10 Effective Online Scheduling Software For Dentists | O360®
One of the best ways to get new patients and keep current ones is to use online scheduling software. The benefits include the ease with which patients can schedule appointments independently. Patients using online scheduling software can set their next appointment at any time.
While convenient for your patients, it also means your staff will spend less time making phone appointments. They have more time to focus on more important administrative tasks.
Some dental management software companies include online schedulers, like NexHealth or Solutionreach Limelight, indicating some overlap. In this article, we will focus on companies that specialize in scheduling. This is a great option for those dentists who want a stand-alone product.
Ideally, scheduling software applications should work with your management software and update in real time. This way, potential patients can see available times and easily book them.
1. Localmed
LocalMed is a software company that provides online appointment scheduling for dental practices. David Rainbolt founded the company in 2013, and it has its headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Over 8,000 providers nationwide use its online scheduling software to schedule new patients.
The platform is available on desktop and mobile devices, allowing patients to book appointments 24/7. LocalMed also offers a wide range of marketing tools that help dental practices attract new patients. LocalMed is a freemium service with a free basic plan for dental practices with reliable security and compliance elements. Additional features including are available as well:
Key Features of LocalMed:
- Real-time online scheduling
- Integration with practice management software
- Marketing tools to attract new patients
- Free for dental practices
Benefits of using LocalMed:
- Easy for patients to book appointments online
- Attracts new patients to dental practices
- Improves patient satisfaction
- It saves time and money
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” You can apply this wisdom to appointment scheduling by making it simple for your patients to schedule appointments online.
What Sets LocalMed Apart?
- Over 8,000 providers across the United States use LocalMed
- Available on both desktop and mobile devices
- Patients can book appointments 24/7
- Freemium service offers a free basic plan for dental practices and a premium plan with extra features.
LocalMed’s Marketing Tools:
- Patient referral program
- Social media scheduler
- Lead generation tool
Every dental health professional knows the saying, “You don’t have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!” This tool makes it simple for patients to book appointments with their dental practice using LocalMed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can LocalMed integrate with my current practice management software?
A: Yes! LocalMed integrates seamlessly with most practice management software, ensuring a smooth transition.
Q: What makes LocalMed effective for attracting new patients?
A: LocalMed helps dental practices attract new patients. It offers marketing tools such as a patient referral program and a lead generation tool.
Q: Is LocalMed a practical option for small dental practices?
A: Absolutely! LocalMed is made for dental practices of all sizes.
Dental Website Design Services with Free Online Scheduling Software Integration with Your Practice Management Software.
2. Zocdoc
- ZocDoc is a prominent and respected resource for all types of doctors without a specialty in dentistry.
- Patients can view your schedule and ask for an open time slot. However, you must manually enter that into your management system.
- Displayed from your Zocdoc profile
3. Flexbooker
- You can customize its plugin widget to match any website’s design.
- Automated email and text reminders.
- Flexbooker provides a convenient waitlist option if your schedule is full and alerts them when space opens.
4. Setmore
- The built-in scheduling tool allows you to provide better customer service by scheduling recurring appointments. This is an ideal online scheduling software option for more complex procedures and the resulting follow-ups.
- Easy-to-use management tools allow your team to handle their own schedules. This helps with scheduling in the office.
- Setmore provides for telemedicine out of the box, with Zoom integrations available.
- Payment options are available through integration with payment gateways like Square and Stripe. The payment processor also accepts credit and debit cards linked to your patients’ bank accounts.
5. Cliniconex
- Automated patient reminders and notifications to better engage with patients and decrease the likelihood of no-shows
- Patient surveys to gain insights into patient satisfaction and needs to improve customer support.
6. Booksteam
- Booksteam automates scheduling for your practice and helps attract new patients. You can offer them special prices and packages.
- Accept payments online and via mobile app.
- Perfect for integrating systems seamlessly into social pages like Facebook.
7. PatientPop
- It gives your office the ability to communicate with patients via text and disseminate surveys
- Automated appointment reminders with online scheduling software
8. Legwork
- Implement two-way texting with patients for direct communication to ease dental appointment scheduling.
- Automatically syncs your availability from your dental management system and reduces gaps in your schedule.
- Customizable paperless forms
9. Apptoto
- A basic but useful option made for business processes involving scheduling.
- Fully customizable two-way messaging with automated appointment reminders via text, email, and voice.
- Daily reports to your inbox
- Works with popular calendar systems if you don’t use management software solutions like Google, Outlook, or Office 365.
10. SimplyBook.me
- SimplyBook provides an online booking system offering a free option for practices starting.
- Accepts appointments through integrations with Facebook, Instagram and Google.
- Automated reminders and notifications for patients and staff
Other things to consider…
Integrations
Your option may depend on the type of software you use for management and the available integrations.
HIPAA compliance
Of course, ensuring your patient records are secure is always important. When choosing online scheduling software for medical and non-medical businesses, ensure it is HIPAA compliant. Patient security should be a top priority. Check O360’s HIPAA Services.
Patient experience
After-care surveys can give valuable insights. This automation may not seem helpful for scheduling at first.
Flexibility and Customizations
Will your option allow prospective patients to select appointments for specific treatments? Will the software allow you to customize for longer time slots to accommodate more complex procedures? If you have multiple locations, ensure your online scheduling software lets patients choose their preferred office.
Overall thoughts
The right online scheduling software depends on the size of your practice and the number of patients you want to serve. Part of your selection process is ensuring that the one you choose meets your practice’s needs.
Adding an online booking option for new patients helps those who cannot call during regular hours. Many people have work schedules that make it hard to call.
Fully integrated options that read and write back to your management system will cost more. However, the time saved for your staff on processes like manual data entry may make this extra cost worthwhile. The benefits they offer for day-to-day customer relationships are also hard to beat.
See examples of dental websites compatible with each online scheduling software listed.
