Linda and I have noticed that the majority of our clients are concerned about the lack of patients in hygiene and related hygiene production loss and restorative production loss. Generally we find that it is important for a practice to ensure there is a system for how and when recall is worked, and a person accountable for the results. Additionally, and equally importantly, the hygienists role in working with the patient to understand why a hygiene appointment is important and will save the patient money. We often find practices emphasizing health when all patients are concerned about is money (or insurance). How are you creating value for patients as it relates to money not their health? Continue reading “My Hygiene Schedule is not Full!”
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Don’t Have Time for Social Media Marketing?
The following is from Livvie Matthews http://www.writebusiness.net
We frequently hear no one has time to coordinate the effort required to promote your business online. While I have not worked with her, I think this is a needed service and she may have the experience to help you. Continue reading “Don’t Have Time for Social Media Marketing?”
Four Things Employees Need From Leaders
Four Things Employees Need From Leaders
Traditional leaders see the employee-boss relationship as a transaction: money in exchange for labor. Transformational leaders know and recognize that employees want much more than that. Here are the four things your people need to succeed:
Love. This may sound touchy-feely, but love simply means focused concern that is exclusively for that person’s good. Show your employees you care about them and their futures.
Growth. No one wants to be exactly where they are forever. Create a culture that allows your people to grow and expand.
Contribution. To feel fulfilled, employees must know that they are contributing to the whole. Emphasize the ways that their work matters to the organization.
Meaning. We are meaning-seeking creatures. Share a vision that demonstrates that all of your employees are engaged in a larger purpose.
Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Four Things Employees Need from Leaders” by Cleve Stevens.
Accountability
In relation to teamwork we define accountability as the willingness of team members to remind one another when they are not living up to the performance standards of the group. Most leaders we know have a far easier time holding people accountable for their results than they do for behavioral issues. This is a problem because behavioral problems almost always precede results issues. Continue reading “Accountability”
Build a Professional Referral Network
This is a great article from GPM on creating a networking group for marketing. I hope it gives you some ideas.
Build a Professional Referral Network Continue reading “Build a Professional Referral Network”
Misc. Tips
These are a few tips from an e-newletter I get that I thought you might find interesting. Enjoy
If you’re going to be at a party with strangers, but you know who they are, Google them or look for them on Facebook. You’ll come up with topics of conversation based on their work and lives. Someone did this to me at a symphony fundraiser, and I thought he was a brilliant conversationalist! Continue reading “Misc. Tips”
The Effective Doctor–Hygiene Evaluation
Situation:
Doctor finds it difficult to get in the hygiene room, do an exam and stay on-time.
Desired Result:
The doctor and hygienist collaborate on the patient evaluation and co-diagnosis, resulting in a more thorough exam and a higher acceptance of treatment recommendations.
How To:
The doctor’s goal is to arrive in the hygiene operatory during the first 20–30 minutes of the patient appointment. Do not wait until the last 10 minutes of the appointment or until the hygienist is completely done polishing.
It is very important that the doctor greets the patient with a “Nice to see you!” statement, not a “How are you?” question. Making a statement, rather than asking a question, allows the Doctor to have control of the conversation. For example, the doctor could start with “Good to see you Jim!” and ask the hygienist “How is Jim today?” (This is the cue for the hygiene handoff to begin. Doctor does not say “What did you find today?”) Wash and glove while the hygienist shares information, then sit in the Doctor chair. The Doctor evaluates the patient while the hygienist is speaking. The hygienist is positioned to assist with air and water during the exam.
The exam begins with the hygienist making a positive comment about the patient’s homecare or visit. The next step is to update the doctor on new personal information (so the patient does not repeat what they told the hygienist to the doctor, using valuable exam time). The hygienist reports her clinical findings as the doctor evaluates of the mouth.
Jane Hygienist: “Jim’s health history has been updated, his blood pressure reading was 124/79, his last set of radiographs was June of last year, we discussed taking a full mouth view at his next hygiene visit. The gum tissue is healthy, he has been flossing more. We discussed that you might recommend a crown to replace the large rough and cracked filling on — 30.” I did a shade check at his last hygiene visit and his color is changing slightly so we may want to consider whitening as well.”
Doctor: “Yes, I see your concern regarding — 30 and I agree with your analysis. Jim, because I know you have a busy work schedule, I would hate for this tooth to break at an inopportune time. To avoid more complex and more expensive treatment, I recommend that we schedule for the crown on — 30, it is here on the lower right. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that you will need other, more expensive, treatment. Let’s get this taken care of while we can plan it. Jane can you print the picture and explain the crown procedure to Jim. If he wants to begin whitening get him set-up to do that before we begin the crown. Jim, I would like to see you within the next month for that crown, I don’t want to wait too long.
Also taking the full mouth view x-rays at the next hygiene visit will allow us to check on how the new crown is doing, so let’s plan on that and for me to review those x-rays with Jim at the next hygiene visit. Thanks Jane. Good to see you Jim,” (this is the time to make a personal comment or reflect on the personal information the hygienist shared now that the exam/evaluation is complete).
Insurance Attachments
Knowing which attachment to send to a carrier for a procedure is challenging. Requirements vary by carrier, by plan, and by procedure. An easy way to know which attachments a carrier requires before sending the claim has been developed by National Electronic Attachment (NEA), along with the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP). FastLook allows dental teams to search by carrier name, enter a procedure code, and obtain the carrier’s requirements for attachment for a specific code. Sign up for FREE at www.nadp.org and find additional information at www.welcometonea.com/fastlook.
Reward Program for Patients Maintaining their Recall Interval
For a simple, effective method to reinforce hygiene visits and reduce no-shows and cancellations consider this program of rewarding your patients for the behavior you and your practice want.
The beauty of this is: it is simple, patients understand it, it can create a cross networking alliance with another local business and it works! The root of the program comes from the idea of rewarding patients for their oral health decisions. A similar program can be implemented to “warranty” your work, if a patient maintains their recall schedule they receive a warranty of X years for the dental procedure.
Here is what to do: Continue reading “Reward Program for Patients Maintaining their Recall Interval”
Antibiotic Pre-Med Guidelines
In April of 2007, the American Heart Association, along with the ADA released new guidelines for antibiotic premedication of patients with certain heart conditions. The more recent guidelines do not include any changes in premedication for those patients with artificial joint replacement.
According to the ADA’s statement, these patients no longer need pre-med: Continue reading “Antibiotic Pre-Med Guidelines”
