What Did I Just Get Myself Into? How I Navigated Treatment Coordinator to Office Manager
It’s January 2020, and you just got offered the office manager position after being the treatment coordinator for 5 years at your office.
You’re feeling so many emotions: excited, nervous, wondering if you’re the right person for the job, am I capable of doing this? After further thought, you accept the job and begin the new transition.
What you didn’t know was that COVID-19 would happen in just a few months. No one needs any reminders on how that went!
The week the office closed, the owner decided to complete his plans by going out of network with Delta after dropping all of our other plans the year before. I will never forget his words, “When everyone else is zigging, we’re going to zag!”
We were all so nervous about what would happen with the closure and new guidelines, let alone dropping our largest insurance provider. Looking back, it was the best time to make the change, and there is no looking back!
Pushing Through Life’s Speed Bumps
Amid all the changes from COVID and the changes happening personally, we took on not one but two offices in March and June of 2020. Going from one office to three was a whirlwind, with so many changes happening in such a short amount of time.
There were days I felt like I was doggy paddling, just trying to keep my head above water. There were hiring, firing, IT issues, scheduling problems, supply issues, and the list could go on and on.
Some days, I felt so defeated that I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision, and I am certain many of us felt the same way during this time. Asking myself, “What did I get myself into?”
The Grass IS Greener on the Other Side
I am here to tell you 4 years later that I got through it all; I put one foot in front of the other and kept going day after day. Some days are easier than others; some are filled with laughter, and some are more trying.
Helping our patients and our community believe that they are worth it and helping them achieve their optimal oral health is worth all the trials and tribulations it took to get here.
Although some of us may wish 2020 had never happened, it helped make me the office manager I am today; going through those tough times made me much more robust.
Some tips I’ve learned over the years to help me get through the tough days:
- Make sure you allow yourself mental breaks when needed; our jobs can sometimes be very taxing.
- ASK FOR HELP! Don’t be afraid to lean on your team for assistance to take some of the load off.
- Set boundaries to have a healthy work/life balance
- Stay positive and keep your head high
- HAVE FUN!
Always remember to keep pushing through because you are worth it!
About the Author
Sally Polito, MAADOM
Sally Polito has been with Veranda Dentistry for 9 years, 4 of those being the Office Manager overseeing two practices in Iowa.
She is a lifetime member with AADOM and was a Practice Administrator of the Year nominee in 2021. She received her FAADOM in 2023 and MAADOM in 2024.
In her downtime, you can find her reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
