Your Office Mission Statement
A Mission Statement is a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.
My Three-Year-Old Daughter Nailed My Mission Statement
My personal mission statement goes something like, “I strive to assure each patient has a positive experience with our practice”. Something my daughter said to me at just three years old still resonates to this day. She looked me in the eyes and said “What gotta do is what gotta do”. Simply put, do what it takes. In all seriousness, it could also be my professional mission statement!
When I started with my current practice, …This text opens in a new tab…Kopit Dental Care, seven years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that there was a Mission Statement as follows:
“We strive to provide our patients with the highest quality care possible; with compassion and understanding; to earn trust and respect; that starts with the very first call.”
My team knows that we are patient-focused and aim to provide that highest level of dental care possible. They know that we will do so with compassion and understanding, trust and respect, and that it starts with the first phone call. There is no question as to what is expected from the team and what the patient experience should look like. If we find that we are veering from our mission, we have a team discussion to revisit and refocus on our goals.
Developing the statement as a team promotes involvement from everyone and holds all members accountable.
If your practice doesn’t have a mission statement, consider gathering as a team and have a conversation. Come up with words that describe your services, how and why you do what you do, and your target audience. Developing the statement as a team promotes involvement from everyone and holds all members accountable.
Many will have an easy time developing their mission statement. The process should not be cumbersome, however, it should not be taken lightly. Once the statement is complete, you can post it to your social media pages, your website, and hang a copy in the break room. You could even put a framed copy in the reception area to bring your patients into the conversation!
After all, “what gotta do is what gotta do”.
Meet the Author
Jane Walkley, MAADOM has been in love with dentistry since 1979. She frequently supports local offices with software and insurance training, as well as implementing systems and protocols. In her personal time, Jane volunteers with a local nonprofit that facilitates a cold weather shelter, serving on their Board of Directors. Jane is a lifetime AADOM member who received her Fellowship in 2012. Then in 2020 Jane was inducted in the first class of AADOM Masters. She and her husband live in rural Maryland with their three cats.
