Dental Appointment Scheduling Thousand Oaks

APPOINTMENTS & CANCELLATIONS/MISSED APPOINTMENT POLICY

KEEPING YOUR APPOINTMENT

In order to allow the best possible care for you, we reserve a specific time just for you, and we make every effort to see you as scheduled. We truly appreciate your promptness, and your consideration in not changing your scheduled time. However, if you need to change your appointment, a 24-hour notice is required. If you fail your appointment without notice, we do reserve the right to charge a fee for our time. We understand that on occasion last minute schedule changes are unavoidable. It is important to understand that when you make an appointment, you have engaged the services of at least three professionals. When a patient misses an appointment, they often think that the Doctor has other patients to see. Usually, that is not true. When a appointment is missed on short notice, or a patient simply fails to keep the appointment, three things happen:

• 1. Treatment is delayed, which in some cases can further complicate the condition.
• 2. The Doctor and Team must wait for the next scheduled patient to arrive before they can resume work.
• 3. Another patient who needed treatment could not be seen, because we did not have enough time to make appointment arrangements.

We do appreciate your consideration and understanding with scheduling and keeping appointments.If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at ☎ Saremi & Johnstone Dentistry Phone Number 805-496-7776

NO SHOW POLICY:

A no show is an appointment that was not canceled in-advance. No shows inconvenience other patients who need dental care and can cost the practice a lot of money by having the doctor and staff idle. This ultimately increases costs for everyone.

Additional Q&A on cancellation fees:

“My previous dentist didn’t have missed appointment fees, why do you?”

Our practice is proud of the quality of patient care we provide. We try our best to respect each patients time and we ask the same from you. Because we will not compromise the service and quality of patient care, we need to address the cancellation issue head-on. There are two options for our practice when a patient no-shows for an appointment. The first choice is for the practice to sit idle and absorb staff, rent, utilities, and doctor time with no offsetting revenue. The second option, which our practice refuses to do, is to over-book the schedule. We don’t like over-booked schedules and we’re sure you don’t either. This typically means hectic dentist schedules, hectic staff schedule, long-waits for the patient, and rushed patient care.

“There are probably just a few cancellations a month, right? How much could that cost you?”

If only that were true! Before implementing a cancellation fee policy we could experience 2 or 3 last-minute cancellations or no-shows each day. That might be 20-30% of the daily schedule. We understand some patients have a dental phobia or last minute plans are made, but unfortunately those cancellations quickly turn a profitable practice into an unprofitable practice. We’re sure everyone has a valid reason for each missed appointment, but unfortunately those reasons don’t pay the rent, staff, utilities, etc.

“My boss just made me work late and can no longer make my appointment. Are you really going to charge me?”

Sorry, but yes. By cancelling last minute, we do not have enough time to schedule another patient. This causes us to suffer financially for your actions, or for the actions of others outside our control. You’ve made a personal commitment to our practice and, in return, we’ve reserved doctor and staff time specifically for your appointment. If your boss made you stay late when you had concert tickets, the band wouldn’t hold the show. Similarly if you missed a flight, the airlines don’t give you a free pass. A lot of people ask us to understand their situation when they can’t make an appointment last minute – and we do listen – but please also consider our point of view.

“Nobody called to remind me of my appointment, do I still have to pay?”

Yes. Our practice goes to great lengths to provide courtesy reminders for appointments. We don’t want you to forget about your appointment, but once you’ve scheduled with us, the responsibility is still yours to keep the appointment or cancel within the allotted timeframe. Whether we are successful in reaching you before-hand or not, the responsibility is still yours. Currently, our practice attempts to remind every patient of each appointment by a personal phone call, text message, and email.

If anyone has additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us. We know this policy isn’t popular, but it has become necessary to operate (we are all ears if someone has other suggestions). If you don’t agree, that’s OK too. We can’t be all things to all people. If your schedule is constantly changing, you might be better served by another practice, and we’ll help recommend other dentists in the area. Our focus will remain the same: provide outstanding patient care at affordable prices, which is only possible when patients help do their part as well..

Call ☎ Saremi & Johnstone Dentistry Phone Number 805-496-7776 within 24 hours to reschedule your appointment.