How an AI chatbot can help you get more patients right now
I could start this blog with all the usual cliches. AI is here to stay, don’t get left behind. AI will revolutionise the way we work. AI will soon do everyone’s work for them. Maybe all of that will happen, maybe none of it will. The important question is, ‘what is it doing now and how can that help me get more patients?’.
However, even that is a pretty open-ended question, so let’s talk specifics. A direct way that AI can help you right now is to give you the ability to speak to your patients even when your doors are closed for the day. I am of course talking about AI chatbots.
Saying ‘AI’ chatbot is an important distinction. Chatbots have been around in some form or another for years on websites. Classically these have all been in the format of very formulaic conversation chains. You select an option from a selection of choices and the bot comes up with a pre-determined response. Nothing tailored, no individuality and if the option you want isn’t there, then that’s just tough luck.
Modern AI chatbots can use every word that is written on your website to create a distinctive response to a specific inquiry. What’s more, they can even show sympathy. ‘Can you see me for an emergency appointment for tooth pain?’ will often illicit an empathetic response, acknowledging the patient is in discomfort and facilitating a pathway to treatment.
All of which is very impressive, but how does that help the bottom line? Well, it’s similar to having a 24/7 receptionist, who knows all your prices, opening times etc, all your treatments off the top of their head and is trained to direct patients to the quickest way of getting in touch and getting booked in. Those times when you may have otherwise missed out on a new patient because they contacted the practice 30 minutes after it closed, are now a thing of the past.
Not only that, it frees up time for your reception team to deal with the patient in front of them, while the bot handles remote enquiries during busy times. This results in a far more efficient front of house with fewer complaints, happier patients and more productive staff. Costs are minimal too; once installed a fairly complex chatbot is only around £100 per month to operate.
There really isn’t much of a downside either. Patients aren’t forced to use the bot, but they can choose to. As far back as 2022, 88% of people had at least one conversation with a chatbot, and those numbers have been on the rise year on year. This isn’t some distant prediction of a possible future, this is now, and right now, you’re missing out on new patients if you aren’t utilising this versatile tool.
More posts from our team
Five Star
Reviewed Marketing
"Would definitely recommend to a friend"
"I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough"
"Really great company to deal with"
"Very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations"
"I cannot recommend them highly enough"
"Has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us"
"We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!"
"Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism"
"The team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled"
"absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help"
"Dental Design are fantastic to work with"
"always met with a swift and professional response"
