Productivity, it’s always a topic that is stuck on the mind of every Dentist or Office Manager. You are constantly looking for ways to keep the office productive and busy, after all, that’s a key to the success of the practice. So, how do you keep your practice productive? Luckily, dental practice’s have a plethora of options that specialize in aiding the practice productivity.
If you are currently in a dental practice, it is highly likely that your practice is utilizing a practice management program. These programs are designed to make the practice run smoothly and be productive, but most importantly they are there to make the lives of office staff easier. Below are some key functions of these programs, to help you see the value of the programs and to maximize productivity.
Most dental practice management programs include lists and reports that can be generated for a variety of things. For example, if you are noticing that the schedule is starting to look like Swiss cheese due to the amount of holes in it, then a report can be generated for broken appointments or treatment that needs to be completed by the patient. These reports can be used for recall purposes and filling the schedule, which increases productivity.
Another way that practice management programs can help with productivity is help take time off your staffs hands. As we all know, when dental practices are busy, they are very busy, which makes it more challenging for staff to do basic, day-to-day tasks. This is where your program comes into place. If it has the capabilities, then it can confirm patients, send out uncompleted forms to your patients, and notify you of any changes that came from your patients. While your staff is completing other tasks, the practice management program is working in the background helping the practice stay productive.
A huge part of the productivity aspect of a dental practice management program is that it keeps track of anything insurance related. We can all agree that insurance is a headache by itself and keeping track of it is very difficult. But luckily, your program has the capability to simplify the management of insurance. Depending on the program, you are able to generate reports for outstanding claims, find which procedures haven’t been billed to insurance, and which patients have incomplete insurance information.
Again, each management program is different with a variety of functions but it is important for you to find the program with the functionalities that work best for you. Whatever your needs are, dental practice programs can be tailored to aid in the practices needs and, in the end, make it more productive. From changing the layout and colors of the schedule to running reports for certain items and assisting in patient management, these programs are made to help.
Sylvie Haber, Consultant, CFE
Sylvie first entered the dental field through her mother, who is a dentist. She grew up attending conferences and many dental meetings. Watching her mother’s passion and love of dentistry, Sylvie grew to love the profession as well. After, she earned her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Loma Linda University. She completed the ADA ‘s Executive Program in Dental Management and also became a Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Management. Sylvie enjoys seeing dental offices thrive, become more productive and run smoothly under her guidance through management and coaching.
Sylvie can be reached at: sylvie@gtsgurus.com