TurnUp, a startup based in Ghent, aims to increase efficiency within dental and medical practices by reducing no-shows and last-minute cancellations. Founded in 2022, the company has developed an artificial intelligence platform designed to integrate with existing healthcare management systems. Using the new seed funding of €2 million, TurnUp hopes to enhance its operations further and enter new markets. With missed appointments posing a significant financial burden on the healthcare industry, TurnUp’s innovation addresses a pressing challenge that practitioners face. The startup’s focus remains on optimizing the use of available resources by filling appointment gaps efficiently.
What Makes TurnUp Different?
TurnUp distinguishes itself through its AI platform, which not only predicts potential no-shows but also automates follow-up actions. By analyzing historical data and external factors, the platform foresees the likelihood of appointment cancellations. This proactive approach aids in reducing the reliance on traditional methods such as phone calls and manual booking adjustments. The platform’s efficiency allows administrative teams more time to serve patients and manage other tasks. The AI receptionist named Elissa enhances this capability by communicating with patients around the clock.
Can TurnUp’s Model Scale Globally?
Given its initial success in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK, TurnUp plans to broaden its impact further across Europe and the United States. The company already serves over 250 practices, covering more than 2,500 dentists, and has managed to prevent more than 500,000 no-shows. This ambitious vision suggests the model’s effectiveness, which could be beneficial internationally. Partnerships and pilot programs in the UK highlight both the scalability and adaptability of TurnUp’s solutions to different healthcare environments.
Years ago, similar firms attempted to resolve appointment inefficiencies but often faltered due to technological limitations or lack of data integration. TurnUp, however, successfully integrates AI with existing management systems, offering a seamless solution to an age-old problem. This technological advancement grants the startup a competitive edge unseen in its predecessors.
According to Koen Lepez, the newly appointed CEO, the company’s objective is straightforward:
“We always start from the same question: how do we make sure every chair in a practice is filled?”
With cutting-edge technology, TurnUp aims to cover every potential healthcare practice in Europe and beyond.
TurnUp will deploy the recent funding to bolster its commercial reach and technical team, focusing particularly on growth opportunities in the UK. It operates a pilot program with 400 healthcare practices to assess the platform’s full potential. The initiative underscores the startup’s strategic priority to make significant inroads into the market, thereby widening its operational footprint.
Ultimately, time management in healthcare settings impacts both provider efficiency and patient satisfaction. TurnUp’s AI tools streamline these operations, thus potentially enhancing patient care by reducing missed appointment instances. Future efforts will likely focus on extending the technology’s capabilities and expanding the startup’s influence in untapped markets. By doing so, TurnUp may inspire shifts in how healthcare practices handle scheduling inefficiencies globally.
