What are your no-call no-show rates? When a patient fails to show up for a lengthy appointment it impacts your bottom line. When this happens there is not enough time to fill the slot and both your production & collection numbers are affected. One way to decrease this problem is to require a deposit for procedures that take longer than 1 hour.

A deposit establishes a social contract between you & the patient that increases accountability. It does not need to be large. A $75 or $100 deposit on a root canal or crown treatment incentivizes the patient to show up or reschedule. Your patients will likely not be phased when a large procedure requires a nominal deposit that will be applied to their final balance.

The key to requiring deposits is communication. Explain to the patient why this is your policy. You and your team devote an extensive amount of time & preparation for lengthy procedures. Communicate this when explaining why you need a deposit to hold the appointment. If they do cancel 2 weeks in advance, offer to refund the deposit. Life happens and it is important to be flexible with those who cancel in advance so that they will reschedule.

Importantly, do not require deposits for existing patients that have proven themselves to be reliable. The goal of a deposit requirement is to reduce no-call no-shows. If that’s not a risk for an established patient, then there is no reason to require it. Demonstrate your trust in your established patients to safeguard your relationship with them.