We have written 8 different articles and posted them on our various Silkin Management Group blog sites concerning seventeen different benefits of holding morning meetings in a health care office. The last article on this subject can be found at this Silkin Management Group site: http://bit.ly/yynjfP
Almost all of these articles covered benefits that were applicable to any health care office. Although Silkin Management Group clients are veterinarians, optometrists and dentists, today’s benefit listing will be exclusively for dentists as it covers a unique aspect of their practice.
• Hygiene schedule review: The rule of hygiene/doctor coordination is normally to have the doctor enter the hygiene room to see the patient at a time that works best for the doctor. At the morning meeting this type of coordination can be reviewed and potential “bottlenecks” identified and resolved.
• New patient prophy: A patient telephoning and requesting only a cleaning is often a new patient shopping for a dentist. They are looking for a relationship rather than price shopping. The”prophy only”appointment allows this patient to meet the dentist before committing to a full exam, X-rays and consultation. The solution is to schedule the patient for hygiene only and identify him/her at the morning meeting and on the day’s schedule. Prior to the appointment, the doctor should meet the hygiene patient and allow a quick look in the mouth followed by an explanation that without a full exam he can’t identify or be responsible for any potential problems. This should be done in a very relaxed manner, primarily using the time to establish rapport with the patient so the patient feels comfortable with the doctor. After the prophy is done, the doctor should again meet with the patient and encourage him/her to schedule a full examination or, if both the doctor and patient have time, do the exam while the patient is there. The key here is establishing good rapport with the patient and delivering a top notch prophy so the patient will want to return for further service.
More benefits of morning meetings will be presented in future Silkin Management Group blogs.
Eric Korb
Silkin Management Group Consultant
You can find out more about Silkin Management Group by visiting our website at www.silkinmanageentgroup.com or calling us at 800-695-0257.