Our Top 5 Hands-Free Waiting Room Ideas to Engage and Entertain Patients

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1. I Spy Wall Murals
2. Coloring Pages or Activity Sheets
3. Suspended 3D Decor
4. Interactive Floor Projectors
5. Put On a Good Movie
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Between the social distancing policies, masks, extra PPE, and barred-off areas, your waiting room might be feeling a bit cold, unfriendly, or even a little scary to your patients these days.

Or maybe you’ve looked around your empty waiting room while patients wait in their cars and thought it looked dull or lonely. If that sounds like you, then now might just be the perfect time to make some upgrades to welcome patients back into your office with a fun, new look.

Since the arrival of COVID, one of the most common questions we’ve received is how to engage and entertain younger patients before their appointments without adding shared touch points (and therefore more cleaning time to your staffs’ plates). Read on for our top 5 hands-free recommendations!

1. I Spy Wall Murals

I Spy Wall Murals have always offered an incredible value due to their multi-purpose use as colorful decor and a fun waiting room activity. This is especially true in today’s world when you consider that it keeps kids entertained without resorting to screen time or the need for hands-on games. Another added bonus? I Spy pictures games can boost kids’ memory and visual learning, which parents will definitely appreciate.

Another great perk is the companion activity sheets that you can easily print at your office. They can search for all the items listed on the scavenger hunt list, where dozens of items are hidden within the illustration. It’s like a Where’s Waldo book, but as decor for your office wall!

Would you like to see a sample of an I Spy Wall Mural?

Enter your info below to receive a PDF with a jungle and underwater sample. Grab your kids (or do it yourself) and see how many objects you can find.

Download a sample of an underwater and jungle I Spy Wall Mural from IDS:

Speaking of activity sheets….

2. Coloring Pages or Activity Sheets

While your patients are checking in for their appointments, you can offer them various coloring pages and activity sheets to work on while they wait. You can also give them a set of disposable crayons, so there’s no need to share with other patients throughout the day. Or, if you send out appointment reminder emails, you can always attach some to the email and let them know they can print them off to bring along while they wait.

There are some great free coloring pages online that you can find. We also have a selection of free downloadable coloring pages and activity sheets, as well as drawing lessons, available on our Kids Club page.

Patients have fun, parents can relax while their kids are occupied, and staff have an effective time-management tool that does not require any extra cleaning. Everybody wins!

3. Suspended 3D Decor

If your priority is to keep decor out of reach or to not increase the amount of sanitizing in your office, suspended 3D decor can make the environment fun for all ages. It can even serve as your smiling welcoming committee – no masks required here!

Waving character above the treatment chair in a private exam room.

Hanging decor like this is great for treatment rooms where patients will be spending most of their time laying back in a treatment chair looking up. In waiting rooms this type of a decor does not take the place of seating areas.

4. Interactive Floor Projectors

This technology combines a high-quality projector with optical sensors to create a virtual playground. Kids can explore, make art, and play games by simply moving in the projection area – no hands-on contact required!

There are a few options out there, but the hands-down (or hands-off) winner is BEAM.

As pioneers of the technology, they have the best gear and a game library of over 200 titles. IDS is proudly a distribution partner, so if you’d like more info, reach out and we can make some recommendations for how to best integrate it into your space!

5. Put On a Good Movie

There’s no shame in simply putting on a good movie to keep the kids occupied before their appointment. There’s really no right or wrong when it comes to keeping kids entertained, so pop in a head bopper like Frozen, Moana, or Coco. You might feel a “Un Poco Loco” after listening to “Let it Go” all day, but you might be surprised how far it goes with the kids’ mood before heading back for their treatment.

These are just a few of our favorite solutions when it comes to hands-free waiting room entertainment.

Check out these great resources for more ideas for your practice, during COVID times or not.

Check out these related resources for keeping your office safe:

FAQ about Covid-19 and Keeping Your Theming Clean

Our Top 5 Hands-Free Waiting Room Ideas to Engage and Entertain Patients

Using TV as a Positive Distraction for Kids

Download an I Spy Mural Sample

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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How to Get More Patients in Your Dental Office (And Create Long-Term Loyalty)

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Prioritize and Refine Your Communication
Manage Your First Impression
Seek Feedback and Strategize Around It
Use Social Media the Right Way
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There’s no doubt that dentistry is a health essential and that you’re committed to helping people prioritize their oral health. This priority is probably one of the factors that drives you to strategize about how to get more patients in your dental office.

It’s a win-win, really!

Patients improve their dental health.
Your practice increases its patient base.

Keep Your Competitive Edge

More and more dental practices are launching. The irony is that at the same time less and less people are seeking dental care.

That reality creates a competitive market.

Carving out your place in a seemingly saturated and lower-demand niche requires strategic planning and competitive execution of those strategies.

HOW TO GET (AND KEEP) MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Prioritize and Refine Your Communication

Everything about your dental practice communicates something. It’s vital that what’s being seen and heard by your new and current patients leads to long-term relationships.

Remember that communication is a two-way street. What you say and what your patients hear, see, and experience are two distinct realities.

Patients will often decide if they’re being heard during the first interaction they have with you and your team.

Are you listening to their fear, pain, and goals?
Are you “talking-over” them when discussing their treatment relative to finances or timing?

Make communication a top priority for patient acquisition (and patient retention).

Use engaging language on phone calls, in face-to-face interactions, and online.
Honor their responses to appointment scheduling, treatment presentations, and financial conversations.
Give them the opportunity for feedback via reviews and referrals (more on that in a moment…)

Manage Your First Impression

The first encounter a prospective patient has with your dental practice will likely determine their next steps. And these days that encounter will be online a majority of the time.

First impressions are typically formed through your website and/or an online search. This reality drives how to get more patients in your dental practice through digital strategies.

Start with your website. Think of it as a 24/7 salesforce investment.

Is it current? Make sure your images, staff information, open hours, services, contact information, etc. are up to date.
Does it look appealing? Relevance includes design and ease of use (navigation).
Is it responsive? Screen layout and mobile capability are key responsiveness factors.
Are you being found online? This is a question of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and your capability of being located through organic (fresh, original) content and local keywords.

And…

Routinely train “friendliness” into your team across every department. From the front desk to your clinical team to those responsible for insurance and financials – keep the impression friendly and engaging.

Emphasize “etiquette” (greeting, etc.).
Exemplify kindness and courtesy.

Seek Feedback and Strategize Around It

It makes sense that you might not truly know how you’re doing as a dental practice unless you ask. It’s been said that, “feedback is the breakfast of champions…”

That means every patient interaction is ripe for review. You’re perhaps aware that many patients are quick to provide positive or negative feedback.

It’s better for your practice that you welcome their feedback – however it’s served. People (your patients included) like to know their voice and opinion matters.

Create a feedback loop that’s easily accessible. Use an online form or a timely follow-up text, email, or phone call post appointment.
Ask them specific questions relative to their experience with their treatment, your team, and your practice overall.
Give them an opportunity to share insights about how you could improve. This helps them get on the solution-side of their experience (rather than the problem-side of it).

And when you receive feedback/reviews (positive or negative):

Create a processing loop. Have a default response throughout your practice that consistently listens to any and all feedback and patient reviews.

Share patient responses with specific team members (when applicable) and your entire team as a training opportunity.
Mine your online reviews for improvement “nuggets.” Use all feedback (positive or negative) to make changes where necessary.

It makes sense to have a presence on social media these days. But being on social media and using your chosen channels effectively requires being intentional.

Lack of activity can be almost as detrimental as too much of the wrong kind of activity on social media. For example, sharing content but not engaging those who read or comment is equally as ineffective as randomly sharing content without any strategic goals.

Post content according to what creates the most engagement. Research daily frequencies (two times per day is a common sweet spot) and the optimum time of day to post your content.
Curate and share content that will be of interest to the dental-seeking public and your patients.
Balance curated (of-interest) content with personal (in-house) content (e.g. team, services, promotions, etc).
Respect privacy and HIPAA compliance on all posts that reference a patient or treatment. And avoid distasteful images or overly technical or clinical themed content (does anyone really want to see that?).

OPEN THE DOOR TO NEW STRATEGIES ON HOW TO GET MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Your environment sets the tone for how effectively you attract (and keep) patients. Set your environment up for success from the very first impression.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…whatever your dental niche.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources for how to attract and keep more dental patients:

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office (and Respond to Negative Ones)

The 3 Social Media Sites You Should Be Promoting Your Business On and Why

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

Want more tips for marketing your office? Download the free guide to learn more tips to help you get more patients in your dental office.

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How to Improve Patient Satisfaction in 7 Steps

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Every practitioner wants their patients to leave happy, but what exactly does that mean and why does it matter? Well, when “happiness” is measured by how to improve patient satisfaction it’s worth investing your energy.

Patient satisfaction also presents something of a paradox. What makes a patient happy may or may not ultimately be in the best interest of their health.

Overall, the goal of patient satisfaction has to do with creating an experience where decisions can be made that benefit the patient and their ongoing health.

Why Even Think About How to Improve Patient Satisfaction?

Like it or not, your patient and their family are “customers.” A consumer mindset drives most “buying” decisions today – your services are no exception.

Expectations are high and opinions matter.

Social media gives patients/families an opportunity to post their satisfaction…or their dissatisfaction
Online reviews provide patients/families a positive or negative forum to express their opinions about your service

The result of improving patient satisfaction is long-term patient loyalty. A satisfied patient and family become immune (in many ways) to a competitor’s marketing efforts.

The loyalty earned from patient satisfaction can naturally lead to an increase in revenue. And satisfied patients/families create positive reviews that generate vital word-of-mouth marketing.

HOW TO IMPROVE PATIENT SATISFACTION IN 7 STEPS

1. Make an Engaging First Impression Online

An initial phone call or a facility drive-by was once the first perspective someone formed of your practice.

Times have changed.

These days your online presence is often the first impression a patient/family has of your practice. Realize that your front-door is now your digital platform.

Evaluate your current website. Confirm that it’s easy to navigate, has a conversational tone, is clear, and compels action.
Digitize your patient’s interaction with your practice. Provide digital options for your patients/families to contact you, schedule an appointment, and securely access and complete all necessary forms ahead of their appointment.

2. Communicate Comfort with Reassuring Tone

Every conversation carries a tone. That tone – positive or otherwise – creates an environment that helps put your patients at ease.

Many patient interactions begin with a question or two. How you answer can help determine the next step a patient takes with treatment.

Maintain eye-contact. Make the patient/family member in front of you the center of that moment’s attention.
Speak in a reassuring tone throughout each patient interaction. This helps restless patients and/or family members feel more comfortable.

3. Be Accommodating with Your Appointment Schedule Availability

Your patients/families have time and schedule challenges. School, work, and recreation can impact how and when they schedule their oral health care.

How to improve patient satisfaction is often a matter of adapting to their schedule and time constraints.

Update your appointment options. Consider early morning, early evening, or weekend availability so patients have more opportunity to schedule.
Provide virtual solutions such as teledentistry. Remote consultations help maximize time.

4. Shorten the Perception of Wait Times with Positive Experiences

You might not be able to completely eliminate appointment “wait-times.” But you can creatively help your patients/families by decreasing those perceived wait-time moments. Free WIFI, books, activities for kids, photo ops, and refreshments all help create a positive experience.

A relevant study found…

”…satisfaction to more than double when the waiting room was viewed as ‘comfortable and pleasant’ by patients with the same perceived length of wait.” ^[1]

And speaking of “comfortable and pleasant” wait-times…

5. Upgrade Your Practice Atmosphere with Welcoming Decor

What you see and experience daily can differ from what your patients experience and see. Familiarity can lead to complacency especially when you’re onsite every day.

Though your patients/families will perhaps form a first impression online (as earlier mentioned) that impression will be further validated when they arrive at your practice.

Update your waiting room with simple improvements. New, modern, themed furniture or a redesigned layout can set a fresh tone throughout your practice.
Upgrade your practice on-theme. A themed environment – especially for pediatric practices – will help put kids and their families at ease prior to and during an appointment.

6. Empower Your Patients Through Educational Resources

Your patients/families value their oral health. But they might not be aware of what produces it. Their satisfaction will increase when they leave your practice feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed about their health and related choices.

Follow a knowledge-is-empowerment mindset. Set patients up for success outside of your practice by giving them useful information online and in-person.
Retain more patients by providing them ongoing and consistent resources via a blog or e-newsletter – answering their specific questions.

7. Cultivate Patient Engagement and Create Long-term Relationships

Think long-term relationships. The key is engaging each patient/family individually.

Daily production goals can easily take precedence over the patient/family that’s right in front of you. More detrimental to a positive patient experience is that they can sense the somewhat impersonal connection.

Know your patients/families personally. Recognition of birthdays, personal milestones, loss, or challenges, and more help build long-term relationships.
Follow-up calls or messages help patients/families feel like their recent treatment is a priority.

Take Strategic Steps to Improve Your Patient Satisfaction Level

Set your environment up for success from the very first impression. Patient satisfaction for children and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and environment. In essence, it’s an investment decision.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…especially in a pediatric practice.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

5 Goals for Improving Patient Experience in Your Pediatric Dental Practice

The Importance of a Website for Promoting Your Dental Practice

Why You Should Have a Blog on Your Dental Website

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

^[1]Five Evidence Based Ways to Increase Patient Satisfaction

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5 Goals for Improving Patient Experience in Your Pediatric Dental Practice

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1. Make it Personal
2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology
3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication
4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”
5. Think like a “Therapist”
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Like adults, children seek comfort and security in most situations. Dental care is no exception. That sets the bar high for improving patient experience in your pediatric practice.

An intentionally designed environment can help calm any fear, anxiety, or distrust of dentistry a difficult to treat child may bring to an appointment.

According to Jason Goodchild, DMD,

”When kids are relaxed and compliant, dentistry can be simple and fast. When they are not, that becomes a very different type of challenge,..”

The Most Common Barriers Against Improving Patient Experience

The two challenges your patient experience must confront:

Behavior
Fear

Patient behavior can range from being uncooperative in the moment to general lifestyle issues that require consistent attention, or a previous bad experience to just a bad day.

Fear and anxiety also accompany many patients to dental appointments. These things are not always so much about dentistry as the overall anticipated experience and environmental perception.

Each time you meet these challenges with an increased sensitivity combined with a patient/kid-centric environment your practice grows and becomes placed in a top tier of providers. But how do you get there?

FIVE GOALS FOR IMPROVING PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICE

1. Make it Personal

Young patients arrive thinking it’s all about their mouth, teeth, and gums. While that’s their personal expectation, there’s more to it than their oral health.

You can put them at ease by directing their attention away from their reason for being there during the first minutes of their chair-time.

Notice something about them and start your conversation/relationship there (e.g. shoes, color or type of clothing, etc).
Make the child comfortable by engaging with their parent or whoever accompanied them to the appointment.

Basically, shift the focus to them first. What will follow is likely to be a more comfortable…and compliant young patient.

2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology

Imagine what a dental chair and all your equipment looks like to a child. It’s often “scary” for an adult…so it’s no surprise that a child would have some hesitancy too.

Take the time to introduce them to the specific tools and technology you’ll be using for their appointment. Eliminating the unknown will help them relax and normalize the process.

Give your equipment “fun” names that helps lighten the mood prior to usage.
Allow your patients to ask questions about a particular tool or technology.

3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication

Clear communication (without surprises) can help earn trust from your young patients. Think of it like a “show-and-tell” session at school.

“Show” them (within reason) what you’re going to do. Let them see the hand-piece, suction device, etc.
“Tell” them what’s about to happen next using non-threatening or non-aversive language.

4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”

A kid-centric environment sets the tone from the moment a family arrives, parks, and walks in your door. Attention to details from theming to hands-on amenities will help them relax ahead of and during their appointments.

Theme your office with non-threatening, light-hearted, kid-themed decor.

Create an environment from curb to chair that provides kids and families a memorable and comfortable experience at each appointment.
Provide access to kid-friendly programming in your reception area and your treatment rooms.
Use technology kids are accustomed to. Games, images, streaming video, etc help them relax and feel at-home in your dental office.

Use low-tech options such as take-home coloring sheets, books, and kid-centric publications.

5. Think like a “Therapist”

Certainly, your skill set is dentistry. But adding some behavior-management skills can help you help boost your authority and handle those challenging moments.

Patience, good communication skills, and an objective amount of good old-fashioned parental presence can improve patient experience.

Talk eye-to-eye with your pediatric patients. Get on their level and speak their language.
Liven up your conversations with stories, a light-hearted tone, and anything that helps your patients feel comfortable and at-ease.
Ask about their life, their interests, sports, school, etc.

PRIORITIZE YOUR PEDIATRIC PATIENT EXPERIENCE BY SETTING YOUR ENVIRONMENT UP FOR SUCCESS

Outstanding patient experience for children and families begins with a kid-centric mindset and environment. In essence, it’s an investment decision.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your space can transform your environment and the overall patient experience…especially in a pediatric practice.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

How Theming Creates the Ultimate Brand for Your Business

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

READ PREVIOUSREAD NEXT

How Patient Experience in Healthcare Impacts Revenue Growth

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How to Create a Patient Experience That Impacts Revenue Growth
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It might seem strange to put a dollar-value on a conversation, but it actually makes perfect sense. Why? Because patient experience in healthcare really impacts revenue growth.

First, ask yourself – are you treating each patient encounter as if it could positively or negatively affect your bottom-line? It’s not about prioritizing the financial gain…it’s about your commitment to creating a practice culture where patient experience is a top priority.

Why There’s Value in Putting a Price on the Patient Experience and Tracking Results

Every patient interaction has value (financial or otherwise). Consider the phases each patient moves through even before treatment occurs.

An initial phone or online conversation
A waiting room and/or front-desk interaction
The hand-off to a clinical team member
The interaction with you – the provider
The transition from clinical to front-office
Post-treatment or post-appointment follow-up

No interaction is too small or insignificant. Each has value to the patient experience.

”Organizations providing “superior” patient experience achieve net margins 50 percent higher than those providing “average” patient experience. This makes it vital for organizations to evaluate the entire continuum of the patient experience.” ^[1]

Loyalty leads to revenue growth. It follows that where patients feel valued, they will more likely invest their healthcare dollars.

How to Create a Patient Experience That Impacts Revenue Growth

Design Your Entire Culture Around the Patient Experience

What you monitor and measure can have a substantial impact on your revenue. Basically, it’s a cultural balance between available data and a patient.

It might seem a bit offbeat to analyze patient interactions, but it should become second nature. Doing so will help ensure that your culture reflects compassion, patient service, and overall transparency.

Think of being transparent as openness to what the data reveals. Share those discoveries with your team and seek patient input via surveys.

Set performance benchmarks for maintaining and improving your patient experience
Give your team the tools to sharpen their communication skills
Implement standard-of-care best practices and routinely train your team around them
Ask for feedback and pivot your service around the data

Be Open to Change and the Tools That Encourage It

Healthcare trends evolve. And your patient experience and related revenue growth depend on how well you stay current.

Patient needs can be discovered using available and new technology. It’s essential to think beyond the traditional care models and embrace the changing patient care relationship.

Use online surveys to tap into patient opinion and thinking
Analyze survey feedback and use the insights to immediately improve your patient experience
Look for keywords and phrases within the feedback you receive on your social media channels, via email replies, on contact forms, in patient conversations during appointments and on phone calls

Online surveys get you immediate feedback allowing you to make positive changes quickly.

Listen Intuitively and Engage Your Patients Through Your Responses

Listening increases awareness of your patient’s healthcare goals and concerns. Engagement is the fundamental relationship you have with each patient that produces loyalty and referrals.

Positive (and even negative) reviews are a “gold-mine” of useful patient information. Keep in mind that a negative review holds truth that can help you reshape your future patient experience.

Stay aware of what your patients say online. Within their voiced concerns or critique of your services are the seeds for improvement that can impact your revenue cycle.

Turn negative feedback into team assets for attracting and retaining patients
Use patient review data to improve your communication strategies and daily operations
Keep your team informed about patient feedback – the good and the bad – to help them pivot around the useful insights gained from it

Leverage Patient Feedback in Your Acquisition Strategies

Like consumers, patients are more likely to engage with you if you’re transparent about positive and negative feedback. Sharing only positive input can give the impression that you’re hiding something or not obtaining valid information.

Openly posting all information (positive and negative) builds your credibility. And the trust that results can help improve your patient experience and increase revenue.

Full disclosure…

Says you welcome and value feedback
Reveals you’re willing to improve your patient experience
Helps increase your SEO ranking and drives more traffic to your website

It’s a Good Time to Improve Your Patient Experience and Increase Revenue

Stand-out from other service providers by investing in…

Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. The environment you set can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your space can transform your environment and the overall patient experience.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources to upgrade or renew your patient experience:

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

5 Tips for Creating the Experience Parents Really Want While in the Waiting Room (But Won’t Tell You!)

How to Get Online Reviews for Your Dental Office and Respond to Negative Ones

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

READ PREVIOUSREAD NEXT

What is Patient Experience and Why Does It Matter?

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Why should the patient experience matter to your practice?
What does great patient experience look like?
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“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Those words from Henry David Thoreau have broad application. They especially help answer the question, what is patient experience?

Essentially, patient experience is often less about what’s obvious and more about those in-the-margins or between-the-lines realities that are truly “seen”. Every dental practice operates from a business perspective and a customer (patient) service perspective. The intersection of those business drivers and customer service drivers is where patient experience happens.

WHY SHOULD THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE MATTER TO YOUR PRACTICE?

Consumerism affects your patient families like it does everyone else. Satisfaction with a product or service relies on the acquisition experience as much as cost on some occasions.

It’s said that, “perception is everything…” And your patient experience factors into how they see your services, your team, dentistry in general, and their future loyalty to your practice.

Keep in mind that patient loyalty is a by-product of the comprehensive patient experience you provide. This experience includes:

Arrival and parking
Entry and reception area theme
Front-desk staff interactions
Reception area amenities
In-chair treatment
Post procedure consultations
Check-out, financials, and re-appointment

Every interaction with your facilities and staff reveals how in-tune you are with your patient’s needs regardless of their age.

The goal: put them at ease and elevate the value of your services for their health.

WHAT DOES GREAT PATIENT EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?

Adapting to Their Expectations

The patient experience you provide reveals that you understand what it’s like to walk-in-their shoes. Each person or family seeks your services, communicates with your team, and arrives for their scheduled appointment with a set of expectations.

Keep in mind that their expectations might not always match your passion for their oral health. Prioritizing dental care is a process that often begins with pain or an immediate need more than it does a routine commitment.

Making dental care a priority involves consistent communication and positive engagement.

Communicate about…

Smile and appearance goals plus overall oral health goals
Treatment tailored to help them achieve their goals

Create an open environment of communication that doesn’t rely on being “salesy” or over-promoting.

And speaking of environment, patient experience is also…

Creating an Atmosphere

Knowing patient expectations helps you create an environment that anticipates their needs and wants. The tone you set throughout your practice reveals your sensitivity to their emotions about dentistry in general.

Lighten the mood throughout your practice
Leverage themes to create a consistent atmosphere
Listen to their feedback and reviews to make upgrades and improve your patient experience

Engaging Them from the First Interaction

You might call it making a first impression. Remember that patient engagement starts before someone schedules or arrives at your facilities.

Your facility ROI will work to your advantage when you give attention to those vital first-impression strategies.

Phone tone
Informative website
Compelling digital communication (SMS, email)

The more engaging these support tools are the better your ROI and branding will be. Healthcare (these days) is more and more reliant on attention to service details.

You’ll reach, retain, and experience referrals the more you embed a first-impression mindset into your practice culture. Those strategies will elevate your patient experience to new levels that improve your ROI.

Ongoing Education via Useful, Informative Content

It doesn’t matter how state-of-the-art your facilities or technology are if you miss opportunities to communicate how they practically benefit your patients. New technology or the creative use of your physical space can be to your advantage if you connect it to the patient experience.

That connection is how consistently and effectively you educate them about the benefits.

Use digital communication channels to inform your patients (blog, email, social media, etc)
Survey your families/patients to source questions you can answer
Synch your team members to an educational focus – one that listens and then leverages the information for family/patient benefit

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO IMPROVE THE ROI OF YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Take your patient experience to new levels. You’ll stand-out from other service providers when you…

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you set can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your space can transform your environment and the overall patient experience.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Check out these related resources to upgrade or renew your patient experience:

5 Tips for Creating the Experience Parents Really Want While in the Waiting Room (But Won’t Tell You!)

Case Study – Adding Theming to Increase Profitability and Patient Satisfaction

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

READ PREVIOUSREAD NEXT

5 Tips for Creating the Waiting Room Experience Parents Really Want (But Won’t Tell You!)

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1. Make Their Kids Feel Welcome
2. Create an Entertaining Area Just For Kids
3. Create a Distraction for Siblings so Parents Can Relax
4. Provide Amenities
5. Give Parents the Spa Treatment
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What is it that parents really want when they bring their kids in for treatment? Aside from positive clinical outcomes and healthy teeth – which we can assume is the number one priority for both you and them – there is something that every parent secretly hopes they get while bringing their family to your office…

A mini vacation.

Now hear us out. They won’t tell you this, but every parent is thinking the same thing when they enter your office. It goes something like this: “Please let this be easy because I really hope I can relax for a few minutes while my kids are occupied and I have no other demands on my attention.”

It’s akin to being on an airplane – for a block of time you can disconnect and sneak in some ‘me time’ while the demands of everyday life can wait. It’s not the primary purpose of being there, but it sure is an enjoyable perk when it happens.

Understanding this secret wish of parents offers a great opportunity for any healthcare provider who works with young families. It’s an opportunity to deliver a beyond-expectation experience that gets parents talking and helps fuel referral rates. Relaxed parents, cooperative patients, happy staff, growing practice – everyone wins.

HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE SURE PARENTS FEEL WELCOME IN YOUR PRACTICE:

1. Take Parents’ Stress Away by Making Their Kids Feel Welcome

Make their kids feel welcome immediately by engaging with them as soon as they enter your office. Welcome them by name whenever possible and make them feel like the star of the show. This helps reduce appointment anxiety in your younger patients and allows them to feel more comfortable being separated from their mom or dad.

Also, it’s a great primer for a smooth treatment because appointments are easier for your staff when patients feel at ease.

Going the extra mile to make kids feel welcome.

2. Create an Entertaining Area in Your Waiting Room that is Just For Kids

Create a special space that is inviting for kids – one that is clearly just for them where they can have fun, be fully engaged in a healthy distraction and not worry about interrupting the adults. This creates the opportunity for mom and dad to relax, instead of adding the pressure of having to entertain a child while in a space that doesn’t feel kid-friendly.

A private play area for kids.

3. Create a Distraction for Siblings so Parents Can Relax

Think about the experience parents have with the assumption that they will arrive with two kids – the one who has a scheduled appointment and a sibling. Construct your experience around the child that will be spending time in your waiting room beyond simply waiting to be called back. Videos games and physical activities like slides are a good distraction. So are movie theaters and TVs. Make sure your space goes the distance to keep them happy and engaged for 30-45 minutes.

Video games make a great distraction for siblings in the waiting room.

4. Provide Amenities to Help Enhance the Waiting Room Experience

For some, a relaxing time may mean using their mobile device. And that’s ok – embrace it by having a charging station with common phone charges available and reliable Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi is especially important for Canadians, where cellular data is often expensive and rationed closely, making Wi-Fi a must.

5. Pamper Parents with a Spa Treatment

Now that you’ve created an exclusive space just for kids, encourage parents to use this time to relax while their kids are being entertained. Consider upgrading your waiting room treats to include gourmet coffee and teas, premium chocolates, fresh fruit, or some other delectable snack that makes their time in your space special.

Taking a break while the kids are preoccupied.

Indulging in an unexpected treat is a great way to feel mentally refreshed. If you want to take your waiting room experience to the highest level, a massage chair or other spa-like touches for mom or dad could be just what the doctor ordered.

A next level spa treatment if you want to go to the extreme.

The Winning Formula: Happy Kids, Relaxed Parents, and Exceptional Dental Care

It’s a simple formula, really. First, make a special space and a welcoming experience for junior patients. This takes the tension out of what can otherwise be a high-stress situation for both the kids and parents alike. That then opens the door for you to easily deliver a beyond-expectation experience for mom and dad – one that is a pleasant surprise, but exactly what every parent has secretly been hoping for all along.

Check out these related resources for creating a great experience for your patients:

How Patient Experience in Healthcare Impacts Revenue Growth

How to Get More Patients in Your Dental Office (And Create Long-Term Loyalty)

How to Improve Patient Satisfaction in 7 Steps

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…whatever your dental niche.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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Engage, Entertain, and Educate Children with Themed Decor

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Engage
Entertain
Educate
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IDS has gained notoriety as being the go-to company for creating office spaces designed with children in mind. When we design for kids we of course engineer the toughest product available, but we also look at the psychological side of how our creations will help children prepare for an appointment.

For this, we follow the Three E’s: Engage, Entertain, and Educate!

How to Create an Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational Experience for Children Visiting Your Office

Visiting a dentist’s office can be an intimidating experience for children, but with the right approach, it can become a moment of fun, learning, and even excitement! By focusing on engaging, entertaining, and educating young patients, your practice can transform into a space where kids feel at ease and even look forward to their visits. Here’s how:

Engage Children

Passively sitting and waiting for an appointment can cause anxiety to grow, especially for children. At IDS, we believe in engaging kids’ minds and bodies to keep them calm, distracted, and entertained, creating positive memories they’ll associate with your office.

Imagine walking into a space where children can explore, learn, and play while they wait. By providing interactive activities that stimulate curiosity and creativity, you can turn what might be a stressful experience into something they enjoy.

You won’t see faces like this at an IDS themed office:

Young patients aren’t just at the dentist for treatment—they’re there to learn! Engaging kids in understanding their oral health empowers them to take better care of their teeth at home. Whether it’s interactive displays, fun activities, or hands-on games, these moments of engagement set the foundation for healthy habits and confident smiles.

The goal? A better overall appointment experience, smoother treatments, and continued care at home.

Entertain Children

Time flies when you’re having fun! This phrase exists for a reason. The busier someone is during a time interval, the faster that time interval will feel like it has passed. There is a lot less time for a child to get anxious, bored, or build up tension about an upcoming procedure if they are lost in play.

From the study Influence of Positive Distractions on Children in Two Clinic Waiting Areas:

“Data analysis shows that the introduction of distraction conditions was associated with more calm behavior and less fine and gross movement, suggesting significant calming effects associated with the distraction conditions. Data also suggest that positive distraction conditions are significant attention grabbers and could be an important contributor to improving the waiting experience for children in hospitals by improving environmental attractiveness.”

IDS gaming tablets, slides, theaters, and play forts provide a number of outlets for kids to burn energy and reduce stress. Whether they are crawling around a play area, laughing at a funny kids movie playing in the theater, or using their mind to solve puzzles on an iPad, kids are having fun!

The proof is in the reviews from parents. Taken from actual online reviews of our clients:

“Makes coming to the dentist fun and something to look forward to!”

“My son left the dentist with a huge smile, asking to come back again!!”

“If you’re a kid and you need to go to the dentist, this is the place to go! The atmosphere is fun, friendly, and eases the anxiety of seeing a dentist!”

If our theming isn’t fun for kids, then we’re not doing our jobs!

Educate Children

Last, but not least, we want to encourage the education of your patients when they visit your office. While making sure kids are having fun is our main goal, we want to ensure that we have an impact on the health of children as well.

Chair-side education is the current model for delivering information to patients. But is this the best way for them to absorb information? Studies show that using passive learning vs active learning creates a stark contrast in the retention of a lesson.

Many studies have found that, while individuals have various learning styles, on average people remember 90% of what they do compared to 20% of what they hear.

When you were a student, did you learn more in a lecture hall or when you were actively working on a patient’s mouth? Kids are the same. Passive learning disempowers the student and takes the fun out of learning.

It is important that education is fun at a young age. Research has shown that if students do not consider a learning activity worthy of their time and effort, they might not engage or may even disengage all together in response (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004).

Waiting rooms are a place where children can experience hands-on learning through dental education kiosks and experiment with large replica teeth and other educational installations while still feeling as if they are just playing. IDS has lots of dental education ideas to share with you.

A large tooth with a cavity that emits a foul stink when you press a button gives a vivid demonstration of what actually happens to a rotten mouth. That’s a memorable way to teach good dental habits!

Transforming Visits into Experiences

IDS is dedicated to helping your patients have the best possible experience when they visit your office. Create a memorable patient experience through dental office interior design and decor. Every office we create is ready to Engage, Entertain, and Educate!

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.

Reduce patient anxiety and enhance their relaxation
Prime patients and families for their appointments
Create positive dental care experiences

Invest in Your Business

Maintain your edge in the crowded dental service space. Attention to details in your niche can transform your environment and overall patient satisfaction…whatever your dental niche.

Create “buzz” in the community you serve
Accelerate patient referrals
Generate positive online reviews

Learn how you can help improve your patient experience with: A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

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White Paper: Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

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Download the Whitepaper
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White Paper Abstract

Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

This paper focuses on techniques for alleviating dental anxiety, fear, and phobias through positive interior support design and environmental distractions.

Reports of dental anxiety in up to 74% of children and adolescents imply that anxiety is a major concern in dental offices. Pediatric dental theming vastly improves patient experience by relieving anxiety, fear, and phobias from a young age. It is also possible to have a significant positive impact on the duration of a patient’s life, as well as future generations by halting the cycle of dental avoidance through office theming.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE WHITE PAPER NOW:

This report highlights several support design techniques and delves into the reasons why theming in medical environments is so crucial to patient wellbeing.

Talk to an IDS Creative Consultant today to find out more about alleviating patient anxiety with decor, from how wall color affects mood to waiting room distractions. 1-888-884-4102

Interested in more information on this type of topic? Check out these resources below:

Create a Memorable Patient Experience Through Dental Office Interior Design and Decor

A Practical Guide to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience

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Have Fun With Color in Your Kid-Friendly Office

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1. What Theme is Your Office
2. Compliment or Clash
3. How Children Perceive Color
4. Neutral Base Colors
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In the vibrant world of pediatric care and family-friendly offices, creating a space that captures the imagination and comfort of young patients is a key ingredient for success. One transformative element that can turn a sterile environment into a haven of joy and excitement is the strategic use of color. From waiting rooms to examination spaces, infusing your kid-friendly office with a playful palette can have a profound impact on both children and their parents.

Join us on a journey where we explore the wonders of color and how it can elevate the atmosphere of your office, making it a space where children not only receive excellent care but also embark on a delightful adventure. Let’s dive into the world of hues, tones, and shades, and discover how color can be a powerful tool in fostering a positive and memorable experience for your youngest patients.

Although it may be tempting to pick a neutral paint color or fabric and use it everywhere, this may work against your theming and ultimately won’t create the desired outcome of a welcoming environment for kids. When creating an inviting place for children, it’s important to remember that they won’t notice the effort you’ve put into your granite countertops or how your new location provides plenty of convenient parking.

They will, however, notice bright colors and friendly characters that make a typical dental office seem less scary.

Infusing vibrant colors into your office isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s a strategic move that transforms your space into a cohesive and intentional environment. When colors align seamlessly with your chosen theme, the decor feels purposeful, not forced. In a child-centric office, this intentional design not only captivates young minds but also ensures that every element is thoughtfully curated for a welcoming and enjoyable experience. Embrace the power of colors from the outset, turning your office into a space designed with children in mind.

What to Consider When Choosing Colors for Your Themed Office

When choosing the right colors for your office, there are three main considerations.

1. What Theme Will Be Going in Your Space?

Your theme is a part of your branding. Align your color choices with your brand identity. Consistency in color reinforces brand recognition. By matching your theme, this connection can create a cohesive and memorable environment. An underwater theme? Blue! A jungle theme? Green! If you want an easy answer that works, just match your wall colors to your murals.

2. Should Your Colors Compliment or Clash?

You can achieve very different moods depending on the colors you use. Do you want a bold space? Experiment with a bolder color. See the difference?

Pay attention to color contrasts for visual interest. Contrasting colors can be used strategically to highlight specific areas or features in the office, directing attention to important elements.

Bright orange walls with an underwater theme might seem jarring, but using complimentary colors can work and make a space more impactful.

The main point is, don’t be scared of color. This dentist wasn’t and they created a unique space:

3. Consider How Children Perceive Color

When painting a dental office, especially one catered to children, it’s crucial to consider how children perceive color. Colors have a profound impact on mood, behavior, and overall experience, and in a dental setting, creating a positive and welcoming environment is essential. Here are some considerations for choosing colors that align with children’s perceptions:

Tailor the color scheme to different age groups. Younger children often respond well to bright and primary colors, while older children may appreciate a more sophisticated palette. Consider incorporating a variety of colors that appeal to a broad age range.

Color Psychology

Consider the psychological effects of colors.

Reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks all stimulate activity, project a feeling of warmth, and can make children feel welcome in an otherwise intimidating environment. These could be good colors for a play area.

Blues, greens, and purples create a feeling of calm and can soothe nervous children.

4. There’s Nothing Wrong with a Neutral Base Color

Now don’t worry if you have white, beige, or grey painted walls. We’re not against those color choices. In fact, they make great accent colors to compliment bolder choices.

Neutral tones like light grays, beige, or soft whites provide a versatile backdrop that allows other colors to stand out. Nature-inspired colors go great with our illustrated landscape murals. Earthy tones, such as greens and browns, can create a connection to natural elements and promote a sense of well-being.

Pro Tip: Test Paint Samples in Your Environment:

Before committing to a color scheme, test paint samples in the actual environment. Lighting conditions and the size of the space can affect how colors appear. This ensures that the chosen colors have the desired visual impact.

Just have fun with color in your dental office!

Remember, the goal is to create a dental office environment that feels inviting, reduces anxiety, and engages children positively. By thoughtfully considering how children perceive color, you can design a space that promotes a positive and enjoyable experience for young patients.

Have fun with color and create amazing dental interior design and decor for your office!

For an in-depth report on designing your office to alleviate anxiety in patients, Download Our White Paper: Alleviating Patient Anxiety Through Office Theming

Contact Imagination Design Studios (IDS) to get started transforming your office from a mundane to magical patient experience.

For more color inspiration check out our article on what color schemes can do in your space:

8 Color Schemes and What They Mean for Your Office Vibe

Color and Light in Interior Spaces for Children with Autism

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1. I Spy Wall Murals

Would you like to see a sample of an I Spy Wall Mural?

Download a sample of an underwater and jungle I Spy Wall Mural from IDS:

2. Coloring Pages or Activity Sheets

3. Suspended 3D Decor

4. Interactive Floor Projectors

5. Put On a Good Movie

Check out these great resources for more ideas for your practice, during COVID times or not.

Check out these related resources for keeping your office safe:

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Keep Your Competitive Edge

HOW TO GET (AND KEEP) MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Prioritize and Refine Your Communication

Manage Your First Impression

Seek Feedback and Strategize Around It

Use Social Media the Right Way

OPEN THE DOOR TO NEW STRATEGIES ON HOW TO GET MORE PATIENTS IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE

Invest in Your Patients

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Why Even Think About How to Improve Patient Satisfaction?

HOW TO IMPROVE PATIENT SATISFACTION IN 7 STEPS

1. Make an Engaging First Impression Online

2. Communicate Comfort with Reassuring Tone

3. Be Accommodating with Your Appointment Schedule Availability

4. Shorten the Perception of Wait Times with Positive Experiences

5. Upgrade Your Practice Atmosphere with Welcoming Decor

6. Empower Your Patients Through Educational Resources

7. Cultivate Patient Engagement and Create Long-term Relationships

Take Strategic Steps to Improve Your Patient Satisfaction Level

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

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The Most Common Barriers Against Improving Patient Experience

FIVE GOALS FOR IMPROVING PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICE

1. Make it Personal

2. Help Them Get Acquainted with Your Tools and Technology

3. Establish Trust Through Step-By-Step Communication

4. Use Kid-friendly Themes and “Distractions”

5. Think like a “Therapist”

PRIORITIZE YOUR PEDIATRIC PATIENT EXPERIENCE BY SETTING YOUR ENVIRONMENT UP FOR SUCCESS

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

Check out these related resources for upgrading, renewing, and improving patient experience:

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Why There’s Value in Putting a Price on the Patient Experience and Tracking Results

How to Create a Patient Experience That Impacts Revenue Growth

Design Your Entire Culture Around the Patient Experience

Be Open to Change and the Tools That Encourage It

Listen Intuitively and Engage Your Patients Through Your Responses

Leverage Patient Feedback in Your Acquisition Strategies

It’s a Good Time to Improve Your Patient Experience and Increase Revenue

Your Patients

Your Business

Check out these related resources to upgrade or renew your patient experience:

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WHY SHOULD THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE MATTER TO YOUR PRACTICE?

WHAT DOES GREAT PATIENT EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?

Adapting to Their Expectations

Creating an Atmosphere

Engaging Them from the First Interaction

Ongoing Education via Useful, Informative Content

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO IMPROVE THE ROI OF YOUR PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

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HERE ARE 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE SURE PARENTS FEEL WELCOME IN YOUR PRACTICE:

1. Take Parents’ Stress Away by Making Their Kids Feel Welcome

2. Create an Entertaining Area in Your Waiting Room that is Just For Kids

3. Create a Distraction for Siblings so Parents Can Relax

4. Provide Amenities to Help Enhance the Waiting Room Experience

5. Pamper Parents with a Spa Treatment

The Winning Formula: Happy Kids, Relaxed Parents, and Exceptional Dental Care

Check out these related resources for creating a great experience for your patients:

IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business.

Invest in Your Patients

Invest in Your Business

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How to Create an Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational Experience for Children Visiting Your Office