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New Year’s Resolutions for a Better Dental Practice
1. Enjoy your work.
Since we are on this earth for such a short time, we should make the best use of that time by engaging in work that makes us happy, satisfied and even passionate. Take the time to think about the excitement and enthusiasm you felt when you first began to practice. Decide what it was that made you feel this way and rekindle the spark.
2. Smile.
Do it often, even if you don't feel like it. Sooner than you think, someone will smile back. Two smiles will lead to a third, then a fourth and a fifth. The positive outlook you project will empower your entire staff and give even your crankiest patient something to think about. It's a sure-fire way of making your world a much better place to live.
3. Make compensation for your team members count.
Make it a personal policy to compliment someone on your team every day for a job well done. Provide opportunities for growth and advancement. Remember the value of job satisfaction, good working conditions, and a pleasant work environment.
4. Make the office a nice place to visit and a nice place to work.
Do a walk-through of the entire office and make a note of everything that should be cleaned, upgraded or patched within the next 12 months. Set a realistic deadline for each item that needs fixing or correcting. Treat yourself, your staff, and your patients to an attractive new watercolor, pleasant scenic photographs, or dental cartoon of the month corner.
5. Make your practice a household name in the community.
Contribute to worthy community projects, sponsor walkathons or athletic events for charitable causes, or offer your services as guest lecturer at community events. Show support for the community and the community will support you and your business.
6. Set goals.
Have each team member set a realistic departmental goal with a realistic deadline and a real commitment to achieve that goal. Offer a reward for the best idea. Find space in the office to post the list of goals and deadlines.
7. Re-commit yourself and your team to fair and ethical standards for patients and for the practice.
The entire office should make a firm commitment to the highest professional standards. Everyone should commit to at least one continuing education course for the year. The practice fee schedule should be reviewed and upgraded as needed.
8. Incorporate "Collection Begins Before Production" into your practice philosophy.
Never allow patients to think that making a payment is unimportant. Resolve never to allow a tooth to be drilled or an X-ray to be taken without a firm financial arrangement. Explain all fees before treatment, stick to them, and don't make excuses for them.
9. Improve case presentation skills.
Re-examine your exam scripts, your closure statements, and your treatment proposal scripts. If they are old and tired, spruce them up. If they are boring, spice them up. Make sure they motivate. Make sure they educate. Give team members time to role play to perfect chair-side and front desk communications.
10. Commit yourself to a great recare program.
Resolve to retain 90 percent of your existing practice for the coming year. Call, write and re-enlist vanished patients. Focus on creating value by educating all patients so they want to be repeat loyal customers.
11. Revitalize your periodontal program.
Since 85 percent of patients have some level of periodontal disease, 85 percent of patients should be coming back to you for a four to six week re-evaluation. They must also come to see the hygienist for a periodontal maintenance appointment every three months. Develop a systematic approach for educating and motivating patients to accept treatment that is good for them.
For a more productive and profitable year, try one, some or all of the following New Year's resolutions in your practice.
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