The Economics of an Empty Chair
Every unfilled slot has a cost. Here is why recall is one of the best investments a practice makes.
An empty chair costs because clinic capacity is perishable: an unfilled slot is revenue you can never recover. Recall fills that capacity far more cheaply than attracting new patients, and small reductions in empty chairs compound over time. It is one of the rare investments that serves both revenue and care.
Capacity is perishable
A clinic's time is like an airline seat: an unfilled slot is gone forever. You cannot sell yesterday's empty appointment, which makes every unfilled slot a permanent, unrecoverable loss. Related: When should a practice send recall texts during the week for the best response?
Keep reading: Why Patient Recall Matters for Care and Revenue, Building a Recall System That Works, Reminders That Patients Appreciate, Not Resent. See how DueVisit helps you recall reminders for patients due for a checkup.
Recall fills capacity cheaply
Filling slots with patients who are already due is far cheaper than attracting new patients. Recall turns your existing patient base into a steady, low cost source of appointments that also serves their care. Related: Why Patient Recall Matters for Care and Revenue
Small improvements add up
A modest reduction in empty chairs, across a full schedule and a year, is a meaningful amount of both revenue and care delivered. Recall's return comes not from one big win but from many filled slots. Related: How do you choose the right recall interval for each type of patient?
A rare win win
Filling a chair through recall is good for the practice and good for the patient who needed the visit. Few investments improve both the finances and the mission of a practice at once, which is what makes recall worth doing well. Related: Recall and Patient Loyalty
- An unfilled slot is a permanent loss
- Recall fills capacity more cheaply than new patients
- Small reductions in empty chairs compound
- Recall serves both revenue and patient care
Julien Jimenez
Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is an empty appointment slot unrecoverable?
Time cannot be stored. Once an hour on the schedule passes unused, that capacity is gone for good, unlike unsold stock that can be sold later. Filling slots in advance is the only remedy.
Why is recall cheaper than finding new patients?
Recall reaches people who already know the practice and are due to return, so it requires little marketing spend or persuasion. Acquiring a new patient typically costs far more effort and money.
Bring patients back in when they are due
Recall reminders for patients due for a checkup. DueVisit is built to help you put this into practice.
Fill my scheduleMore from the DueVisit blog
Why Patient Recall Matters for Care and Revenue
Building a Recall System That Works
Reminders That Patients Appreciate, Not Resent
Get the DueVisit playbook
Practical guides on patient recall, straight to your inbox as we publish them. No spam, unsubscribe any time.