Going to the doctor or dentist for care can be a stressful, unpleasant experience. Patients are often suffering from nervousness and worrying about missing work and the financial cost of their visit, not to mention physical discomfort and fear of what the provider might find. How do we as clinical and administrative staff make their visits so pleasant that they don't dread coming back and will refer friends and family? Appointment reminders Depending on staffing and patient panel sizes, these reminders can be delivered in a variety of ways. Clinics with smaller patient panels can call patients individually. Postcards both provided at the time the appointment was scheduled and mailed out at least one week before the date are also a great option. Large clinics and hospitals schedule automated calls that reach patients two or three days before their scheduled appointment. Streamlined check in Acknowledge every patient when they come in. This reduces the likelihood a patient wi...