Archive for category: Pedo Tips

Be careful with your insurance coding. We are noticing more and more online advice that suggests how certain cases should be submitted. However well-intentioned, many of these recommendations violate insurance company policies and could land a practice in trouble. When in doubt, contact the insurance company and ask them for the correct way to submit a completed case. This will ensure that you adhere to the rules of your contract and won’t run into problems down the road.

Friday Freebie: Watch Dr. Levin’s video, “Game Changer #4 – Decrease In Insurance Reimbursements” by clicking here.

Don’t make a bad day worse. There will be days when things go wrong. When stress is running high, it can be easy to point fingers or say something hurtful. Take a deep breath, remain calm and look for workable solutions that help everyone get through the day.

Additional Resource: Read an excerpt from Dr. Levin’s book, “The 31 Biggest Mistakes Dentists Make,” by clicking here.

Make one change at a time. Making effective changes in a busy dental practice isn’t easy. It’s like changing tires on a car going 65 miles an hour. Our suggestion is to select one improvement you want to make and get that done. Then move onto the next one. This gives you your best odds of success.

Whitepaper Wednesday: Check out Dr. Levin’s whitepaper, “Wherever You Are Today, You Won’t Be There Tomorrow,” by clicking here.

 

Don’t Forget Patient Referrals. Pediatric dental practices can attract patients in many different ways. However, the strongest opportunity for referrals is from patients. Many pediatric dentists have growing practices as part of a natural trend. This can cause their marketing programs to be weak and sporadic rather than scientific and continual. A strong patient marketing program requires at least 15 strategies that work together to motivate patients to refer.

Additional Resource: Watch Dr. Levin’s video, “Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Referrals” by clicking here.

Say something nice. Doctors and team members should compliment each other in front of patients. Spend your day looking for sincere ways to compliment people for doing a great job, helping out, or contributing. Then give those compliments in front of patients. When you do this it is perceived extremely well and patients and get a positive view of the practice.

Management Monday: Check out Dr. Levin’s whitepaper, “The Importance of Patient Satisfaction in the New Dental Economy,” by clicking here. Save 25% with code TOD25.

Create core values for your team. If you want to have a great team you need to establish your five core values. Core values are the heart and soul of the practice and set the tone for how your team functions. A quick review of “company core values” on the Internet will give you many ideas. Select the top five that fit your practice. Once you know them, work on them with the team you’ll begin to create a blueprint for team excellence.

Friday Freebie: Watch Dr. Levin’s video, “What’s Wrong With My Team (Nothing.)” by clicking here.

Advice for the Dentist – Surprise your team. When was the last time you sent your staff flowers for a particularly challenging or successful day? Have you taken them out to dinner lately? Have you sent written thank-you notes to them for everything they do for the practice? All of these activities motivate people to move beyond their normal behavior. True team-building is as much about creating a rewarding environment as having the right people.

Additional Resource: Read an excerpt from Dr. Levin’s book, “The Bonus System That Works,” by clicking here.

Review quarterly performance. How close is the practice to reaching its goals for production, collections, new patients, etc., for this quarter? Which systems need improvement to hit established targets and which systems are in good shape? If your office is under-performing in any areas, brainstorm solutions at the next staff meeting to get the practice back on track.

Whitepaper Wednesday: Download Dr. Levin’s FREE whitepaper, “Goal Setting – A Critical CEO Function,” by clicking here.

 

Advice for the Scheduling Coordinator – Emphasize the 48-hour rule. Inform parents that 48-hours’ notice is required to cancel an appointment. Parents need to understand the practice’s rules and expectations, which include presenting to the office at the appointed time. As you hand appointment cards to parents, circle the time in red to emphasize that your practice requires advance notice on scheduling changes. Most parents will respect your request.

Additional Resource: Watch Dr. Levin’s video, “Cancellations and The 48 Hour Period” by clicking here.

Performance Target: Train all team members on every system within 90 days. Gaps in learning prevent team members—and your practice—from reaching their potential. By reviewing systems checklists and following step-by-step scripting, team members can become proficient in all areas of practice operation.

Management Monday: Check out Dr. Levin’s whitepaper, “Do You Have The Right People On Your Team?,” by clicking here. Save 25% with code TOD25.