The $100K Lesson That Changed How I See New Dental Patient Leads
Every dental practitioner understands this situation because they want to expand their practice while attracting new patients but the transition from interest to appointment scheduling proves challenging. The initial step of dental care access proves challenging for patients in the U.S. dental market because they face numerous treatment choices alongside their active schedules.
The Turning Point: Virtual Evaluations
The turning point for PepCare founder and orthodontist Bryon Kozak arrived when he chose virtual evaluations as his new approach. The practice of Bryon introduced digital assessments to eliminate the requirement for patients to leave work and travel to the office before discovering their treatment possibilities. The process required only a few photos and a basic form to establish access to the practice.
Results That Exceeded Expectations
The outcome exceeded all predictions. The small change in the evaluation process generated more than 350 new dental patient leads each year for five years which produced $100K in annual revenue growth. The practice gained new patients through this option who otherwise would have stayed away from the office.
The practice developed trust with patients through this process which proved more valuable than the revenue generated. Patients showed appreciation for the practice because it valued their time. The practice demonstrated its ability to adapt to patients by reaching them through their mobile devices and home environments during their active American lifestyle. The practice earned patient trust which strengthened their willingness to begin treatment while improving their confidence in their treatment choices.
Success Creates New Obstacles
Any provider operating in the USA dental market understands that achieving success creates new obstacles to overcome. The implementation of virtual evaluations attracted new patients but exposed weaknesses in the current system during patient management. The current referral management system operated through a combination of paper notes and digital correspondence that created endless email exchanges. The process failed to support each successful case because it operated as an obstacle rather than an aid to the treatment process.
Bryon understood that the lesson extended beyond the initial discovery. The process of acquiring new dental patients represents only one part of the complete practice development process. A practice needs advanced systems which unite smooth communication with effortless referrals and optimized operational workflows to achieve growth and provide superior care to patients. The absence of proper management systems makes it more difficult to handle new patient leads while creating confusion for patients during their treatment journey.
From Experiment to PepCare’s Mission
The experience led to the development of PepCare as a company. The initial virtual evaluation experiment by Bryon evolved into a mission to develop a healthcare system which enables providers to work together smoothly while providing complete patient support throughout their journey.
The present-day mission of PepCare follows the vision that guides its operations to connect healthcare providers and patients through seamless communication. The first step becomes more accessible when simplified because patients will take action according to Bryon's experience. The removal of practice barriers leads to practice expansion. The implementation of human-centered workflow management systems produces benefits for all stakeholders including healthcare providers and patients and their communities.
Focusing on what patients need—and how to meet them there.
