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DSOs are critical to relieving pressure on hospital ERs.
Keeping emergency dental patients out of the nation’s ERs is more important than ever. It is essential that overtaxed hospital emergency rooms do not become so clogged with patients that their facilities become ill-equipped to provide care for challenging medical emergencies that are difficult to handle under the best of circumstances, much less in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic.
1-800-DENTIST is partnering with DSOs on a solution.
To help emergency patients receive care as quickly as possible, 1-800-DENTIST® – the country’s largest clearinghouse for pre-screened emergency dental referrals – is introducing a new, low-cost referral program for dental service groups.
The Los Angeles-based dental marketer is now offering DSOs and other dental groups short-term Emergency-Only contracts at substantially reduced prices. This program is specially designed to connect groups with qualified essential care referrals who are screened by live telephone operators in accordance with ADA guidelines to determine their emergency status, preferred payment method and additional factors.
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Not business as usual.
“We are not business-as-usual at the moment,” said Steve Ostrover, Co-President at 1-800-DENTIST. “During this state of emergency, the nation more than ever needs an extensive network of dentists to ensure that people with dental emergencies receive treatment. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this happen.”
In addition to its low cost, Ostrover notes that the benefits of joining 1-800-DENTIST’s Emergency-Only Referral Program include:
• Quick rollout – referrals often start within 48 hours
• High conversion rates for emergency dental referrals
• Good returns (Typically $300 to $600 per emergency visit)
• Expert pre-screening of callers by trained referral agents
• Month-to-month contracts with no-long term commitment
One DSO: Over 2,530 emergency referrals in 15 Days
In the first half of April, 1-800-DENTIST delivered over 2,530 pre-screened emergency dental patient referrals to just one of its member DSOs. This type of volume is not unusual according to Todd Daum, Co-President at 1-800-DENTIST.
“We’re the first people patients call with a dental emergency,” said Daum. “Many of these callers are in-need during off-hours and want to be seen right away; so we’re offering additional discounts for groups that accept evening or weekend appointments.”
Emergency referrals offer DSOs a financial lifeline.
A recent poll by the ADA Health Policy Institute found that 66% of DSOs are following ADA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines that call for closing dental practices for all cases other than emergencies. With CNN reporting on the possibility of the current health crisis lasting up to 18 months, emergency patients offer dental groups their most viable revenue stream for the foreseeable future.
For the majority of DSOs, weathering today’s pandemic-induced financial storm depends upon treating as many emergency patients as possible. 1-800-DENTIST’s Emergency-Only Referral Program is ready to help.
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About 1-800-DENTIST
1-800-DENTIST is the industry’s #1 source of pre-screened dental referrals. Two-million consumers a year call or visit 1800dentist.com looking for a dentist. Over 3,000 practices nationwide rely on our service to fill their schedules with qualified new patients. Last year alone, we matched over 400,000 consumers to our members.
Written by Tom Owens
Senior Marketing Manager • 1-800-DENTIST
Email: towens@1800dentist.com
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