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AADOM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - February 2012

Justin C - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Rosiland Palmer Blaney, FAADOM, 2010

AADOM Lifetime Member since 2006
Chatham Dental, LTD
Chicago, IL

Participant in the Dental Spouse Business Network

Q: What type of practice do you have?

A: General

Q: What is your title?

A: Practice Administrator

Q: How long have you been with this practice?

A: 23 years

Q: What are some of the duties you are responsible for within your practice?

1. Motivating our team to be their Best!

2. Staff/Hiring and Personnel Issues

3. Practice monthly business and staff meetings

4. Payroll

5. Practice external and internal marketing

6. Building/facility maintenance; supervision and scheduling of housekeeping, snow removal and landscaping teams

7. Manage day to day operations and functions of the business office

Q: What is the most rewarding thing about your career?

A:The most rewarding thing about my career is being able to positively affect someone with the work I do! We have seen patients leave our office who have not smiled in years with a smile on their face. We are overjoyed at those outcomes. The next most rewarding thing about this career is that it takes a team to make it happen.

Q: What do you see as some of the benefits of membership to AADOM?

A:The number “ONE” benefit is the Sisterhood and belonging that I feel that the AADOM has help to foster. I now know for sure that there are "others" like myself, who have struggled or are struggling with questions and concerns and felt like there was no one to talk to.

2. Access to webinars, journals and email blasts that keep us abreast of our industry policies and standards.

3. The Annual Conference, where we are up close and personal with industry specialists, vendors and most importantly our colleagues. They are people just like me from all corners with the same goals to learn and fellowship! Go ahead and make it 3 full days. We would totally take advantage of the time. We have already traveled, let's use that time well.

4. The AADOM Forum is like no other. I have learned so much from my colleagues it's unbelievable! Just being able to hear a different point of view has helped me to learn to think about things differently.

Q: What other services would you like to see AADOM provide for dental office managers?

A: I would like to see AADOM partner with some of our community colleges and add Dental Practice Management as a minor to the Business Management curriculum. I would like AADOM to start a "Recruit One" strategy. We as members should be called upon to recruit one new member to help grow our Association to new levels.

Q: Do you plan on attending the AADOM conference this September in Scottsdale?

A: Yes

Q: What was your experience at previous conferences?
A: WOW! Excitement! I was up close and personal with Lois Banta, Judy Kay and Fred Joyal just to name a few. They were answering our questions! The room was filled, I mean filled with vendors that had answers to our practice concerns. Information was available to help us better serve our patients. The Sisterhood was undeniable! My colleagues were filled with just as much excitement and energy. The classes were excellent! All of our industry specialists were on hand to lead our sessions. Our AADOM staff, completely accessible. There was no one hiding away in an office. The "A" team were everywhere we were!

Q: Are you an AADOM Fellow or are you pursuing Fellowship?
A: Yes, I am. I'm a Fellow from the Inaugural Class 2010.

Q: What practice management software do you use?

A: Easy Dental

Q:What company do you order the majority of your dental supplies from?

A: Patterson

Q: Do you or your practice participate in any charitable organizations?

A: Yes, we do. The doctor has served as a provider and a board member to The St. Basil's Free Peoples Clinic for 17 years. We also served at Illinois' 1st Mission of Mercy in June 2010. We are planning to participate this summer, June 2012. I serve on the Nominating, Career Planning and Communion committees at church. I moderate a forum for Young Girls and Women to help them better equip with Life Skills and Educational planning. I assist another patient with a "New Coats for Kids" Christmas campaign through her church. I have assisted several new dentists with creating policy and procedure in his/her new practice. I will assist him/her or their staff in any way possible so they will know that they are not alone in this profession. I remember those lonely days of not having any practice resources available. I am a active member of the Illinois Dental Society Alliance and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Both of these organizations provide assistance to our communities at large.

Q: What are some of your hobbies/interests outside of work?

A: My hobbies outside of work include reading, traveling and discovering new restaurants. I also enjoy learning about architecture and design.

Q: Why would you like to be highlighted in the Member Spotlight?

A: I would like to highlighted in the "Member Spotlight" because it may perhaps give my colleagues a different view of the dual role Practice Administrator/ Spouse. Although I am married to the doctor, I have been a full-time professional of the practice for the past 23 years. I have earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Educational Psychology and have worked in business and education prior to the "birth" of the practice. I have created the policy and procedure for our practice and helped our practice grow from its infancy. I served as project manager as we built a new building where we are currently located. Perhaps my fellow colleagues might see the "woman/partner" who stands along side of their doctor with the goal of seeing our practices thrive and offer the best to its teams and patients.

7-Feb-12 12:00 PM

PRESS RELEASE: AADOM Launches new website

Heather Colicchio - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Red Bank, NJ – January 6, 2012 – The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) has launched a new version of their interactive website at www.dentalmanagers.com. The website has been completely revamped. It has a new, sleek look and it is more user-friendly and navigable. Prominent features include: the AADOM Member Spotlight which highlights an outstanding AADOM member each month, an easy-to-search calendar of events as well as a continuously updated “Latest News” section. Members Only features are a part of the new site as well. These include the ever-popular AADOM Member Forum, the on-line Article Library and the AADOM Job Board.

“Great job on the new website!” says dental practice administrator Jennifer Russell of Olathe, KS. She adds: “The website is so nice and is much easier to navigate. The ADDOM team never lets anything slow them down and that is why the members love them so”! AADOM Executive Director Lisa Forsberg worked closely with AADOM’s web team to create the new site. She says, “The new website design was developed from specific member feedback and gives us the opportunity to continue to deliver a high quality member experience. I am excited about the new website because it is our 'office building' and the place where everyone gathers together. The goal is to provide a more visually pleasing and intuitive interface keeping members easily informed.”

AADOM will continue to make improvements to the new site as member feedback and comments are submitted.

About AADOM: AADOM is the nation's largest educational and networking association dedicated to serving dental practice management professionals. The 8th Annual Dental Managers Conference will be September 6-8, 2012 in Scottsdale, AZ. Learn more at www.dentalmanagers.com

Contact:

info@dentalmanagers.com

AADOM

125 Half Mile Road, Suite 200

Red Bank, NJ 07701

732-842-9977

###

6-Jan-12 8:00 AM

AADOM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - January 2012

Justin C - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Katie Smith, FAADOM

AADOM Member since 2009

Office Manager, Glacier Dental

Oshkosh, WI

Q: What type of practice do you have?

A: General

Q: How long have you been with this practice?

A: 5 1/2 Years

Q: What are some of the duties you are responsible for within your practice?

A: My job is to make sure Dr. Steckbauer is doing dentistry from the time he comes in to the moment he leaves and that everything runs smooth. That is a range from answering phones, going over financial arrangements and treatment plans, making sure we are scheduled to production to meet our goals, coordinate larger treatment plans, payroll, pay bills, coordinate with accountant, marketing (internal and external), schedule everyone’s continued education, order supplies, keep track of the budget, update and make changes to our website, interviews, hiring and training, and anything else that may come up. At our office everyone helps each other and we work as a team because we want what is best for our patient.

Q: What is the most rewarding thing about your career?

A: There are many rewarding things in my career but my top two would have to be helping a patient who is afraid to get dental work done, getting them to relax and at the end of the appointment feel great about it and happy they were able to get their work done. The other thing that is rewarding to me is seeing our staff come together to be the best team possible. When you help each person to be the best in their position and meld that into the best team is a great feeling.

Q: What do you see as some of the benefits of membership to AADOM?

A: As an office manager there are some things that come up that you have nobody to share with what your going through, especially someone who may have been in the same situation and can give you advice. Using the forum has come in handy so many times but the best thing about AADOM is meeting office managers around the country and making friendships that are there for you when you need support.

Q: What other services would you like to see AADOM provide for dental office managers?

A: I can't think of anything, you guys do a great job.

Q: Do you plan on attending the AADOM conference this September in Scottsdale?

A: Yes

Q: What was your experience?
A: AADOM conferences are always very uplifting. There is not very much out there specific to dental office managers in continuing education so it is nice to be able to go to classes to learn new things for ourselves.

Q: Are you a Fellow or are you pursuing Fellowship?
A: Graduated in the first charter class.

Q: What practice management software do you use?

A: Dentrix

Q:What company do you order the majority of your dental supplies from?

A: Patterson

Q: Do you or your practice participate in any charitable organizations?

A: We work with Donated Dental Services and The AACD Charitable Foundation, Inc. Give Back a Smile where we pick one or two cases a year and help with their dental work.

Q: What are some of your hobbies/interests outside of work?

A: I love boating and summer. I live in Wisconsin so we only get a few great summer months!

Q: Why would you like to be highlighted in the Member Spotlight?

A: I like to be involved in dental and AADOM as much as possible. I think it is a great organization and truly appriciate being a member.

4-Jan-12 0:00 AM

Patient Activator Introduces New Tool for Dental Group Practices

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Patient Activator® Introduces New Tool for Dental Group Practices

Patient Activator®, a popular service of 1-800-DENTIST®, today introduced a new Group
Practice Dashboard that enables dental group practice managers to access electronic patient
communications for multiple offices from a single computer screen.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2011 -- Patient Activator®, the premier text and e-mail reminder service for dentists, today introduced a new Group Practice Dashboard that enables dental group practice managers to access electronic patient communications for multiple offices from a single computer screen.
A popular service of 1-800-DENTIST®, Patient Activator® helps dentists increase customer loyalty and
eliminate scheduling gaps by automatically sending patients personalized text and e-mail appointment
reminders, recare notices, birthday greetings, eNewsletters and surveys. It features a “live call” appointment
reminder option that automatically contacts patients with a personalized message from the office. In addition to
streamlining patient communications, Patient Activator® also enables dental practices to expand their Web and social media presence as well as manage their online reputation.
The new Group Practice Dashboard allows Patient Activator® customers with multiple offices to log onto one
administrative account and see complete patient communication reporting for all their locations. This new
feature improves group practice operating efficiency and individual office performance by aggregating
appointment confirmations, recare deliveries and patient survey data in one place.
Unlike other more cumbersome systems, Patient Activator® distills multi-office data down to the critical
information that managers most care about. This function makes it easier for group practices to adjust their
patient reminder marketing strategy and ensure maximum production at all locations.
“Our Group Practice Dashboard is the new industry standard for flexibility and user-friendliness,” said Jeanne
Anderson, Vice President of Product Management at Patient Activator®. “Group practice managers can now
see at a glance how all of their offices are performing. More importantly, they get the comprehensive overview
of data it takes to make the critical decisions that improve productivity.”
“The new dashboard is a powerful tool for group practices,” said Gregg Coccari, Chief Executive officer of 1- 800-DENTIST®. “The ability to review everything from appointment confirmations to dormant patient
campaigns for multiple offices in real time gives group managers a huge advantage.”
“Innovations like the Group Practice Dashboard are why Patient Activator® is the fastest growing patient
communications tool on the market,” continued Coccari. “We’re having a major positive impact on the bottom lines of solo and group practices because we offer a reliable, feature-packed service for less than half the price of similar systems.”

About Patient Activator®
Patient Activator®, part of Los Angeles-based 1-800-DENTIST®, is the leading text and e-mail reminder
service for dentists. The company’s award-winning reminder system automates patient communications,
including e-mail and text appointment confirmations, recall reminders, eNewsletters, Invisalign® tray aligner
reminders, and birthday greetings. The service also helps dental offices improve their Web presence and
manage their online reputation. In 2011 Patient Activator® was named the Official Patient Reminder Service of the American Association of Dental Office Managers. It is the only major patient communication service
available without a long-term contract. Patient Activator® is offered free to 1-800-DENTIST® members. For more information, visit www.patientactivator.com.
Contact: Sarah Swidron, 1-800-DENTIST®, 310-215-6524

30-Dec-11 12:00 PM

The Mouth Is the Window to Your Health

Tom & Becky Klahre - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:00:00 GMT

By Tom & Becky Klahre

Pharmanex/Healthy U.

The saying “the eyes are the window to the soul” didn’t quite complete the thought. It should have ended with “and the mouth is the window to your health”. Much can be told about a person’s health just by looking in their mouth, at their gums, and at their tongue. The correlation between oral health and overall health is proven. In some cases the first sign of a disease may present in the mouth. In other cases, infections in the mouth, such as periodontitis, left untreated, can ignite problems in other areas of the body. Research has shown that bacteria and inflammation from the mouth are linked to other health problems in the rest of the body. Gum disease as well as invasive dental treatments can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This in turn can become a systemic issue. Oral health has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and premature low-weight babies just to name a few.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy combines both treatments in the office as well as home treatment, usually in the form of antibiotics. This combined therapy tends to work in the short term, but does not result in long-term health for the patient. Once the inflammatory response has been set into action, neutralizing and controlling it, and the resulting damage, can be an uphill battle. However, there is much that can be done to influence the onset of periodontal disease as well as its progression. Much research suggests that nutrition can affect periodontal health. The saying, “you are what you eat” applies. Consuming foods that provide the body with empty nutrients will result in both poor dental health as well as poor systemic health.

Eating a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats is critical to oral and systemic health. However, even more critical is the consumption of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds found in plant foods. They protect the plants from disease and degeneration, and when consumed by humans, those attributes are passed on. Some antioxidants are produced by the human body however; as we age those levels drop. Also as we age, our ability to absorb and metabolize nutrients declines, leaving us at an increased risk of inflammatory burden and degenerative disease. Inflammation is the precursor to most diseases. Dietary antioxidants help prevent inflammatory damage by protecting the cells from the many free radicals our bodies are exposed to. Inflammation is acutely apparent in the patient’s mouth that is not practicing good nutritional health.

With this information in hand, today’s dental practice is given a great opportunity. The opportunity to educate! You are no longer just about teeth. Your practice is now about health. It’s now necessary to educate your patients about the importance of nutrition, antioxidant therapy, and the role it plays in their oral and overall health. Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 9 out of 10 people do not consume the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables needed each day to prevent disease. This is considered the standard American diet (SAD), which definitely is sad. Add to this the fact that our foods being grown today are nutrient depleted, genetically modified, and over-processed. This results in nutritional deficiencies leaving the body’s immune system vulnerable to the ravages of free-radical induced disease.

Many in the medical profession today feel there is no need for supplementation providing you are eating a balanced diet. Given the information stated above, it’s apparent that this is not happening. Plus, in many cases, the amount of certain foods you would have to consume to insure antioxidant protection is not realistic. Nutritional supplementation is not an option, it’s a must! Sixty percent of the American population supplements in some form. Ninety percent of medical specialists supplement. The key is the right type of supplements in the right amounts. More is not necessarily better. It’s not about how much you take, it’s about how much you absorb. In addition, taking the right combination of supplements in the form of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega 3 fish oil is critical in preventing the inflammatory response from starting and/or progressing.

With so much information, and so many companies out there, it can be confusing as to where to even begin, not to mention how to educate your patients. Of course the first step is to stress the importance of eating a healthy, balanced, nutrient-dense diet. Our recommendation is that the daily caloric intake should be broken down as follows: 60% in the form of complex carbohydrates; 15% in the form of lean proteins (including vegetarian protein), and 25% in the form of healthy fats.

With regards to what supplements to utilize, there are many good companies out there. Many of you met with us at the recent show in Nashville, where we demonstrated the BioPhotonic Scanner, which scans the body for antioxidants. We have an exceptional product and program associated with the scanner. You want to make sure that the products you promote are pharmaceutical grade, and made with standardized ingredients. When it comes to antioxidants, you want a good blend, not just one. The antioxidants play as a team and work synergistically. We can help your practice establish a nutritional and supplemental program that will establish your practice as a wellness practice, not just a dental practice.

The dental practice is the one medical profession that is looking into the window of the patient’s overall health. By adding a nutritional program, you have an opportunity to help your patients even more. Doing right for the patient is doing right for the practice.

For more information on adding a Nutrional Program (and revenue stream) to your practice, email Tom Khlare at thklahre@msn.com

11-Nov-11 10:00 AM

PRESS RELEASE: American Association of Dental Office Managers Announces Record Annual Conference Attendance

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Red Bank, NJ - November 1, 2011:The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) experienced record attendance for their 7th Annual Conference recently held at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. The final count for attendees was 425 members and non-members as well as 125 representatives from over 60 companies.

Attendees were able to choose from a wide variety of topics specific to the efficient and successful management of the dental office. AADOM’s Keynote Speaker was international practice management expert Kathy Metaxas who fired up the crowd with an engaging speech on intergenerational management. AADOM also featured a focus track on human resources. The debut of ‘AADOM’s Introduction to Office Management’ course was also a big hit with attendees and will return next year.

AADOM President Heather Colicchio is excited to announce that Scottsdale, AZ will be the location of next year’s conference. The dates are September 6-8th, 2012. Colicchio says “Our members have given us positive feedback about the direction in which our conferences are moving. Our focus has always been on education and our members appreciate that. We’ll also add additional networking opportunities as requested by attendees.”

Pre-registration is available now by visiting AADOM’s website www.dentalmanagers.com. 2011’s session was sold out and AADOM expects that 2012’s registration numbers will exceed expectations Senior Vice President Lorie Streeter urges attendees to pre-register for Scottsdale’s conference: “Our members always tell us what a great experience they have at our conferences – we don’t want you to miss it!”

About AADOM:

The American Association of Dental Office Managers(AADOM) is an organization of professional office managers, practice administrators, patient coordinators, insurance and financial coordinators, and treatment coordinators of general and specialized dental practices. The largest association of its kind, it is our mission to provide our members with networking, resources and education to help them achieve the highest level of professional development. For more information please call 732-842-9977 or email us: info@dentalmanagers.com.

1-Nov-11 8:00 AM

AADOM featured in Dental Products Report

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Dental Consultant, AADOM Member and Practicing Office Manager, Jill Nesbit wrote this article published in Dental Products Report. An excerpt of which is below:

The changing role of the dental office manager

"You can become the business professional your dental practice needs. Most office managers feel that they want to do their very best for their dentist. They see the many demands on the dentist and appreciate their job – but they don’t know what to do. They don’t know how to get the training they need so they can be a real asset to their dentist and the entire practice. As the field of dentistry changes, just look again at the 3 trends we reviewed, now is the time for dental office managers to step up and get the training that will take them to the next level.

There are a variety of ways for a dental office manager to gain the necessary training. From the AADOM annual conference to online forums...

25-Oct-11 6:00 PM

Move over Vets and Baby Boomers-Generation X & Y are moving in and UP!

Pamela Menaker - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 GMT

I am a book junky. When something peaks my interest, I Google, then I order. My latest craving of knowledge is generations in the workplace. Being a Baby Boomer (those born within the years of 1946-1964), over the past 24 years in dentistry, when I go to hire a new staff member, chances are they are going to be younger than me-it's a given. In all those years, I have only hired one other person older than me. So to really think about the generational differences that can literally tear an office apart is both interesting and upsetting to me. I have either been incredibly lucky or the young people I tend to hire are exceptional Generation X & Yers.

In the book, "Generations, Inc." by Meagan and Larry Johnson, this daughter and father consulting team give a clear, honest explanation of the reasons why so many situations arise when these worlds collide. Not only do they explain the differences, but they offer great ways to manage and supervise these very different generations. The front of the book says it all-"From Boomers to Linksters-Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work".

For those of us that have the responsibility of hiring and managing for our dental staff-listen up. Hiring has just taken on a new view-it will be to your advantage to know where your next hire came from.

Wheather we realize it or not, there are five different generations currently employed. Due to the economic downturn, Baby Boomers are working longer. Generation X employees (those born between 1965 and 1980)-those in their 30's, and the newest Generation Y(those born between 1981 and 2000) are beginning or settling into their careers. For the first time in history, the younger generation, which has a completely different work ethic, is managing us and unless we all understand why we work differently, there can be conflict and dysfunction.

Here are a few of the perspectives and recognizable differences and why. All generations are influenced by what Generations, Inc. calls signposts. They are both personal and group signposts. These are things such as beliefs-hard work ethic, respect, desire for quality, freedom, and self-reliance. Another measure for what makes a generation a generation are the events taking place during that time. Life changing events like world war, economic depression and tragedy such as 911. We can all understand that we think differently from our parents. It is the same in the business world. We are what we were raised, toss in our natural personality traits, and the experiences of world round us. We truly are products of our environment-very different ones.

I would encourage anyone that hires staff and if your office has more than one generation that you manage, do yourself and them a favor-get familiar with this concept. Veterans, though not many, (those born in the years of 1922-1945) are still employed in all areas of dentistry. I believe that some of our everyday workplace distractions are being caused by generational differences. Use this opportunity to learn from the wisdom and value that Veterans and Baby Boomers offer and be open to the excitement and creativity of the Gen X & Y's.

Generation X & Y are hopeful, independent and want a balance of work and personal life. Veterans and Baby Boomers are optimistic, responsible and have a "can-do" attitude. This is a great balance for a very diverse and dynamic team. I know, we are blessed to have this team everyday. We are far from perfect and have our issues, but we keep generational differences to a minimum. We are aware of them, discuss them together and push through them. We don't use them as an excuse to distract us from quality dental care and excellent customer service for our loyal patients.

23-Oct-11 4:00 PM

AADOM featured in 'Off the Cusp'

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

A New AADOM and Patterson Dental Partnership...At the 2011 AADOM conference in Nashville, we have just announced that we will be collaborating with AADOM and Rita Zamora to bring you social media resources tailored specifically for dental office managers.

11-Sep-11 6:00 PM

AADOM Conference Featured in Dental Products Report

Robin Knight - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Read about AADOM's Annual Conference in Nashville.

9-Sep-11 5:00 PM

AADOM featured in Everything Dental Blog

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Read how AADOM was recognized in the "Everything Dental Blog"

1-Sep-11 6:00 PM

Change Your Internal Dialogue to Help More Patients Get Care

Lois Banta - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:00:00 GMT

By Lois Banta, CEO, Banta Consulting

When it comes to the financial conversation, what you say to yourself is as important as what you say to your patients. Yes, the economy has impacted a lot of people. But that doesn’t mean our patients don’t want or can’t afford the care they need. Unfortunately, many dental teams “empathize in advance” with patients. They get the “feeling” that the patient cannot afford the dentistry based on the way the patient presents himself visually or verbally. Or the team’s “feeling” is based on their own financial situations or economic concerns and they transfer their concerns onto the patient But, whenever you focus on your own feelings about the patient’s financial situation and make presumptions, it’s going to get in the way of the financial conversation. Having a “feeling” about a person’s financial situation can make the entire fee discussion uncomfortable for the team and the patient. We have to get rid of that internal dialogue that says patients can’t afford or don’t want the dentistry and, instead, presume just the opposite – they want the care we’ve diagnosed and are willing to pay for it.

To start to change your internal dialogue, you have to separate yourself from your own self-made opinions and start fresh, with a clean slate for each and every patient. If you do this, the financial conversation becomes a very natural and comfortable dialogue. Because once the patient decides they want the dentistry, the next natural step is to talk about how they are going to pay for care.

Making the Financial Conversation a Natural, Easy Process

The transition from the treatment diagnosis and discussion to the financial conversation needs to be done with purpose. This is the ideal opportunity for the doctor to publically share with the patient his or her confidence in the team member’s ability to help the patient move forward with recommended care. A good example of this dialogue would be for the doctor to say, “Mrs. Jones, I’d like to introduce you to Jeannie. You will love Jeannie. She has a variety of payment options she’ll be discussing with you and I’m confident she will be able to help you find a comfortable way to move forward with care.”

The foundation of a strong financial conversation is the written financial policy - clear and concise guidelines on the patient’s payment responsibilities and options. Having a written financial policy makes it less likely the doctor will inadvertently undermine the team’s ability to set up legitimate financial solutions by changing or making exceptions to the financial policy directly with the patient. When you discuss fees and payment options, try not to ask yes or no questions. Instead, lead patients into a discussion by asking questions that give them the ability to respond positively. They should feel they are in control of the conversation because they are the ones in control of their decision to move forward with treatment – or not. So, instead of asking Mrs. Jones if she wants to pay cash for treatment, which could result in a “no,” consider saying, “Mrs. Jones, we have several payment options available to help you get care including cash, check, Visa, MasterCard and a healthcare credit card called CareCredit. Which of these would you like to hear more about?”

Visual aids are incredibly helpful for patients who make their decisions based on what they see, not what they hear. Studies show that 50 percent of patients listen with their ears and 50 percent listen with their eyes. Therefore, both visual and verbal aids should be used during every fee discussion. Online visual aids, such as CareCredit’s online payment calculator, can be especially useful. The team member discussing payment options and fees needs to remain with the patient as the visual aids are used so they are available to answer questions or print out requested information. Often the patient will want to take home the information so they can review it with a family member who is involved in the decision. Ideally, you’d want that decision-maker present during the presentation and you may want to ask the patient, “Who helps you make decisions regarding financial matters for your dentistry?” If the patient indicates that they are not going to make the financial decision on their own, you may want to reschedule the discussion to include the other person so you minimize the opportunity for miscommunication.

Practice Makes Perfect

Ultimately, a smooth and comfortable financial conversation requires training and planning. Rehearsing scripts so they reflect the practice’s and the team’s personality is critical. You can practice during your team meeting. For example, throw out some challenges that you’ve heard from patients. Then, together, develop the verbal skills that provide solutions and, again, lead the patient to a positive outcome. Also, keep a tally on dentistry diagnosed but not accepted and why. Then have a team meeting to discuss what you could do or say differently that would help the patient achieve their oral health goals. If the patient says, “I can’t afford it,” then they have not accepted the dentistry in their own minds. Money may have very little to do with why they said “no.” There are many other factors that play into a patient not accepting our care recommendations, including fear, timing, and other life events. But if you believe in the dentistry you provide and change your internal dialogue to always presume patients want and are willing to find a way to pay for care, you’ll find the financial conversation can be easy, natural and a positive experience for everyone.

10-Aug-11 12:00 PM

Use Dentrix Practice Advisor to Make Your Job Easier

Erin Brisk - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 GMT

As an office manager, it’s your responsibility to make sure the office is running efficiently and the practice is as profitable as possible. You’re the person who has to know everything about every part of the practice. And what’s more, you’re expected to have suggestions about what to improve in the practice and how to do it. With Dentrix Practice Advisor, it’s easier than ever for you to meet those expectations.

In the Practice Advisor Report, you can view key performance indicator (KPI) statistics for five important areas of your practice: production, collections, continuing care, schedule management and new patient analysis.

The Practice Advisor Report compares your practice’s KPI statistics to industry-standard benchmarks based on a typical general practice with one doctor. The benchmarks list the ideal range for the KPI statistics and show you where your practice statistics should be. When your KPI statistics fall below the benchmarks, the report flags the areas where your practice is underperforming and refers you to recommendations to help you improve your profitability.

If your practice is not the typical general practice with one doctor, you can customize Practice Advisor to use the numbers from your consultant or accountant or your practice goals as the benchmarks. That way, the benchmarks make sense for your practice and you can see how well you are measuring up to your goals.

For example, let’s say you’re the office manager of a single-provider practice with an active patient base of 1,500 patients. According to the benchmark range in Practice Advisor, your practice’s average daily production should be between $2,500 and $4,700. If your average daily production is only $2,000, the Practice Advisor Report will add a flag on the report to indicate that your practice is performing below the benchmark range and it will refer you to a list of recommendations for improving your production.

The recommendations in the Practice Advisor Report were provided by leading industry consultants at The Pride Institute and Jameson Management. When you change your office processes or make adjustments to practice routines based on those recommendations, you’re likely to see improvements in your KPIs and in your practice profitability and efficiency.

Accessing Practice Advisor In the Dentrix Office Manager, click Analysis and then click Practice Advisor. In the Practice Advisor dialog box that appears, click Practice Advisor Setup to specify how your active patient base will be calculated, which

providers will be counted as dentists and which as hygienists, how payment and adjustment types will be calculated, and other settings that are appropriate for your practice.

Once the report is set up, click Practice Advisor Report to generate the report. If you want to share your KPI statistics with your consultant, accountant or someone else who needs to monitor the health of your practice, you can enter an email address when you generate the report and have a copy automatically emailed to the appropriate people.

With Practice Advisor, you can see the areas where your practice is doing well and where it needs to improve. Then, based on the suggestions provided in the report, you can implement changes in your office to increase profitability. You don’t have to search through several different reports to find the KPI statistics for your practice and you don’t have to come up with ways to improve—Practice Advisor does it for you. Simply put, Practice Advisor makes your job easier.

Learn More To learn more about Dentrix Practice Advisor, download the Practice Advisor Getting Started Guide, which introduces Practice Advisor, shows you how to set it up, and gives you tips for using the report.

You can also visit our website to find out more about Dentrix Practice Advisor and how it has helped offices improve their profitability. If you are interested in learning about Practice Advisor, new features in Dentrix or eServices that can help you

improve your practice profitability, visit our training section to learn about available training options.

8-Aug-11 7:00 PM

Use Dentrix Practice Advisor to Make Your Job Easier

Erin Brisk - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 GMT

providers will be counted as dentists and which as hygienists, how payment and adjustment types will be calculated, and other settings that are appropriate for your practice.

improve your practice profitability, visit our training section to learn about available training options.

8-Aug-11 7:00 PM

Oral Health America connects communities with resources that enrich lives

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Oral Health America’s work to expand access to education and treatment continues to gain momentum through programs that are making a difference in communities.

“We now have the closest thing to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that one can get in the dental world – a Smiles Across America® grant,” said Krista Postai, CEO, Community Health Center of

Southeast Kansas.

Smiles Across America (SAA), Oral Health America’s (OHA) signature program, aims to improve the health of low-income, underserved and uninsured elementary school students by supporting oral disease prevention services at school and by demonstrating to communities that healthy mouths are integral to overall health. SAA was launched in 2004 in the Chicago Public Schools and has since grown to supporting services to an estimated 350,000 children in 34 states. SAA provides grant funding, technical assistance and over 500,000 units of donated dental product annually to over 120 programs nationwide. Since its inception, OHA has donated over $1.8 million in grant funding with the help of top SAA funders including Trident® and the Patterson Foundation, a private grant-making foundation formed by Patterson executives several years ago that receives most of its funds through the generosity of current and former employees of Patterson Companies, Inc.

“Our program began due to OHA’s Smiles Across America Product Donation Program. The savings we realized by getting donated product allowed our program to flourish,” Postai added. “This year’s grant award from OHA will help us to expand to reach over 10,000 children in 13 counties in southeast Kansas.”

Is your community’s oral health flourishing? Find out how you can support OHA’s work to ensure that all children receive the preventive and restorative care they need. Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at www.oralhealthamerica.org, follow us on Twitter at “Smile4Health,” and become our fan on Facebook. In September and October, OHA is teaming up with dozens of dental companies and tens of thousands of dental offices to help spread the word about the importance of healthy mouths. Join our Fall for Smiles campaign by visiting www.oralhealthamerica.org/fallforsmiles. There you will find everything to get you started, including a social media guide, coloring sheets and posters for your office, and a special campaign booklet created with Patterson Dental. Sign up today!

19-Jul-11 11:00 AM

Everything is marketing

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:00:00 GMT

People make choices based on their perceptions. In other words, the way they perceive something will dictate their actions. If we see value in something, we will invest in it with our time and/or money, if we don't see value, we will invest our time and/or money elsewhere. Marketing is the process of influencing perceptions to create value.

Since marketing is the process of influencing perceptions and everything you do influences perceptions, you're always marketing.

In the dental practice, there are two parts to successful marketing; external and internal.

The purpose of external marketing is to create enough perceived value that patients will choose to invest their time and money with your practice. The most important part of your external marketing therefore, is to convey a compelling message that differentiates your practice from other options and helps patients see the unique value you offer. Keep in mind that the process of influencing perceptions with external marketing is also the process of setting expectations. How you tell your story will determine not only if someone chooses you, but also sets the expectations they bring with them on their first visit. In order to set the right expectations, your external message should capitalize on the strengths of your practice and convey the unique experience that you offer. This leads us to internal marketing.

If your external marketing was done correctly, it has created true perceptions of the unique experience you offer and set high expectations based on your strengths. This will help get people in the front door. It's what happens next however, that will determine the ultimate success of your practice. Your patients will be happy with their experience with you if you can meet their expectations, or even better, exceed them. The more value you can add to a patient's experience, the more likely you are to exceed their expectations and create loyal customers. Whenever someone is unhappy with your practice it is because their expectations were not met. While it is impossible to always meet everyone's expectations, you should look at it as your responsibility to set expectations and understand them. This gives you the best opportunity to ensure you meet expectations.

There are three essential ingredients to exceeding expectations.

First you have to understand what your patients are expecting. In order to do this, it helps to know the message you are conveying in your external efforts. Since it is these efforts that are determining their expectations, it is important that all the employees internally understand the external marketing messaging so they can reinforce the messaging in your practice. Reinforcing the external marking internally, helps put people at ease right off the bat and helps them feel confident about their choice. Part of understanding expectations includes asking people what they are looking for in their experience with you.

Second, you need to be constantly looking for ways to add value to their experience. This can be as simple as looking for ways to make the patient more comfortable, or helping them better understand your policies, adding convenience tools to your website, or even creating a social network that helps build a community with your patients. This can also include patient giveaways, customer service and good follow-through.

Third, ensure consistent customer feedback. Honest feedback on how you are doing can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to exploit your strengths and recognize and fix your weaknesses. When your customers feel like you're listening, it helps them feel like you are doing everything you can to meet their expectations.

If you can consistently meet or exceed your patients' expectations you will have happy patients. Happy patients become loyal patients. Loyal patients are ideal patients. They trust you, they pay their bills, accept their treatment plans and keep their appointments. Finally, loyal patients are the most likely to refer others to your practice.

You can see that even though the marketing process starts with your external marketing efforts, it is what you do internally that will ultimately determine the loyalty of your patients and the quantity and quality of your referrals. Hopefully recognizing this will help you understand the full scope of the marketing process. All your marketing efforts should be understood and integrated to help set the right expectations, help meet or exceed expectations, and form the foundation to create loyal patients and an effective referral program.

For more information, or to build an effective strategy for your practice, contact Dental Branding directly at 866-375-5511, contact your Henry Schein Sales Consultant, or visit www.HenryScheinWeDoThat.com.

Douglas Sligting is the president of Dental Branding. He and his company work with the Henry Schein team and their customers throughout the country delivering smart, strategic, marketing solutions to help practices attract ideal patients and reach their growth goals.

19-Jul-11 11:00 AM

PRESS RELEASE: AADOM's Dental Spouse Business Network

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMT

4^TH ANNUAL DENTAL SPOUSE BUSINESS NETWORK ROUNDTABLE

ADDED TO AADOM’S 2011 PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS

Red Bank, NJ - July 12, 2011: The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM)is pleased to announce the 4^th Annual Dental Spouse Business Network (DSBN) Roundtable. The DSBN was created by AADOM to address the specific needs and challenges of office managers whose spouses are the dentist in the practice. This popular event has filled a need for this group of dental office managers. The requests for this group began years ago and AADOM has listened by continuing this tradition at every Annual Conference.

Dental spouses attending the AADOM Conference are invited to attend the event but registration is necessary. The gathering will take place at the Annual Conference and is expected to draw increased attendance. States Pat Lutz, AADOM member and the office manager of her husband’s practice: "AADOM provides a way for other office manager spouses to network and discuss situations in a safe environment. It's great to know that other spouses are there to collaborate on ways to make your practice better.

Some topics for DSBN this year include: team morale, separating home and work life business and establishment of boundaries with the team and the spouse. “Last year’s group was particularly cohesive – some had kept in touch with each other to continue the discussion. I anticipate that this year’s meeting will be just as productive.”

AADOM’s 7^th Annual Conference will be held September 8th-10^th in Nashville, TN. The 4^th Annual “Dental Spouse Business Roundtable” course will be held on Wednesday September 7^th prior to the conference. Registration information and course specifics can be found online at http://www.dentalmanagers.com/dentalspouse

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The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) is an organization of professional office managers, practice administrators, patient coordinators, insurance and financial coordinators, and treatment coordinators of general and specialized dental practices. The largest association of its kind, it is our mission to provide our members with networking, resources and education to help them achieve the highest level of professional development. For more information please call 732-842-9977 or email us: info@dentalmanagers.com.

12-Jul-11 2:00 PM

PRESS RELEASE: American Association of Dental Office Managers Announces 2011 Office Manager of the Year Contest

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Red Bank, NJ - July 8, 2011: The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2011 Office Manager of the Year (OMY). The 2011 Office Manager of the Year title will be awarded at the AADOM Annual Conference which will take place September 8-10 in Nashville, TN.

AADOM realizes the important role played by the office manager in the success of the dental practice. The OMY contest is a chance for dentists and co-workers to celebrate their manager by nominating him or her for national recognition. Past nominees have been cited for their exceptional financial skills, business knowledge and leadership abilities. Dr. Andrew Orr of Arkansas nominated his manager Melissa Meredith for the OMY recognition. Melissa’s ability to manage the team to increased revenue and team growth embodies the typical AADOM member. Melissa understands what it takes to be flexible in the industry.“Dentistry is such a challenging field. I face new obstacles every day, which is why I love my career.”

The 2011 AADOM Office Manager of the Year will be featured on the front cover of The Observer, AADOM’s publication for dental office managers, receives free registration in 2012 to the Annual Dental Office Managers Conference and a check for $1,000, courtesy of CareCredit, AADOM Founding Sponsor. “We’re delighted to support the AADOM in recognizing the valuable contribution these professionals have made and support their professional and personal growth,” stated Cindy Hearn, Sr. VP of Marketing, CareCredit.

To submit a nomination please visit http://www.dentalmanagers.com/conference-2011/OMY for additional information as well as information about our 2011 Annual Conference in Nashville.

8-Jul-11 2:00 PM

AADOM Conference Course Changes

Lisa Forsberg - noemail@dentalmanagers.com — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:15:00 GMT

Untitled Document

We look forward to seeing you in Nashville. Please see below a listing of all new educational and networking courses that may have been added after you registered. We welcome you to log back into your registration account and ensure you are registered for your preferred courses. To modify your courses:

Log into the registration by clicking here
Enter your email address and password
Select the "Agenda" link under the Edit column to the right of your name
You can now select new courses or leave your courses as recorded
Push the "Continue" button and review each page for accuracy
Push the "Finish" button to save your changes
You will receive a new confirmation email

Networking opportunities and education courses recently added:

Wednesday, September 7

Dental Spouse Business Network
Wednesday, September 7 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Complimentary for conference attendees. Only dental spouses should register
Key Opinion Leader Meetings
Are you interested in sharing your experience and feedback to help our annual sponsors? The Key Opinion Leader meeting is an opportunity for you to share ideas with your peers and to have your voice heard in the dental industry. As a participant, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for your endeavors. Key Opinion Leader meetings will be held Wednesday, September 7th at 6:30pm. If you are interested in participating, please be sure you will be in Nashville Wednesday evening. Formal invitations will be sent in July by each of the below companies. Please indicate below any and/or all companies with which you will be willing to receive an invitation to their session.
Patterson Key Opinion Leader Meeting

Date: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 - 6:30 PM (Eastern Time)
MDE Key Opinion Leader Meeting

Date: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 - 6:30 PM (Eastern Time)
1-800-Dentist Key Opinion Leader Meeting

Date: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 - 6:30 PM (Eastern Time)

Thursday, September 8

AADOM’s Introduction to Dental Office Management

Lorie Streeter, Heather Colicchio, Teresa Duncan

Join the AADOM team for this new course designed just for Attendees with less than five years of management experience or for those desiring a refresher course on the basics of dental office management.

Experienced dentists know clinical excellence alone does not spell success – managerial talent and leadership is needed as well.

Discussions will focus on situations that most managers encounter in their new roles. From hiring and firing to managing your practice’s revenue cycle – we’ll review basic systems that you will need to have in place.

Topics will include:

- Structuring an effective team

- Managing your practice for financial success

- Tips on insurance management

- Leadership and attitude as a manager

Eaglesoft Advanced User Training

Presented by Eaglesoft

Patterson Dental’s New Technology Offerings: Circle around the Campfire and See What’s Hot in Technology!

Join Patterson Technology Marketing Manager Jana Berghoff and Eaglesoft wizard Mary Horvath to learn about the best new features of Eaglesoft 16, how to use an iPad for Fast CheckIn, what’s new with CAESY Patient Education...plus an exclusive sneak peek (or two) at surprises just around the corner! So, gather all your partners for this friendly, informative talk on what’s sizzling in the Patterson technology camp.

Dentrix Advanced User Training

Presented by Dentrix

Managing Your Practice with Dentrix Practice Advisor: Advanced Tips & Tricks for Experienced Office Managers

In this course, you’ll learn how to use the Dentrix Practice Advisor to monitor the financial health of your practice. You’ll also learn how to use advanced Dentrix tools and integrated eServices to optimize your practice schedule, increase production, decrease accounts receivable, and simplify insurance management. This course is for experienced office managers who are ready to learn how to use Dentrix more effectively.

XLDent Advanced User Training

Presented by XLDent

Helping the doctor increase profits and improve patient flow using XLDent, in addition to improving the patient’s healthcare experience. Make sure the book is full and productive, Meeting production goals days in advance, Recall the easy way, Advanced features, What’s new with XLDent, What’s coming later this year.

DO NOT REPLY to this email. Please log into your individual account, as instructed above, if you would like to modify your course selections.

6-Jul-11 11:15 AM

“INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT” COURSE ADDED TO AADOM’S 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE LINE-UP

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:15:00 GMT

Red Bank, NJ - June 29, 2011: The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM)will introduce a new course created specifically for new attendees or dental office managers with less than five years experience. AADOM President Heather Colicchio has noticed demand from not only office managers but from dentists asking how they can best prepare their employees for leadership of the team. Colicchio is excited about the course, stating that “this will help to lay a strong foundation for our new managers. We are proud to offer this as a resource to both new members and new dental office managers.”

The course will focus on management essentials such as structuring a team, essential office systems and leadership as a dental office manager. Emphasis will be placed on financial systems such as accounts receivable and insurance management. The team-taught course will also discuss the common situations that new managers face. Colicchio further emphasized that “management by trial and error is not the ideal way to run a practice. We’re here to shorten the learning curve.”

The team-taught course will feature material taught under the instruction of Teresa Duncan, MS, FAADOM. Duncan says “Our goal is to help dental office managers be prepared for most situations that a team leader will run into. I’m excited to be a part of AADOM’s new initiative.”

AADOM’s 7^th Annual Conference will be held September 8th-10^th in Nashville, TN. The “Introduction to Dental Office Management” course will be held on the first day of the conference. Registration information and course specifics can be found online at http://www.dentalmanagers.com/conference-2011/.

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29-Jun-11 2:15 PM

AADOM - American Association of Dental Office Managers Articles RSS Feed

AADOM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - February 2012

PRESS RELEASE: AADOM Launches new website

AADOM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - January 2012

Katie Smith, FAADOM

AADOM Member since 2009

Office Manager, Glacier Dental

Patient Activator Introduces New Tool for Dental Group Practices

The Mouth Is the Window to Your Health

PRESS RELEASE: American Association of Dental Office Managers Announces Record Annual Conference Attendance

AADOM featured in Dental Products Report

Move over Vets and Baby Boomers-Generation X & Y are moving in and UP!

AADOM featured in 'Off the Cusp'

AADOM Conference Featured in Dental Products Report

AADOM featured in Everything Dental Blog

Change Your Internal Dialogue to Help More Patients Get Care

Use Dentrix Practice Advisor to Make Your Job Easier

Use Dentrix Practice Advisor to Make Your Job Easier

Oral Health America connects communities with resources that enrich lives

Everything is marketing

PRESS RELEASE: AADOM's Dental Spouse Business Network

PRESS RELEASE: American Association of Dental Office Managers Announces 2011 Office Manager of the Year Contest

AADOM Conference Course Changes

Dental Spouse Business Network

Key Opinion Leader Meetings

“INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT” COURSE ADDED TO AADOM’S 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE LINE-UP