Extending business hours may benefit some practices

Expanded office hours, specifically in the evening or over weekends, may help patients reduce their healthcare expenditures.

Research published in the Annals of Family Medicine suggests that patients who can visit their physicians during the weekends or evenings tend to spend less on care, with a difference of about 10 percent over a two-year period. Researchers did not note any negative effects on patients’ health accompanying the apparent financial benefits.

The practice may help to identify conditions earlier by reducing postponements due to scheduling issues. The more opportunities patients have to consult with their doctor, the earlier health issues can be diagnosed and the sooner any necessary treatment can begin. It is also possible that extended hours are associated with some other practices, so the schedule itself may not be solely responsible for the financial improvement.

Fierce Practice Management notes that the option of extending hours may hold more appeal for practices associated with accountable care organizations or capitated contracts, and is similar to the concepts underlying patient-centered medical homes. Researchers did report that longer office hours might be tied to lower prescription drug and testing costs, as well as a generally more-judicious use of healthcare resources.

Impact of longer hours

From a business perspective, longer hours increase a practice’s overhead but may help to draw in new patients or retain current ones for whom timing is an important factor. Some people may not be able to schedule an appointment during normal hours, in which case they may see availability as a key issue when comparing physicians.

The ability to work longer hours is dependent on the doctor or doctors and staff members. If practice employees cannot support the change, then pushing forward is likely a poor decision.

 

Content generated by Bankers Healthcare Group.

Dentists explaining issues and treatment may meet challenges

It can be frustrating for dentists to deal with patients who are hesitant or reluctant to follow a treatment plan.

The dentist typically spends some time considering the patient’s circumstances and considering how best to aid him or her. Patients may explicitly ask for advice on what to do next, or imply it by the fact that they are going to see an expert. Once a course of action is formulated, the dentist might spend a significant amount of time explaining it and the reasons it is best, only to be told that the patient wishes to think about it.

This may be the simple truth, but is also often the response when the patient does not want to follow up on the idea, according to Dental Economics. Experts note that many of the decisions people make are emotional, rather than logical, so even the best explanation may not really reach them. While some explanation is warranted and even necessary, going into too much detail may be focusing energy in the wrong place.

In order to reach patients effectively, dentists may need to adjust their approach to appeal to the emotions as well as the intellect. This could be done by describing the effect a course of treatment or the lack thereof would have on the individual’s life, considering what activities they might be able or unable to pursue depending on the circumstances.

Presentation can strongly impact how advice is received

Describing the consequences of leaving a dental issue unresolved can help. This may include simple details, such as the way a patient’s mouth is likely to look or feel. Future pain, larger expenses or inconvenience might sway their decision-making where a medical description does not. Staff members can help, to an extent, by reinforcing confidence in the dentist and the importance of proper care in general.

Dentists may be prone to going into too much detail in their descriptions of both problems and solutions. Operating contrary to that tendency can help avoid boring or confusing patients and make it easier to communicate with them effectively.

Content generated by Bankers Healthcare Group.