iDentistry The Journal identistry_jan_april2019 | Page 15

The Journal
although for a startup even a webpage or a
static website would do as well which comes at
no cost and low cost respectively. Establishing
an online presence is an essential marketing
strategy for dentists today. There are several
free places to create an online profile, with
some websites and social media sites providing
a bigger return on investment of your time and
energy spent. Initially, you can use those free
sites to get a hang of the things and how you
want to go about the task of creating your
identity online. Static or dynamic, the website
should have a lot of rich scientific content where
the patient can read about you, your services
and should be patient educating so that patients
know you and your services and what you do (in
services part), before they call you up to take an
appointment. A nice looking website also allows
you to gain the attention of those searching for a
great dentist online. The better the website is,
the more likely that people will visit you online in
this digital era which transforms into physical
visits and further referrals as they tell their
friends to visit it and you, both. A satisfied
patient leads to another (referral chain) as the
source (website) still stands tall and stays as the
generator of new patients before the
conventional methods including word of mouth
(especially) take over eventually.
Websites promote you 24/7: No employee will
do that
~ Paul Cookson
15. Content and cheerful staff equates to
content and gratifying patients: Great
communication is always at the epicenter of
health care sector. The patient’s first interaction
is usually with the clinic staff (employee/s) in a
dental clinic. Any dental treatment involves
multiple visits to a dentist and during those
repeat exercises; the patient interacts with the
staff multiple times. Each of these interactions
has a disparate impact on the way that patient
feels. Whenever the patient finds staff in jubilant
mood, the same feeling being
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contagious transcends on to them.
Alternatively, if the staff is cold shouldered or
dentist is unapproachable, courtesy the staff,
patient always feels lonely, un-welcome and
secluded. The hospital / clinic is a place known
to increase the uneasiness and induce
indignation, if already, having seeds of the
same. A study has postulated that 75% of
frequent patients and 48% of regular patients
are frustrated with their doctors / dentists /
hospitals (in short, health care service
providers). Ignoring such patients further
increases the annoyance amongst such
patients. A good communication from the staff
and the dentist who attends the patient in an
approachable, personal way increases the
patient longevity. Such courteous and cheerful
service often changes the patients’ perception
and attitude before you even know it. As they
say, “The best thing about smiles is that they get
returned”. A beaming assistant or associate is a
good indicator of a happy staff and the urbane
culture (of clinic) coupled with astute work skills
further exemplifies a clear correlation between
staff engagement and patient satisfaction.
Utilizing good communications skills (by us) not
only improves the patient’s perception of care
but also makes them more likely to open up
regarding their needs and demands (that is the
primarily the reason, they are here for and that
is the prime finding, you are looking for) which
makes your job tad easier,as we then know
what to deal with and how.
A great employee is like a four leaf clover; hard
to find and lucky to have
~ Tammy Cohen
16. Patient education always pays back:
Patient education is one of the vital parameters
in gauging patient satisfaction in my purview.
Listening is unspoken caring.
~Sir William Osler
The patient will be more than happy if we stop
acting like we are ‘Mr. Know It All’ after they just
blabber a single symptom and we intervene to
assume the rest ourselves and interrupt their
Vol. 15
No. 1
Jan-April 2019