyond a mere luxury to instead become a key factor in patients’ choice of healthcare providers. For dermatology practices, this means that implementing an efficient online scheduling system is not just about improving operational efficiency—it’s about aligning with patient preferences and potentially expanding your patient base.

A comprehensive online scheduling platform can dramatically reduce the administrative burden on your staff, freeing them to focus on more value-added tasks that require human interaction and expertise. Also, self-scheduling often leads to increased booking accuracy as digital tools can’t straw away from their pre-determined workflows, this accuracy is not guaranteed with over-the-phone interactions, especially if you have new or less experienced employees.

Open your doors around the clock 

Providing patients with 24/7 booking addresses a critical pain point in traditional scheduling: limited availability during office hours. By offering round-the-clock online scheduling, you’re catering to patients’ needs and capturing potential bookings when they’re most motivated to schedule.

Consider this eye-opening statistic: up to 45% of online bookings occur after hours. This figure not only highlights the demand for flexible scheduling options but also showcases the growth potential for practices that implement such systems. By keeping your virtual doors open 24/7, you’re not just improving patient convenience – you’re actively boosting your patient acquisition rates while dropping staff workloads, saving hours every week.

Reduce Staff Intervention in Bookings

Real-world success stories further illustrate the power of online scheduling. Practices have saved 500+ hours per year by offering online scheduling while increasing monthly patient visits by 174%! Watch this quick conversation to see how they’re making it happen.

By implementing a similar, smart self-scheduling platform, you can also save time for your staff while increasing patient acquisition rates. Here’s how reducing staff intervention in the booking process can lead to better outcomes:

Improved booking accuracy: Self-scheduling platforms typically use rule-based algorithms to ensure patients book the right type of appointment with the appropriate provider. This reduces the likelihood of scheduling errors that can occur during manual bookings.

Decreased abandoned bookings: When patients can schedule at their convenience without waiting on hold or playing phone tag, they’re less likely to give up on booking altogether. In fact, practices that implement online scheduling often see a significant decrease in abandoned booking attempts. Consider how your own call abandonment rate may be costing you bookings.

Time savings for staff: By automating the scheduling process, your staff can focus on more critical tasks that require their expertise and personal touch. This not only improves overall practice efficiency but also enhances job satisfaction among your team members.

Reduced no-shows: Many self-scheduling platforms include automated reminders. This feature alone can have a substantial impact on your practice’s bottom line. This boost is attributed to the improved accessibility and convenience that online scheduling offers to potential patients.

Embracing the Future of Dermatology Scheduling

Implementing a patient scheduling platform is more than just automating a process – it’s about enhancing the entire patient journey. From the moment a potential patient decides to book an appointment to their actual visit and beyond, a well-implemented self-scheduling system can create a seamless, positive experience that encourages patient loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.

By implementing this technology, you’re not just keeping up with the times – you’re positioning your practice at the forefront of patient-centered care.

Ready to take your dermatology practice to the next level? Download this free guide, “HealthTech Survey: What Specialty Practices Use to Fuel Profitability” for more insights on what other dermatology practice leaders are doing to improve patient acquisition rates and profits.