COVID-19 Dental Practice Goals: Flexibility!
COVID-19 Dental practice goals will change over time. And each state throughout the United States has their own guidelines to consider. So, it’s impossible to give blanket statements that speak to some of what we must do as individual dental teams today. However, there are some standard considerations that we share. Things continue to change as quickly as we catch up. And just may continue to do so in the coming days and weeks.
Flexibility is a must right now. We must be able and willing to turn on a dime. Our individual and team survival depend on it. Even our communities count on us in a mightier way today. And we’ll do much better with responsibility if we can stay in the moment. Move in the moment. Let go of the days that have passed. Try not to wonder what next week will bring. And be mindful of this moment in time. One day at a time.
Administrative Team Training
Training the entire team to answer the dental office phones well is a must! Write and publish your dental office phone scripts as soon as possible. And change them as the need arises. Dental practices need everyone on the team equipped and prepared to answer questions and the phones well. And this may not be possible without some guidance. This isn’t something we want to leave to chance. But do well to provide detailed scripts of just what to say and how to say it!
Patient check-in and check-out policies and procedures are huge! And this can be a process that is overlooked. Along with the dental office phones, it’s easy for one to think that anyone can do this. Sure, we can all swing the bat! But can we hit the ball? And just how far will it go? Consider taking the time to make sure you’ve got the basics covered. Because we just can’t predict one day to the next right now. And we want to prepare and be as flexible as possible.
COVID-19 Dental Practice Goals: Focus
COVID-19 Dental practice goals require focus. Our focus is on safety first. We must follow protocols within the practice to insure the health and well-being of our team, our patients, and our community. Close attention to detail is more important than ever today. This is a time to be on our toes and aware of what is going on around us.
The dental administrative team may have some catch up to do as well. Don’t let too much time pass on any unpaid claims or patient balances from our pre-covid lock downs. With all that we have to manage right now, it is easy to lose track of this. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Our dental office accounts receivable is something that needs our attention and focus now.
Follow My Weekly Management Systems
Each of the reports found within my weekly management systems will support you at your dental front office. Although you may be operating with quieter daily schedules, the days are busy. We work to adjust to a new way of operation. And again, it’s so easy to get off track. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Don’t develop bad habits now with administrative practices.
Focus and stay on track on patient accounts as well as knowing who is overdue for what! Make sure those statements and claims are going out and getting attention. And keep an eye on who is due or overdue for their hygiene visits that you can call at a moment’s notice! Maybe even look at getting some technology to help you with this. The technology we use helps to lighten our administrative tasks and allow us to focus more on our patient care. Systems do that for us! And technology is a system.
COVID-19 Dental Practice Goals: Fun!
COVID-19 Dental practice goals must be fun! Let’s work together within our dental practices to have more fun today. How can we do that? Well, we can start just by lightening up a little. Smile bigger. Hug with our eyes! Laugh and just embrace the day. We have so much to be grateful for. And we’ve come too far now to not appreciate one another.
Accept that everyone may not feel safe right now. This could include team members and patients. And those who don’t believe they can move into our new reality at this time, don’t have to. Let’s move forward with those who are ready to do this with us. Safely, carefully, and thoughtfully, let’s work together to do what we do best. Provide the dental care our communities count on!
Pour On The Customer Service
In the dental profession, we are here to help our communities. And during this “unprecedented” time in which we live, we have choices. We can choose to act or we can react. There are things we cannot control. But there are things we can. And our level of customer service is one of those things we have total control over.
So, let’s take the time to breathe and celebrate life. Let’s laugh a little more with one another. And let’s make the effort to emotionally support our team and our patients. Remember, we are not alone during this time. But we have in fact, never been more “together” in our evolving world. So, again, let’s take the time to breathe and honor our lives and the profession we care so much about.
