How Flex Improves Treatment Acceptance
Getting patients to move forward with recommended treatment is key, not just for growing your practice, but for improving their health. Still, many offices struggle with low acceptance rates, often because of financial worries or patients not fully understanding their options. That’s where Flex Dental Solutions comes in. This guide breaks down how Flex’s smart features help tackle those barriers head-on, making it easier for patients to say yes, and for providers to build stronger, more trusting relationships.
Understanding Treatment Acceptance in Dentistry
Treatment acceptance refers to the rate at which patients agree to proceed with recommended dental treatments. This rate is a vital indicator of a dental practice's success, directly impacting revenue, patient retention, and overall growth. Industry benchmarks suggest that an average dental practice sees a 50-60% case acceptance rate, while high-performing practices achieve 70-80%, and exceptional ones can reach 90% or higher.
However, achieving high acceptance rates is often challenging. Patients may decline treatment due to various barriers, including emotional anxieties, financial constraints, or a fundamental lack of understanding regarding the necessity and benefits of the proposed treatment. Addressing these barriers is important for dentists aiming to improve their treatment acceptance rates and, consequently, their patients' oral health outcomes.
How Flex Elevates Treatment Acceptance
Flex is designed to dismantle the common barriers to treatment acceptance through its intuitive and patient-centric features. Let's delve into how each core feature contributes to a higher acceptance rate:
1. Elegant Treatment Planning: Clarity and Confidence
One of the primary hurdles in treatment acceptance is often a lack of clear communication and patient understanding. With elegant treatment planning from Flex, it directly addresses this by simplifying the presentation of complex dental procedures. By seamlessly syncing with Open Dental, treatment plans are instantly available and can be displayed to patients in a clear, digestible format. This includes the option to break down costs by priority and provide detailed insurance coverage information, or to present a clean, summarized view. This transparency and clarity empower patients with the information they need to make informed decisions, fostering trust and confidence in the recommended treatment. Using simple terms to explain procedure codes is an easy way to keep your patients and practice on the same page. When patients fully grasp what their treatment entails and how it aligns with their financial situation, their willingness to accept the plan significantly increases.
2. Custom Payment Options: Removing Financial Barriers
Financial concerns are a leading cause of treatment rejection. Flex tackles this head-on with its exclusive custom payment options feature. These optional payment arrangements include discounts, payment plans, and third party financing. Payment options can be presented and adjusted on the fly, making treatment costs more manageable for patients. These preconfigured options can be set to display selectively based on rules like minimum dollar value, insurance status, or even specific code exclusions. By providing flexible financial solutions, Flex helps alleviate a significant source of patient worry, transforming what might seem like an insurmountable cost into an affordable investment in their oral health. This flexibility is crucial, as offering clear and accessible payment options is consistently cited as a key strategy for improving treatment acceptance.
3. Seamless Integration: Streamlining the Acceptance Process
The seamless integration Flex offers simplifies the treatment acceptance process, removing friction and making for a smooth transition from acceptance to action. With a single click, the patient's chosen payment option automatically updates the treatment plan. When treatment planning is paired with FlexPay, it allows for payment at the time of acceptance and/or when sending the treatment plan to patients. Extended financing options are also available for patients, giving them the confidence to say yes. Once finalized, the specific treatment plan is marked as signed in the practice management software and automatically stored as a PDF in the chosen imaging folder. This efficiency not only saves valuable time for both staff and patients but also reinforces the professionalism and organization of the practice. A streamlined process reduces the chances of patients having second thoughts or encountering obstacles that could lead to a change of mind, thereby solidifying the treatment acceptance.
Conclusion: A New Era of Treatment Acceptance
Flex boasts a powerful solution for dental practices looking to significantly improve their treatment acceptance rates. By focusing on clear communication, flexible financial options, and streamlined administrative processes, Flex empowers both patients and practitioners. The ability to present treatment plans with unparalleled clarity, offer customized payment solutions, and integrate seamlessly with existing practice management software directly addresses the core reasons why patients often hesitate to accept necessary dental care. For practices seeking to strengthen their patient trust, boost revenue, and ultimately improve oral health outcomes for their community, Flex provides the tools to open the path for a new era of treatment acceptance.
Ready to transform your practice's treatment acceptance? Visit flex.dental to learn more and book a demo today!
References:
Flex Dental. "Flex Features" Flex Dental Solutions Website, https://flex.dental/flex-features
Dental Claim Support. "5 ways to increase your dental treatment plan acceptance rate." Dental Claim Support Blog, https://www.dentalclaimsupport.com/blog/increase-dental-treatment-plan-acceptance