Many appointment-based businesses have their own systems to discourage last-minute cancellations. They may ask for credit card information and charge a fee if you don’t show up. But the thing is, if customers duly cancel their appointment in time, businesses still wind up with empty slots of time on a short notice.
EarlierCare is trying to solve this problem for a specific line of service: dental clinics. Straight out Boston University, the new startup partners with local clinics to make their unexpected openings available for re-booking through its app. Users can make their choice among appointments that are up for grabs, and receive alerts for new openings. At the beginning of the process, they’re prompted to select their insurance plan.
Not surprisingly, behind EarlierCare are two senior students at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, George Kwon and Peter Wilson, who co-founded the venture with Daniel Brownwood. In an interview, Kwon said that two years ago he ran into a problem trying to get in touch with his doctor in a day or two. Over the phone, the clinic proposed him to schedule the appointment in three weeks.
“Not too bad, but I couldn’t wait that long,” Kwon said. “So I tried to call again the day after, and they told me to come in three days.”
EarlierCare basically kills two birds with one stone by cutting down the waiting time for patients and by helping clinics not wasting their slots. In addition, EarlierCare said it will gather data about the scheduling behavior of patients, and use these insights to help clinics minimize last-minute cancellations.
While keeping the service free for users, the venture makes money by charging dental clinics $199 a month to be part of the network. The startup said it’s currently partnering with four local clinics - Cambridge Dental, Harmony Boston, Hingham Dental Associates and Millennium Dental.
As for the funding, the company can count on the $15,000 Kwon won as a first prize in the New Venture Competition at the Boston University startup incubator BUzz Lab, where the company also has its office. Kwon declined to disclose any other funding information.
After testing the app and expanding to other dental clinics, EarlierCare said it could approach other areas where recurring appointments are needed, including pediatrics and veterinary care.
“Going to the dentist shouldn’t be an ambiguous, scary experience,” co-founder Brownwood said. “It should be something where you’re fully informed, you’re empowered with the knowledge and you’re also empowered through not having to be at the mercy of the clinics’ schedule.”
According to Brownwood, patients will be able to book dental appointments through the app starting next week. The beta version of the app is currently available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
