The problem
You answer booking calls between patients or miss them and lose the booking. If you take 15 booking and rebooking calls a week at 4 minutes each, that's 60 minutes a week, about 4.3 hours a month (60 x 4.3 / 60).
What the AI does
Cliniko lists online bookings and says you can send SMS text messages to clients. Patients choose a slot from your diary on your website or a link; you can text them from Cliniko. SMS credits are prepaid at 10 cents (about 8p) a message. Check Cliniko's settings for what can be sent automatically and what you send yourself.
A worked example
A solo physiotherapist in Norwich takes about 15 booking calls a week. She adds an online booking link to her website and Google profile, and about two thirds of bookings, 10 a week, move online.
Before
15 booking calls a week at 4 minutes each: about 4.3 hours a month
After
5 calls a week: 20 minutes, about 1.4 hours a month
What it's worth
About 2.9 hours a month saved (10 fewer calls a week x 4 minutes = 40 minutes x 4.3 / 60), worth around £129 if your time is worth £45 an hour. Cost is $45 (about £34) plus roughly £3 to £6 of texts (assuming 40 to 80 texts a month at 8p).
How to set it up
- Start the free trial and set your opening hours, appointment types and lengths in Cliniko.
- Turn on online bookings for the appointment types that suit self-booking, such as follow-ups.
- Add the booking link to your website and Google Business Profile.
- Top up SMS credits and decide which messages you will send, such as a confirmation or a change.
- Keep first assessments as phone-only if you want to screen suitability before booking.
What goes wrong
- Cliniko's pages don't say which texts it sends automatically or when. Test it with your own number and check the settings before you promise patients reminders.
- Online booking can suggest a slot the patient shouldn't take. Decide which appointment types to expose, and let new patients with urgent or red-flag symptoms ring you.
- Patient mobile numbers and appointment details are personal data. Keep your privacy notice current and don't put clinical detail in texts.
- Prices are in US dollars, and add up if you add a practitioner.