Optometry offices typically do not have the most convenient hours for patients to pick up their glasses and contact lenses. Private practices are usually open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. These hours are convenient only for retirees. In today’s dual-income culture and 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedules, patients not being able to find time to do business with your practice may be why you are losing patients. Based on this, you as the CEO have two choices: open up longer hours or weekend hours, or communicate so skillfully that patients can fit you into their long hours and busy schedules. Text messaging is the fastest and most convenient means of communication today. Email is second, and the phone is a distant third because most people under the age of 50 do not listen to their voice mail.
Since you are most likely not interested in expanding your hours, you must use technology to be easy to do business with. Our communication partner, SolutionReach, has positively impacted our “not so convenient hours” by alerting patients through text and email when their glasses and contact lenses are ready to be picked up. What’s more, each patient within SolutionReach can be contacted directly by text during specific times when the office is slow to let them know you currently have no waiting time, similar to when the DMV texts people to notify them when they are next in line. Best technology ever!
Based on the 500+ survey results that Wichita Optometry SolutionReach post-surveys have generated, we know 98 percent of our patients are enthusiastic about our communication and overall technology experience. If your practice is easy to do business with, patients are more likely to stay with you and tell their friends.
