iSmile & Dataphiles
iSmile is a successful, well-established practice management system for independent dental practices and groups. iSmile and Dataphiles began working together in 2017, starting with a messaging integration that gave iSmile practices access to PatientComms’ low messaging rates. In 2021 that was extended into a full integration, bringing the wider PatientComms platform – advanced patient engagement tools, digital forms, patient portal, online booking and payments – into the iSmile workflow.
The partnership has worked because it delivers for everyone involved. iSmile practices benefit from competitive messaging and a modern patient engagement layer that tightly integrates with the clinical system. iSmile benefits from a recurring monthly commission based on subscription and messaging revenues, through a transparent and simple commission structure – as well as a happier, more loyal customer base. And patients get the digital-first experience they now expect.
A partnership that delivers for patients and practices
The results show up in everyday practice activity. In the last 12 months, patients of iSmile practices using PatientComms made almost 20,000 online bookings, with over 61% of those bookings coming from new patients – people booking a first appointment digitally, often outside practice hours. The online bookings also brought in over £68,000 in pre-payments, securing appointments up front and reducing no-shows.
A partnership built on close working
iSmile and Dataphiles work closely together to keep their joint customers happy. Dataphiles handles sales, onboarding, account management and support for PatientComms. iSmile contributes joint marketing and refers leads. Each side does what it does best, and the practices they share get a well-supported experience.
For iSmile, the partnership adds a feature-rich patient engagement layer to its proposition. It gives customers more choice and provides a cloud-based solution that helps strengthen and protect the iSmile customer base, without the cost or risk of developing that capability in-house. The partnership also delivers ongoing commercial value for iSmile, which continues to grow as more of its practices adopt the platform.
Evolving the partnership with MyClinics
Dataphiles is building on the relationship over the coming months as we work on an integration with iSmile’s new cloud PMS, MyClinics. This integration looks slightly different: MyClinics is already a feature-rich product, so the focus is on augmenting it with Dataphiles’ advanced online booking rather than a full engagement layer. The working relationship stays the same – iSmile refers customers, and Dataphiles does the rest.
Secure by design
Patient data security was a priority for iSmile from the outset. Any partner integrating with their system and handling their practices’ patient data had to meet a high standard. Dataphiles is ISO 27001 accredited and compliant with Cyber Essentials Plus, the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit, and DCB0129 clinical risk management – giving iSmile and their practices confidence that patient data is handled securely throughout.
Summary
The iSmile partnership shows what’s possible when a clinical system and a specialist patient engagement platform work closely together. Practices get more for their patients, iSmile strengthens its proposition and its customer base, and the relationship keeps evolving – from a simple messaging integration to a full platform, and now to MyClinics. It’s a model Dataphiles is building with other software providers across healthcare.
“Dataphiles have been a trusted partner to iSmile for many years. Their expertise in patient engagement has helped us continually enhance the proposition we offer our customers, and we look forward to developing the partnership further.”
Mohammed Q. Anwar, iSmile