Can Dental Practice Management help?

One of the first things we try to help our clients with is dental practice management. When you are in control of your practice, anything is possible. However, remember that first Impressions are everything, especially when it comes to your dental practice management.

How do you typically walk in to your office in the morning or your home when you are done for the day?

Do you park on the side or in the garage and walk in the back door? Do you park in the back parking lot and go through the back door? At home, many of us park in the garage and walk through door into the laundry room or kitchen, avoiding the front door at all costs.

My grandson goes to a great Montessori school and once you are inside you will find beautiful things. However, to get to the school we have to walk around the house to a back entrance. On the way to the back door, you walk on a path that is overgrown with plants and weeds. It may have been beautiful at one time, but the school has let it go. I find this disappointing. I know it’s a great school and weeding their pathway will not make them a better school. However, first impressions are important.

Take a moment to walk through the front door of your office. What do patients see when they open the door? Go inside your patients head for a moment and think about what your first impression would be. Walk outside and walk back in as if you are a new patient waiting for a checkup.

Walk to the front desk, and have a seat in the waiting room. Do you have a nice, comfortable, and warm waiting area? Is it clean? Do you have any new magazines or coffee table books, or are you collecting People magazine from 1985.

Sometimes vintage magazines, such as National Geographic are great to have, but just make sure you are current with magazines for people of all ages. Check out the coloring books and crosswords, you don’t want kids to have books that are already colored in.

Look at the artwork, are your pictures dated? How is the upholstery on the chairs? Are you still asking patients to be comfortable in your mid-century, yes it was cool 10 years ago, chrome and leather chairs in your waiting room? Remember, comfort is the key.

What is your team wearing at the front desk? Is it messy? Do they have piles of stuff everywhere and Big Gulps on the counter? Are they chewing gum while greeting your new patients?

If you are out of touch with your first impression, you may want to consider dental practice management. After all, the most important part of your practice is making sure that your patients have a pleasant experience.