Dustin Hobbs

Founder & CEO of Louisville Web Lab. Based on our experience working with 50+ small businesses across Kentucky and the U.S., Dustin specializes in SEO, paid media, and marketing automation that generate real leads — not vanity metrics.

Patients forget. They forget their annual exam, their cleaning, their follow-up. Email keeps your practice top-of-mind and fills your schedule without spending another dollar on acquisition.

What Email Actually Does for a Practice

• Brings lapsed patients back into the schedule
• Reminds patients of recommended follow-ups (annual exams, cleanings, etc.)
• Educates patients about services they did not know you offer
• Drives bookings for promoted services (Invisalign, LASIK, weight loss programs)
• Builds long-term trust between visits

The 5 Email Sequences Every Practice Should Run

1. New Patient Welcome

3–5 emails over the first 14 days: what to expect at your first visit, who you will meet, your services overview, and a soft invite to follow on social.

2. Annual Reactivation

For dental: 6-month cleaning reminders. For optometry: annual exam reminders. For chiro/PT: 90-day check-in.

3. Service Promotion

Quarterly campaigns highlighting specific services — Invisalign consultations, LASIK informational events, wellness programs.

4. Education / Newsletter

Monthly value-first email — patient education, team news, community involvement. Avoid generic content; write like a trusted friend.

5. Lapsed Patient Win-Back

For patients 12–24 months without a visit. Soft tone, helpful reminder, one-click booking.

HIPAA Rules to Follow

• No PHI in subject lines or email body unless secure
• No diagnostic information in marketing emails
• Always include an opt-out and honor it immediately
• Get explicit consent for email marketing during intake

Subject Line Patterns That Work

• "It is time for your [service]"
• "[Patient first name], a quick reminder from [Practice]"
• "3 things your [specialty] team wants you to know"
• "We are saving a spot for you"

Niche-Specific Notes

• Dental & ortho — 6-month cleaning reactivation is the highest-ROI email a practice can run
• Vision care — annual exam reminders + frame restyle campaigns work especially well
• Pain & chiropractic — quarterly "is your pain back?" check-ins drive significant returning visits

Book a diagnostic call to see how much your inactive patient list is worth.

Does email marketing still work for practices?▼

Yes — especially for reactivating lapsed patients and reminding for recurring services. ROI on email is among the highest of any marketing channel.

How often should I email my patient list?▼

Monthly is the floor for most practices, weekly is the cap. Reactivation and reminder sequences are triggered, not on a calendar.

Can I email about specific health topics?▼

Generic education yes. Anything tied to an individual's PHI must be inside a HIPAA-compliant secure portal, not standard email.

What email platform should I use?▼

Any modern CRM with healthcare-friendly opt-in and compliance handling. Most practices use the same CRM that runs SMS automation.

Written and reviewed by Dustin Hobbs, Founder of Louisville Web Lab · Email Marketing for Healthcare Practices · Last updated 2026-04-24