The risk of chronic disease can be reduced significantly when a patient is actively engaged in the assessment and decision making of their health. Medical professionals actively support patient engagement by making them aware of the latest developments, breakthroughs and importance of healthcare. For instance, you may have seen televisions in hospitals showing the advanced technology available or the facilities that they offer in detail. However, one of the few sectors that still lacks in acting proactively is dentistry. Small dental practitioners seldom invest in patient engagement are not aware of the benefits it can bring to their practice.
Modern dentistry has incredible things to offer to patients, such as smile makeovers, advanced treatments etc. But many people are unaware of the same and only visit a dentist when the pain or ailment becomes severe and unbearable. According to a survey, as many as 66% of people in the US do not have dental insurance. It has been found that untreated gum problems can be a sign of chronic ailments such as diabetes, cardiac issues etc. Patient engagement can help in addressing dental problems before they become major.
Three Ways In Which Patient Engagement Helps Dentists
Many people do not turn up to a dentist not because they lack resources but due to the fear that is long associated with being in a dental appointment. Here are three ways in which patient engagement can help your practice and offer better care to patients.
Increases Your Reach And Attracts More Patients
Patient engagement technology can help bring more patients to your dental practice who were earlier either apprehensive or unaware about dental services. It is vital to have a good patient base before you even think of expanding your practice in scale or equipment. For instance, investing in an interactive website that helps people read patient reviews, services available, and book consultation online can significantly boost your reach in this technology-driven world.
Creates Awareness About Dental Health
With the help of automated patient engagement technology, you can focus on educating your patients about the importance of dental health. As discussed above, many patients are unaware that poor dental health can cause chronic ailments. Patient engagement can create awareness through continuous reminders and educational information among patients. It can be a game-changing thing considering dentists do not focus on the target audience who are ignorant about dental hygiene.
Reduces Instances Of Missed Appointments
People are getting busier day by day due to hectic work schedules, family responsibilities etc. This results in missed appointments and booking one again till the cycle repeats. Automated appointment scheduling and reminders can help in reducing the cases of people missing out on their appointments. It will cut out the hassle of cancellations, revenue loss, wastage of staff’s time and keeping a tab on appointment. You will be more focused on providing better dental care.
Conclusion
It is time that small dental practices took patient engagement seriously and implemented it without any delay. The world is changing rapidly with innovative technological advancements. Now, dental practitioners can leverage technology to gain more reach and sustain their client base.