Institute procedural time studies. Dentists and team members often have a false impression of how long procedures take. They need to better understand the length of time that each treatment actually …
Acknowledge your fellow team members.
Acknowledge your fellow team members. Surprise your co-workers by leaving a silly, fun, or inspiring note anonymously for them at the end of the day. When they come in the next morning and discover …
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Script every patient interaction.
Script every patient interaction. Scripting helps dentists and team members communicate more effectively with patients. As in sports, working from the same “playbook” builds team unity. Scripting …
Plan interoffice communications in advance.
Plan interoffice communications in advance. When the treatment timetable for a referred patient is predictable, schedule communications with offices and patients ahead of time. Or, when appropriate, …
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Advice for the Hygienist – Build more value for the hygiene visit.
Advice for the Hygienist – Build more value for the hygiene visit. Many patients think of it as “only a cleaning.” More of them will schedule regularly if they are aware of all the services you can …
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Advice for the Dentist – Assign responsibility for each target.
Advice for the Dentist – Assign responsibility for each target. Every target must be “owned” by the doctor or a staff member. Practice leaders shoulder ultimate responsibility for practice …
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If you find a certain administrative process frustrating, figure out how to change it.
If you find a certain administrative process frustrating, figure out how to change it. Even the best management systems develop bottlenecks. If you run into a snag in your work, think about why it’s …
Advice for the Front Desk Team – Help patients with their insurance.
Advice for the Front Desk Team – Help patients with their insurance. Dental insurance coverage is a source of anxiety for many people. Anything you can do to alleviate that anxiety is a win for the …
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Ask patients for feedback.
Ask patients for feedback. Many dentists and teams have only a vague notion of how patients truly feel about their practices. Without specific data, patient satisfaction is difficult to gauge. …
Advice for the Dentist – Have lunch with a team member.
Advice for the Dentist – Have lunch with a team member. To learn more about your staff members and to give them a better sense of what motivates you, meet with them individually to share a meal. This …
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Give encouragement and compliments to patients.
Give encouragement and compliments to patients. If patients are doing a great job sitting still for a lengthy procedure, compliment them. They’ll appreciate it and feel better about the appointment. …
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Perform regular chart audits.
Perform regular chart audits. Unscheduled patients can quickly turn into inactive patients. Reviewing patient charts every month prevents the practice from losing track of patients. Once unscheduled …
