Great customer service respects patients’ time as valuable, and will go a long way toward keeping your patients happy and make them more likely to refer family and friends to your office. A big part of customer service in a dental office involves handling patients’ questions and problems over the phone.

Here are a few tips to help your dental office personnel give great customer service to your patients:

•    Answer the phone promptly and courteously: Don’t allow a phone to ring more than twice before it’s answered,   and make sure that patients are greeted in a warm, professional manner.
•    Keep good phone records: Have personnel note everything that happens when patients call. Notes should include time and date, the patient’s question, problem or request, the actions taken and any follow-up contact.
•    If the patient must be asked to hold for a moment, have personnel ask to return patient’s call at a time convenient for the patient.
•    Do periodic follow up checks on phone service. Most people, your patients included, appreciate being asked for their opinions and suggestions.