7 Essential Tips for Health Professionals to Communicate Vacation Plans

You’re heading off on a well-deserved vacation! To ensure your patients aren’t caught off guard by your absence and can plan accordingly, it’s important to communicate your time off clearly. Here are 7 tips to effectively inform your patients about your holidays using all available channels.

1. Inform Patients During Appointments

Use your last (tele)consultations before your vacation to inform patients about your upcoming absence. If needed, you can also suggest a follow-up appointment for when you return.

2. Send a Vacation Email to Your Patients

Notify your patients via email, sharing your vacation dates. Include a link to your online appointment booking system in the email. This allows patients to easily view your next available slots after your return and book appointments with just a few clicks.

3. Update Your Website

Your website is the showcase of your medical practice and a primary source of information for your patients. Use this visibility to communicate your absence prominently, ideally on the homepage. Here too, you can offer online booking during your holiday, for example, with our online booking widget.

4. Use a QR Code to Redirect Patients

Place a QR code on your office door to direct patients to your online booking page. If you don’t offer online appointments, the QR code can link to your website or another online platform where your vacation dates are listed.

5. Post on Your Social Media

Social media is another great way to reach your patients. Create a post about your vacation dates. For example you can share a picture of you and your team with a caption detailing your time off.

• Pro tip: On Instagram, pin this post to the top of your profile so it stays visible throughout your vacation!

6. Update Your Google Business Profile Hours

A Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) offers many benefits, including the ability to easily update your working hours. In the “Hours” section, select “Temporarily Closed” and disable it upon your return. If you’re gone for less than 7 days, you may use the use the “Special hours” option to set specific dates.

7. Change Your Voicemail Message

Despite your efforts, some patients may miss the information and try calling to book an appointment. To address this, record a special vacation voicemail message, informing callers of your return date. Mention your online booking option if available, offering an easy solution for those trying to reach you

Your Patients are Informed, Enjoy your holidays!

With these tips, your patients will be well-informed about your holidays, allowing you to enjoy a stress-free vacation. Don’t hesitate to check out our article on how healthcare professionals can best prepare for their vacations to ensure you have a relaxing time off!