Cliff's Notes

Hitting your Head on a Wall Hurts, Why Don’t You Stop? Talk to an Expert, it’s Free!

So, What’s your pain? Everybody has some, it may be in the home or the garden but it’s there and it eats at you everyday. For most of you reading this rant the pain is at work. A private dental practice is more than just a business, it is a healthcare business that needs constant attention and flexibility for change. It needs your protection!

I Need More Patients … I hear this in almost every office I work with. Some of my clients talk about buying another practice to increase volume. But, unless your are merging the patients into your current location it may not be the smartest idea. Why spend money on another headache when you can invest in what you already have. This is a new world of healthcare and patients have more choices now than ever before. Why should they choose you? Being a nice person is not enough.

Insurance is Starting to Kill Me … Get used to this one because this is as good as it gets. Survival of the average dental practice will depend on patient insurance management. Patients don’t understand that dental insurance is not like their medical coverage. Having a clear vision of a patients dental coverage and communicating it with the patient will allow the maximum benefit of resources for both the patient and the practice. In 2017, PPO Management seminars can be very informative and you should attend a few with your office manager.

Employer / Employee Rights and Management … When I had my company this was the area of management I disliked the most. Dozens of personalities and issues all confined within departmental settings. Battles flaring up almost everyday and you can’t just tell someone to go home. Law and regulations make it very easy to be sued for wrongful termination and don’t think that your records or good intentions will save you because there will always be a settlement to stop the bleeding. Employee record keeping is essential and needs to be updated annually. You don’t know what you don’t know. I have very few clients that address this “time bomb” issue correctly.

Disaster Recovery … What do you do when you arrive at work and 5 fire engines are surrounding your building? What do you do when a partner or key team member becomes ill or dies? What does your family do tomorrow if you get crunched by a cement mixer on your way home tonight? You need to have a plan. You need to have a current evaluation of your practice with written instructions on how to execute a recovery plan and who should oversee it if you can’t.

Making Payroll … This is what makes the difference between an employer and employee. This is why you get to drive the nice car and take nice vacations. This is also what keeps you up at night . How many of us held back on cashing our checks because cash flow was slow. If you have never sat in this chair you can’t understand.

Fix the Pain! … In 2017 you can’t run a dental practice on your own. You need to consult with experts that stay current on changes in law and regulation. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. It’s time to make a plan.

January 15, 2017 - Posted by Cliff's Notes Blog | Uncategorized