Designing Your Perfect Dental Practice  In 17 chapters (including 26 standard operating procedures) directed at both the general dentist and specialist, Designing Your Perfect Dental Practice shows how today�s dentist can design their own future, establish a philosophy to make it come true, then translate that philosophy into practical, usable business management solutions.
Introduction: Achieving Your Dream
Do you remember the goals you had in dental school? Have you achieved the life
you used to dream about? How many of us ever get there?
Tough questions, I know. But if you believe there is a better world in your
imagination than the one in which you actually live, and you want to make it a
reality, then this book is for you. It will give you some answers to those
important questions about how to achieve your dreams in your practice and your
life.
On a recent poll of dentists, over 50 percent said they would not select the
profession of dentistry, should they have the opportunity to live their lives
over again. Less than 30 percent said they were highly satisfied with their
profession. Isn't this a sad commentary? Yes, but not the end of the story!
Most of the anxiety dentists feel has a familiar source: stress. Ask any dentist
if he or she can name two things that will solve most of his or her problems,
and nearly every one will have the same answer. "Help me find more patients and
reduce my stress!" Or, "get rid of managed care and reduce my stress!" Or, "get
this staff working with me, not against me, and reduce my stress!" "Lower my
overhead and reduce my stress!" Stress is always the common denominator. Why
should that be? We work in environments of our own creation; we provide helpful
services to our fellow humankind, earn an enviable living, and enjoy enormous
social and professional respect.
The answer is simple. 1) There is no longer the stable, predictable environment
that once existed in our profession. 2) Dentists have lost control of their
professional and practice lives. 3) Picture the typical dentist, trying to
maintain a professional demeanor in the face of the pressures we all feel today!
Practice management is a chore; it seems to yield far too little return on
investment in many dentists' minds. Practice overhead expenses are going crazy,
rising at more than double the rate of inflation, and fees are under huge
downward pressures from consumers and third parties. Patients are now "clients"
at best, or "consumers" at worst, demanding accommodation of days and times.
They are ferocious too, in their expectations of perfect results.
Of course there is OSHA, the CDC, your State Board, CE requirements, even
Environmental Safety regulations, and soon waterline sterility and standards for
sewage effluent coming from your office. Insurance companies are positioning
themselves to be the primary care providers of all health care as soon as market
forces allow. The result is either a severe erosion of the dentist's income or a
changing pattern of practice to increase the number of days and hours worked
just to keep up.
Loss of control causes the dentist to focus on the next problem, on the daily
crisis, reacting to the situation and the environment until burnout occurs. Yet
this elusive idea of a controlled professional life in dental practice remains
alive in the minds of most dentists as a viable dream.
The dream can be attained! It's simple in concept and can be accomplished with
sustained effort and commitment. Decide what you wish for yourself, your family,
your staff and your patients. Then make it happen according to your own design.
This book tells you how.
The result is an easy-to-read, straightforward guide equally as valuable for the recent graduate as the veteran looking to put their practice into prime, resalable form. Hislop involves the reader by telling the fictitious story of a fellow dentist, Steve, who is simply overwhelmed and seeing his practice and life approaching toward a crisis point. Steve is skillfully interwoven into the nonfiction material, adding insight and some levity to the excellent text.
What other benefits can result from applying Hislop�s guidelines? More efficient operations, better patient outcomes, higher profits, reduction in malpractice risk, true quality control on referrals, clear communication between doctors and their staff, better staff relations, faster patient service, better patient compliance and retention, outstanding practice growth, piece of mind
that the practice philosophy is understood and followed, no patients �lost to recall� or �lost to referral,� establishes an environment with which managed care can�t compete, and increased referrals for specialists. The $69 cloth book is a great Christmas or special gift for a fellow dentist.
Table of Contents
Introduction ACHIEVING YOUR DREAM
CHAPTER 1. ONE DENTIST�S STORY
CHAPTER 2. YOUR PREFERRED FUTURE IN DENTISTRY
CHAPTER 3. DESIGNING YOUR FUTURE: �Visioneering� Your Dental Practice
CHAPTER 4. THE PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER 5. COMMUNICATING YOUR PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER 6. ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION STANDARDS
CHAPTER 7. PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATION
CHAPTER 8. CREATING POSITIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS
CHAPTER 9. SYSTEMS AND THEIR APPLICATION
CHAPTER 10. SCHEDULE BUSTERS: Communication with Your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
CHAPTER 11. THE BLACK TRIANGLE: Problems of Periodontal Communication
CHAPTER 12. BANDING TOGETHER: Solving Orthodontic Problems
CHAPTER 13. THE PATIENT IN PAIN: Endodontic Referrals and Follow-Up
CHAPTER 14. ELMO GOES TO THE DENTIST: Pediatric Practice and Referrals
CHAPTER 15. IT�S OVER MY HEAD: Coping with the Complex Patient
CHAPTER 16. SAYING GOODBYE: Not All Relationships are Forever
CHAPTER 17. AFTER THE INK DRIES: Keeping the Dream Alive
EPILOGUE A DAY ON THE BAY
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