Lec 1 - The Dental Team in the Business of Dentistry.pdf

The Dental Team in the Business of Dentistry Dr Majd Qari 2024 Is having a bachelor degree in dentistry make you a good business owner when you open a clinic ?  The prospective owner may have outstanding clinical skills but not have the vision required to open a business. Dentistryis a healt...

The Dental Team in the Business of Dentistry Dr Majd Qari 2024 Is having a bachelor degree in dentistry make you a good business owner when you open a clinic ?  The prospective owner may have outstanding clinical skills but not have the vision required to open a business. Dentistryis a healthcare profession that has a twofold role: (1) to provide healthcare service (2) to make a profit as a small business. THE MEMBERS OF THE DENTAL TEAM THE DENTIST DENTAL ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DENTAL HYGIENIST STERILIZATION TECHNICIAN DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN RECEPTION** Marketing** THE DENTIST A doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DMD), has primary responsibility for the clinical treatment of the patients in the dental office. He or she is the person responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. The dentist must maintain a close relationship with the business office or the management company to ensure that all the business activities are closely monitored. DENTAL ASSISTANT The dental assistant may be a clinical assistant or a business assistant. A clinical assistant performs chairside duties, whereas the business assistant performs business duties at a variety of levels. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Withinthe business office, the dental assistant may become an administrative assistant, office manager, insurance coordinator, or a treatment coordinator or perform a variety of other specific business activities DENTAL HYGIENIST The dental hygienist is responsible for the preventive care of patients in the dental practice. Responsibility for patient care for the dental hygienist is to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate. The dental hygienist is also responsible for recall and must work with the business staff to ensure that this practice is carried out. The hygienist must communicate inventory needs to the business staff so that supplies can be ordered regularly. STERILIZATION TECHNICIAN Asterilization assistant or technician works with the dental team to keep the environment and instruments clean and sterile according to specific infection control guidelines. DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN A laboratory technician works in a commercial laboratory or in a private dental practice constructing various oral devices. The dental laboratory technician does not perform any intraoral duties. DENTISTRY AS A BUSINESS  Within the business office, there may be multiple staff assigned to a variety of tasks, including; an administrative assistant an office manager a treatment coordinator an insurance coordinator an appointment coordinator, receptionists, and clerks.  The person who is primarily assigned to the management of the dental business office is administrative assistant or the office manager. He must have the ability to achieve the mission of the practice, increase productivity, demonstrate skills in computer technology, and effectively use the most important asset of the practice: its human resources.  The administrative assistant or business manager: keep maintaining records, implementing business systems, managing business operations, and maintaining communication—transmitting information from one person to another—with the dentist, the staff, the patients, and the community, organize and schedule meetings and appointments, produce and distribute correspondence memos, letters, faxes and forms, order office supplies, submit and reconcile expense reports, resolve administrative problems  The successful dental practice will be led by individuals who look at all situations as opportunities to create excitement and enthusiasm when meeting new challenges. These individuals will realize that technology alone cannot drive the practice and that employees are major assets. Therefore a greater emphasis must be placed on practice leadership and management. Technology alone cannot drive the practice, the employees are major assets. DENTISTRY AS A SERVICE PROFESSION The dental staff must be constantly aware that, when patients come to the office to seek treatment they are also seeking the most important product: service, an intangible product in the form of care. Service is a system of providing assistance to another person. Patients remain with a dental practice only if they are satisfied with the services rendered DENTISTRY AS A SERVICE PROFESSION The basis for patient retention is communication that involves the ability to understand and be understood. Service is not a result of clinical and cognitive skills but rather of attitudinal skills that evolve into a commitment to the welfare of others Activities that Promote Service: Maintaining regularly scheduled office hours and the appointment schedule without delays Providing emergency care during the dentist’s absence Communicating professionally Practicing quality care Recognizing the patient’s needs Educating patients about their insurance coverage Taking time to listen to the patient’s concerns Respecting the patient’s right to choice Informing patients of alternative treatment plans Allaying fears Hiring qualified employees Activities that Promote Service: Assigning only legally delegable duties to qualified staff Encouraging an environment of caring Updating procedural techniques, equipment, and office Decor regularly Maintaining office equipment Operating safely Practicing acceptable infection control practices Maintaining quality assurance Attending risk-management seminars Participating in community services TYPES OF DENTAL PRACTICES  In a solo practice, a dentist practices by himself or herself and is responsible for both the business and clinical components of the practice.  A group practice may be formed by more than one dentist; this can be done via a legal agreement among the dentists and managed by themselves, or it may be formed with a dental management company that manages the business aspect of the practice In this case, the clinical portion of the group is governed by the dentists themselves. It is also possible for a group practice to be managed by an outside company that controls both the business and clinical components of the practice.  One of the primary differences between a large group practice and a traditional dental practice is ownership. Dentists in these settings may have an ownership stake or part of an ownership stake, but many are employees of the practice. HOW TO START A PRACTICE  The following are steps to be considered in opening the office and planning for the future: 1. Write a business plan: A business plan describes the type of practice to be developed, goals for the practice, a description of the planned patient base, and includes financial plans. Harvard business review  2. Develop a financial plan: With a well-organized business plan in place the dentist is then able to seek financial arrangements needed to establish the practice. During this time the amount of overhead must be considered, including such items as payroll, utilities, maintenance, and advertising, to name only a few. Be cautious in managing the finances; don’t get overextended, and maintain a good credit rating.  3. Choose a location: This step may come earlier because a prospective owner may have an idea for location while still in school. The potential owner should to the following : Decide on a target location. Determine demographics of the area. Decide if the neighborhood will attract the type of patients sought to treat. Identify supply companies. Determine whether there is a good market for potential employees 4. Obtain a mentor/build a network of dentists in the field. It is vital that the new owner seek out dentists in the area to discuss many of the issues of setting up a practice or joining in one as an associate. Plan to become acquainted with builders, service companies, and dental equipment and supply companies and establish working relationships with their contact people 5. Create a website/use social media: Unlike in the past, the new practitioner has a plethora of advertising media.. Develop a ( website , Instagram , snapchat..etc) to ensure that it is attractive, easy to navigate, and contains basic information about the practice, 6. Hire a skilled staff: Hiring a skilled staff whom you do not have to train is mandatory to potential success. The person hired for the business office must have personable skills that will promote the business and must be familiar with business technology 7. Obtain insurance: Before opening the doors for business, the practitioner needs to obtain liability insurance. The new practitioner needs to find a trusted insurance agent who will explain the types of insurance necessary for the practice. 8. Make yourself visible: Participate in local, and national dental societies. This idea is vital so that the new practitioner becomes familiar with other professionals in the area. These societies provide meetings with outstanding presentations for the practitioner and also become a source of promoting oneself and the practice 9. Attend continuing education courses: Tomaintain licensure and also continue to update one’s skills, the dental professional must attend continuing education courses. This is also another way, once again, to interact with other professionals 10. Refine leadership skills: A practice cannot survive by clinical skills alone. As the practice grows, additional employees will be added and the leader of the practice, the dentist/hygienist owner, must be able to manage the staff. The owner’s attitude and leadership skills will affect the attitude of the staff. Thus it becomes important for the dentist/hygienist owner to display the type of leadership that will create a cohesive staff that works together to increase productivity and reduce stress among each other 11. Listen to your patients: Patients provide a potential source of referrals. Therefore you must listen to the patients, learn about their families, and become interested in their needs. Take time to allay patient fears and help them become good ambassadors for the practice  12. Review and modify the business plan: No business plan will last for the lifetime of the practice. There may have been a plan to practice a variety of types of dentistry and it is soon realized that certain areas are not enjoyable. So take time to find good potential referral providers who practice those areas of dentistry and seek to refer the patients to these practices for other phases of treatment. Make adjustments to the business plan, incorporate new ideas, and become a master at the techniques that are enjoyed the most  13.Consider associateships in the future: As a practice grows, additional employees may be added and there may come a time when an associate might join the practice. When this time comes, reach out to colleagues and dental schools to seek an associate who shares the same philosophy for the practice and can also share some of the overhead of the office  14.Plan for retirement. It sounds like a long way off when a practice is first opened, but soon the practitioner becomes involved in the day-to-day activities and years fly by. A plan for retirement must be in place early in order to realize a wellplanned retirement in future years. Reference: Practice Management for the Dental Team by Betty Ladley Finkbeiner, Charles Allan Finkbeiner, 9th Edition, 2020. (Ch. 1, pp 1-11