I am looking for FAT dentists, do you know one?

I am looking for FAT dentist, do you know any?

what do I mean by FAT?

F= Forward looking- they determined to create a sustainably successful practice

A = Available, Available to attend the workshops, tele-seminars, coaching sessions they need to to learn and develop new skills, available to their practice and team, prepared to commit the time necessary to take decisions and action to effect the change they want to create

T = Teachable- Recognise that you don't know everything there is to know about running a dental practice, and are prepared to learn and have an open mind to embracing ideas, concepts and strategies that are guaranteed to make your good practice great.

Email us today for more information Jane@IODB.co.uk

For a fee practice health check click here for the online Brilliant Practice Evaluation BPE

Ted Talks Thursday Sugar -- the elephant in the kitchen: Robert Lustig at TEDxBermuda 2013

Ted Talks Thursday



Why you and your patients really should not be eating sugar or drinking fizzy drinks



What do you think about this?

Wednesday Words of Wisdom.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom.

Today's inspiration comes from the amazing Viktor Frankl, whose book Man's search for meaning is a heart breaking must read.

Viktor was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor.

What are your thoughts on this statement, and where would you like to make a change to see a difference?

How often should a patient have a check up?

How often do you ask your patients to come for a check up?

Why do you ask them to come in for regular exams when they are not in pain or aware of any problems?

I know you are a great dentist and you ask your patients to come in on a regular basis because you want them to be healthy, happy and beautiful. Having a regular examination means that you can spot things early and help your patients by saving them time money and stress.

Your experience tells you that those patients that don’t come in regularly, are often the ones who have more complicated problems. For example, they may have broken a tooth that could be simply restored with a cuspal coverage inlay, however because they have not been seen for ages, you can’t do the restoration immediately because their perio is poor and that needs to be sorted first.

If your practice were a dental patient, when was its last exam? Is it a regular attender or does it only visit when in pain?

As your business coach and trainer I want your practice to be healthy, happy and beautiful and I want to save you time, money and stress, so I have developed a free online BPE for your practice. Click here to complete a Brilliant Practice Examination for your practice.

You are a smart dentist, look the your BPE results and ask yourself, do you need treatment, if so, who, what and when, if not when should your next check up be?

The un- quantifiable cost of your dental receptionist – A dental Business coach perspective

As an International dental Business coach and trainer I help practice owners recognise and transform unseen debilitating and cultures.

 How much time and money are you spending on attracting patients to your practice?

Take a moment and mentally tally how much do you spend on your website, PPC, newsletters. Direct mail, radio ads etc? is it hundreds or thousands each month? What does that add up to in a year, or even in a life time?

How much is your receptionist driving away by how she answers the phone?

How much money are your clinicians allowing walk out the door?

You may want to run a report on your patient software system to put a value on the incomplete treatment plans that are outstanding what is the value?

Do you know what the life time value is of a new patient is?  How many new patient prospects are converted to an active patient and how many don’t book an appointment.

Are you investing in attracting new patients for them to be driven away by the first point of contact with the practice?

Research clearly shows that your patients will recommend new patients, stay with you longer and buy more treatment with you if they feel an emotional connection with the practice and your team rather than being functionally satisfied or dissatisfied with your service. What difference would this make to your bottom line? I dare you to put a figure on it.

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

Your receptionist is the most important person in the link for converting a prospect to a client, how well are they doing?

This morning a client asked me to listen to a recording of an incoming call, because he wanted some advice on how to improve the telephony skills of their reception team .and how to give the feedback. What was clear was that he knew something was not right and he didn’t know what.  The receptionist had very competently made the patient an appointment and something was still lacking.

The receptionist had functionally satisfied the patient’s request and there was no emotional connection., when I pointed this out he replied,  “I couldn't put my finger on what is not quite right with phone call. You nailed it with the fact that she was not emotionally connected. Thank you” 

Having identified what was wrong we then set about how it could be transformed using my unique BLT feedback formula and developing a telephone audit tool.

“Thank you so much for your feedback. I like the idea of the audit. Those criteria are perfect”

If you would like me to listen to your practice telephone calls, and show you how to enable your reception team to emotionally connect with your patient’s, so that your referral rates, retention rates and treatment plan uptake all increase. Call me on 07989 757 884 today

For a free on-line  practice health check click here for your Brilliant Practice Evaluation BPE 

Start the week with a smile

Time for a check-up?

Time for a check-up?

Is your practice is overdue its exam? click here and do an on-line Brilliant Practice Evaluation (BPE)

How often do your patients visit you for an examination? It could be every 3,6, 12, 18 or 24 months depending on their health and risk factors?

Why do you ask them to have regular examinations?  

You know it is so that you can help your patients stay healthy, identify and treat any problems early saving them, time money and in convenience.

What is the point of recording your patients BPE’s 4ppc or 6ppc?

You have BDS or the equivalent so you know this one too. Periodontal screenings and pocket charts are so that you can identify areas of disease, help you plan the most appropriate treatment, evaluate how successful the treatment is, and then together you can implement an alternative treatment protocol or maintenance plan as necessary, so your patient’s gums get healthy and stay healthy.

Would you agree that your patients are often oblivious to how healthy or unhealthy their mouth is until you have done an examination and shown them the results?

Do you know how healthy your practice is?

When was the last time your practice had a check-up?

Is your practice is overdue its exam? click here and do an on-line Brilliant Practice Evaluation (BPE)

or use this link in your browser https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Briliant-Practice-Evaluation-BPE

It will take about as long as a patient examination.

How healthy is your Dental Practice?

You do a BPE on each of your patients at every routine examination to assess how healthy their gums are

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Briliant-Practice-Evaluation-BPE

.

When last the last time you assessed the health of your dental practice?

Do an on-line Brilliant Practice Evaluation (BPE) today, it will take less time than it takes to do a patient exam, and you will learn so much about your practice.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Briliant-Practice-Evaluation-BPE

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Should your associate be self-employed?

Should your associate be self-employed?

Traditionally associates, hygienists and more latterly therapists have been considered self- employed, and have enjoyed the benefits, especially the preferential tax savings. This has reduced the financial responsibility for your practice in terms of holiday, maternity, sickness, and more recently pensions etc.

Over the last 15-20 years there has been murmurings and discussions about whether it is justified that associates are paid 50% or has the time come that they should be on a sliding scale starting at 35%?

A better question should be, is my associate self-employed at all?

You know that HMRC does random tax investigations. What would be the impact on your practice if they decided on balance that your associates, therapists, and hygienists were not  self-employed. What would the costs be to the practice in back PAYE, NI etc if they went back 20 years as they are entitled to? (they do generally only go back 6). Would they have grounds to prosecute you, would you be at risk of a custodial sentence? (A custodial sentence is possible although HMRC do generally prefer to take civil action)

On the HMRC website there is a simple check list of questions for you to answer to enable you and your associates, therapist and hygienist to evaluate whether they are employed or self-employed. You can click here

https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself/what-counts-as-self-employed

For your ease and convenience, the list is below

You’re probably self-employed if you:

·         run your business for yourself and take responsibility for its success or failure

·         have several customers at the same time

·         can decide how, where and when you do your work

·         can hire other people at your own expense to help you or to do the work for you

·         provide the main items of equipment to do your work

·         are responsible for finishing any unsatisfactory work in your own time

·         charge an agreed fixed price for your work

·         sell goods or services to make a profit

It is for you and your team member to robustly show that they deserve their self employed status.

I do realise that this will be a difficult conversation to have with new and current team members, and it is one you must have.

IF they want to keep their self-employed status what changes need to be made?

If they would prefer to move over to being employed, how big a drop in salary do they need to take to allow you to fund the additional financial responsibilities?

I would love to hear your comments on this thorny issue, let me know your thoughts 

Top tip Tuesday

Speak the same language as your patients.

Fully involve patients in the development of their treatment plans, explaining all options and consequences. Speak clearly and simply in similes and metaphors they can relate too, without jargon and dental terminology.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom for Dental Practice Management.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom for Dental Practice Management.

Where is your being good, preventing you from being great?

10 tips for buying a dental practice

10 tips for buying a dental practice

Understand your reasons for buying.

To a greater or lesser extent most associates buy a practice because they think they can run a practice better than their principal, for some it its about clinical freedom and providing a superior quality of work and having a deciding choice over the materials you use. There are a few for who it is just about the money and I recently heard about one person whose parent thought he would be more marriageable.

Owning a practice is hard work, long hours, difficult decisions and generally not as lucrative as being an associate. Think long and hard about your WHY and are you doing it for the right reasons?

Be clear about your dental philosophy

What is your philosophy for treatment, prevention, minimal intervention, high end cosmetics, restoration of failed dentitions, orthodontics etc.

Who is your ideal demographic, families, children, professionals, retirees?

When considering buying a practice, consider the philosophy and demographics of the practices and make sure that there is alignment. If not are you prepared to completely reconfigure the patient base and reputation?

Make sure you have created a living business plan.

Experience shows, that buying a dental practice is always more expensive than you anticipated. Make sure you have created a workable business plan, with best case and worst case scenarios. Refer to your business plan frequently and regularly If you would like a business plan template tool, e mail Jane@IODB.co.uk for a copy of our targeted business plan.

Make sure you are adequately financed.

As you have realised already, buying a practice is always more expensive than you initially anticipated, many first time buyers make life more difficult than it need be because they have not made adequate financial provision for the support of a business coach, marketing budget, training and development, refurbishment costs and they extra time they need to spend building rapport and trust with their patients and team.

Know yourself

Until now you have been working entirely as a clinician and you will have excellent clinical skills. As soon as you become a practice owner you will take on two more full time roles, Practice manager (even if you have one) and Business Entrepreneur. These two roles require you to have a totally different skill sets to those you have been using until now. Work with a dental Business coach who has experience of owning a practice, recognise your strengths and weaknesses and develop your new skill sets.

Make sure you have business management skills and training.

There are 12 keys to running a great dental practice, fabulous clinical skills are just one of them. Without mastering the others, you and your practice will suffer. Your bank may not loan you funds and CQC may not approve your practice without you having some rudimentary Principal Business Proficiency

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/principal-business-proficiency-tickets-25475974325

Once you have learnt the basics spend the rest of your career spending as much time honing your business skills as you do your clinical skills.

Do your due diligence

You will have heard the horror stories about dentists who thought they had bought a great practice only to discover that they had been sold a pig in a poke.  If there is a big capitation list, make sure you do a random check of notes and clinical examinations to ensure you are not buying supervised neglect. If there is a large patient list registered ascertain how frequently the patients are returning and if the list is an active list. What sort of treatments does the out-going principal do, can you provide the same level of clinical expertise as they do, or do you need to enhance your clinical skills?

Make sure you are working with experts.

You will recognise that as a GDP, that specialist clinicians have a level of expertise that you don’t and it serves your patients to see an oral surgeon, orthodontist, endodontist, periodontist when required.

There are many professionals who are peripatetic to dentistry, accountants, lawyers, business coaches, trainers, marketing agent, practice brokers etc. These experts know more about their field of business than you do and will prevent you making costly mistakes, save yourself, time, energy and heartache, use the experts.

Build a support team

Running a practice is hard work, you only have 24 hours in one day and now you will be clinician manager and entrepreneur Build a support team of experts around you, business coach, trainer, marketers, bookkeeper, accountant, HR consultant and within the team your Practice manager, lead nurse, receptionist, patient co-ordinator etc. learn to run and schedule frequent effective meetings, Learn the difference between delegation and abdication and become an effective communicator and delegator.

Ask questions

There is a commonly used expression “the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask” and yet I so often hear, I wish I had asked that before.” When you are looking at the catalogue or accounts for a practice that you are thinking about buying and there is something you don’t understand, ask. Show the documents to your specialist accountant, lawyer and business coach, they have seen the details from lots of practices and will be able to notice mistakes and areas to be wary of and where to ask for more information.

If you would like more information about how business coaching and training will help you make a success of your practice call us on 07989 757 884 or e mail Jane@lelean.com

Dental Practice management Top tip Tuesday

Simple tips for effective practice management.

Irrespective of whether you are a principal or associate, divide your time into

!) Recreation time(no work or work related activities)
2) Remuneration time (when you generate an income)
3) Readiness time (for planning and development of your strategy and tactics)

Schedule your days at least 1 year in advance with provision for flexibility

Make sure you have enough recreation and readiness time, they are your most valuable assets.

Are you planning to buy a dental practice within the next 5 years?

Does this describe you?

• An associate who wants to buy your first practice?
• A dentist trying to buy their first practice but your broker is not offering you suitable practices.
• A dentist trying to buy their first practice but your offers are not being accepted.
• The bank has told you they will not lend you the money because you don’t have adequate business competency and proficiency
• You been on a practice brokers buyers list for ages without the offer of a practice?
• A new principal who is struggling.with the business side of the practice.

 

Because you want you buy a practice you will know that lenders are deciding whether to provide you a loan based on your past and current financial track record and your current business skills and experience. You will know that practices are being sold prudentially to corporate and dentists who own more than one practice already, or who have been qualified for more than 10 years. You will also be aware that aspiring practice owners have had loans declined and failed CQC inspections because of lack of business skills training, experience and proficiency.

Because you are committed to becoming a principal, you will have heard stories about how even after many years in practice, some principals having a difficult time, they are short of money, short of time, short of patients and have difficult staff problem and you want to do it differently; sustainably and successfully.

 The common problems and stresses associated with running a practice can be prevented by learning and developing your business skills before you buy your practice and developing them in the early years of practice ownership.

What you will want is Principal Business Proficiency

 Now is a great time to ask yourself,

• Did you have enough business skills training at dental school?
• Do you know the 10 keys to successful practice?
• Do you want to remain an associate for the rest of your career?
• Do you have the skills and experience to be a successful principal?

If you answered “No” to any of those questions, you will want to

• Be successful in raising funds
• Have your offers accepted first-time ahead of the competition
• Quickly complete on the practice purchase.
•  Create a sustainably successful and profitable practice.
• Acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully run a great practice.
• Have a good balance between your business life and home life as a principal
• Principal Business Proficiency

Now is your chance. Join us for the Principal Business Proficiency workshop and we will help you fill the gaps in your knowledge, experience and confidence.

Principal Business Proficiency

Because you are serious about becoming a principal, you recognise the importance of getting an insight into the steps to be followed. Discover what successfully practices do and failing practices don’t.

This day will give you

A framework to plan the purchase and management of your practice

Tips to develop your business skills

Strategies to build success

Tools to save you time money and stress

About the day

interactive day with lots of opportunities for you to ask questions

Workshop format, so you will have created your workable action plan

Limited numbers so you have personalised interaction

Verifiable CPD 8 hours

What difference will it make to you, when;

• You can show the bank and CQC that you have specific business skills training?
• You start your career as a principal on with sound business foundations?
• You know the 10 essential habits of successful practice owners?
• You are supported by your own business coach and trainer?
• You have Principal Business Proficiency?

Book here

Venue Bicester

Date Friday 1st July

Registration 8:30 workshop 9:00 -17:00

Ample free car parking

Refreshments and lunch provided

What people like you have said about our trainings

"Very clear and precise. Easy to follow and good guidelines for implementation."

"Informative and very helpful "

"Information that was given to me as well as any tools were really useful. I enjoyed the session."

For more testimonials click here

Dental Practice Management - Free Prize Draw

Dental Practice Management - Free Prize Draw

Would you like to win £360 of coaching free?

You can win a free coaching session valued £360, simply send us an e mail answering the questions below and the first person selected is the winner.

Send your e mail titled May Prize Draw to Jane@IODB.co.uk answering the questions below today and you could be a winner.
The closing date to submit your answers is the last day of the month

The winner will be announced in our June 2016 newsletter.

Prize draw questions

*On a scale from 0 to 10, where zero is completely inadequate, and 10 is perfect how satisfied are you with the customer service given to your patients?

*How much have your current customer service cost you financially and in lost opportunities etc?
.
*Unless you change your customer service what will it continue to cost you in your career?

Funny Dentist Friday

Funny Dentist Friday



When you crack a smile please add a comment and share



Let the weekend start here.

Dental Practice management, How painful does it have to be before. . .

Dental Practice management, How painful does it have to be before. . .

Last week I saw a dentist who was faced with a choice their spouse or their practice, the week before I was talking to a dental practice owner who was facing bankruptcy, and this week I heard about yet another dental principal who committed suicide.

When do you want your patents to come and see you when they are aware of a slight niggle, they have not slept because of an irreversible pulpitis or when they have a fat face and are unwell?

I have recently had some clients say to me;

“I wish I had started working with you three years ago when I first met you, I would not be in the situation I am in now.”

Another said

“If I had started working with you when you first suggested it, and done what you have now asked me to do, I would have seen the changes eighteen months ago and prevented all this expense and hassle.”

How many times have you looked in a patients mouth and seen the signs and symptoms of disease that are so obvious to you, and yet the patient is blissfully unaware of any problems, even though they are advanced or severe?

As a dentist you want your patients to come to you regularly and early, so you can spot problems early saving your patients time money and pain.

As a dental business coach and trainer I want the same for my clients like you.

There is not a week that goes by that I am made aware of a practice owner that is in severe pain, because of their practice. The pain could be financial challenges, patient complaints, insufficient patients, staff problems, too much to do and not enough time, feeling trapped on the treadmill, poor health, failing relationships, drink, drug or food abuse etc

All these situations can be resolved and prevented when you seek expert support.

If you know a dentist who owns a practice and it is more difficult that it could be or you know a dentist who is thinking about buying a practice and wants it to work as easily as it should do, please ask them to do a BPE (Brilliant Practice Evaluation) to help them identify if they would value from some assistance and in which areas.

Please click here or follow the link below.

http://healthyandwealthy.co.uk/images/pdfs/Brilliant-Practice-Evaluation-(BPE)-IODB.pdf

How will you know when you have found your key to success?

Practice Development - Words of Wisdom Wedneday

Practice development

Dental Practice Manager Words of Wisdom Wednesday


What are your thoughts on this week's quote?

Funny Dentist Friday

Funny Dentist Friday In memory of Victoria Wood

Funny Dentist Friday

Funny Dentist Friday



Because your business coach, knows you have a sense of humour



FROZEN ELSA vs DENTIST ! CAPTAIN AMERICA, SPIDERMAN - Funny Superhero Mo...

Dentists -Wednesday words of wisdom

Dentists and Dental Practice mangers,

What do you really love to do?

Top Tip Tuesday

Have a clear and compelling vision for your practice and your personal life. Have a vision that excites you and scares you at the same time and yet drives you forward in your life each day. Regularly communicate your vision to everyone around you.