Comments on: How to Design the Ultimate Patient Booking Strategy http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html Practice growth for complementary, alternative and holistic health professionals Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:40:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Getting repeat business - heartharmony.com.au - Small Business Tips http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4543 Getting repeat business - heartharmony.com.au - Small Business Tips Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:49:12 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4543 [...] great article from AlternativeHealthPractice.com - this time about how to get repeat appointments for your [...] [...] great article from AlternativeHealthPractice.com - this time about how to get repeat appointments for your [...]

]]> By: Dan http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4200 Dan Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:34:04 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4200 jb, Chinese Medicine Tools has a long thread dedicated to the topic that you might find useful - it's more acu-specific: http://www.chinesemedicinetools.com/forums/business/bright-ideas-problems-organization-media-accountin/clinic-billing-scheduling-software jb,

Chinese Medicine Tools has a long thread dedicated to the topic that you might find useful - it’s more acu-specific:

http://www.chinesemedicinetools.com/forums/business/bright-ideas-problems-organization-media-accountin/clinic-billing-scheduling-software

]]> By: jb http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4199 jb Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:19:56 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4199 Thanks for the tip! I have heard of Bridges from other naturopaths but because we are acupuncturists, it's a bit more expensive. I've looked at ClientTracker by Ginkgo Software or AcuBase Pro by Trigram Software specifically for alternative health practices but I don't know if the price is justified for buying practice software on top of accounting software (already using QB) that needs renewing every year, as well as if we will be doing scheduling in another program (considering online booking service). The other option would be integrating it with accounting software by purchasing a plug-in for Quickbooks or by looking at Sage Software's (of Simply Accounting) health software line, though I don't see options for Canadian customers. I guess my concern is investing the expense of specialized software if it is not even tailored to Canadian businesses (ie. federal and provincial tax) or Canadian insurance billing needs (which at this point we really don't need insurance modules in our software). I would love to hear what other people are using or any one else's suggestions on this topic as it's something I've been wrestling with for some time now! Thanks for the tip! I have heard of Bridges from other naturopaths but because we are acupuncturists, it’s a bit more expensive. I’ve looked at ClientTracker by Ginkgo Software or AcuBase Pro by Trigram Software specifically for alternative health practices but I don’t know if the price is justified for buying practice software on top of accounting software (already using QB) that needs renewing every year, as well as if we will be doing scheduling in another program (considering online booking service). The other option would be integrating it with accounting software by purchasing a plug-in for Quickbooks or by looking at Sage Software’s (of Simply Accounting) health software line, though I don’t see options for Canadian customers.

I guess my concern is investing the expense of specialized software if it is not even tailored to Canadian businesses (ie. federal and provincial tax) or Canadian insurance billing needs (which at this point we really don’t need insurance modules in our software). I would love to hear what other people are using or any one else’s suggestions on this topic as it’s something I’ve been wrestling with for some time now!

]]> By: Dan http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4198 Dan Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:56:36 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4198 Hey jb, We use a software package called "Bridges". It's designed for naturopaths, but there's not much that's particularly ND-specific about it, so I think it could work for many practitioners. http://www.competitive-edge.on.ca/Oand/OAND.htm It's been pretty good to us, actually. It's network ready, does multiple practitioners, multiple rooms and a pile of other stuff. I think we'll eventually upgrade to something more robust, but for the price (it's cheap for association members) it's actually been really great. You should be able to get a demo from them if you're interested. And if you find any better software that you'd recommend, please let us know! Hey jb,

We use a software package called “Bridges”. It’s designed for naturopaths, but there’s not much that’s particularly ND-specific about it, so I think it could work for many practitioners.

http://www.competitive-edge.on.ca/Oand/OAND.htm

It’s been pretty good to us, actually. It’s network ready, does multiple practitioners, multiple rooms and a pile of other stuff. I think we’ll eventually upgrade to something more robust, but for the price (it’s cheap for association members) it’s actually been really great.

You should be able to get a demo from them if you’re interested. And if you find any better software that you’d recommend, please let us know!

]]> By: jb http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4197 jb Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:58:25 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-4197 You mention printing monthly reports of birthdays and last appointment dates for patients, I'm wondering what sort of practice management software you use? I've been evaluating various softwares that will enable us to better manage our patients but can't seem to make a decision on the best one. Any suggestions? (Particularly for Canadian practitioners?) You mention printing monthly reports of birthdays and last appointment dates for patients, I’m wondering what sort of practice management software you use? I’ve been evaluating various softwares that will enable us to better manage our patients but can’t seem to make a decision on the best one. Any suggestions? (Particularly for Canadian practitioners?)

]]> By: Dan http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-3820 Dan Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:57:13 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-3820 Thanks Ingrid. You're right - there is parallel there with copywriting. I never noticed, but it makes sense. Much of effective scheduling is really marketing, when you get down to it. Hmmm...that could be another post in itself... :) Thanks Ingrid. You’re right - there is parallel there with copywriting. I never noticed, but it makes sense. Much of effective scheduling is really marketing, when you get down to it.

Hmmm…that could be another post in itself… :)

]]> By: Ingrid Cliff http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-3711 Ingrid Cliff Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:17:07 +0000 http://alternativehealthpractice.com/2008/04/how-to-design-the-ultimate-patient-booking-strategy.html#comment-3711 Another great article - these ideas also work for writing copy for your business 1. Go for immediate action - get someone to act now, not later. 2. Assume a sale - always assume a sale/positive outcome and ask or write accordingly. 3. Get a routine happening - make doing business with you regular, systematised and expected. For example I always send my newsletters on Friday mornings - people begin to expect to hear from you regularly. It also helps build your reputation for consistent delivery. 4. Narrow the choices - too many choices means people have difficulty making ANY choice. With your copy give a maximum of three choices on price points or packages - any more and you lose customers. 5. Remind people - if someone contacted you for more information then you need to keep in touch and remind them you would love to work with them. You can do this simply through autoresponder programs or drop them a postcard. exuberantly yours Ingrid Another great article - these ideas also work for writing copy for your business
1. Go for immediate action - get someone to act now, not later.
2. Assume a sale - always assume a sale/positive outcome and ask or write accordingly.
3. Get a routine happening - make doing business with you regular, systematised and expected. For example I always send my newsletters on Friday mornings - people begin to expect to hear from you regularly. It also helps build your reputation for consistent delivery.
4. Narrow the choices - too many choices means people have difficulty making ANY choice. With your copy give a maximum of three choices on price points or packages - any more and you lose customers.
5. Remind people - if someone contacted you for more information then you need to keep in touch and remind them you would love to work with them. You can do this simply through autoresponder programs or drop them a postcard.

exuberantly yours

Ingrid

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