Tip 1: Verify you have an accurate active patient count. Often the count is greatly inflated. This is less of an issue then in the past due to practice management software. If patient info has been correctly entered for all patients then the active patient count should be good. There are different opinions as to what constitutes an active patient but counting any recall patients going back eighteen months works. Doing so takes into account patients who have slipped off the radar but can be gotten back in.  Tip 2: Has extensive dentistry already been done on most patients? If so, then...

You want to keep relations with staff friendly but professional, kind of like the idea that “high fences make good neighbors." Consider using Facebook's privacy settings as your "fences" to control what posts your staff see or not. It's very easy to do.

The first day on a new job for any employee can seem like trying to get on a moving train so have them "board" on a gradient. Get them apprenticed. Apprenticing is a VITAL missing ingredient in most practices. Don't just throw them in the water to see if they sink or swim. Ideally you have written materials of what is expected. The new employee should be given some time each day to study those materials. The key is to not overwhelm the employee with too much information. Daily and weekly checklists help as well.   Kevin Tighe, Cambridge Dental Consultants, Senior...

During normal business hours it is vital all calls be answered within three rings and that any hold times be minimal. If this not happening, typically the reason is not enough staff or the current staff need to be trained better and/or have better discipline. If you have too many calls coming in for your front desk to handle, you need another person up front or consider hiring reputable dental specific phone overflow service. After hours or weekend calls? Google phone number/voicemail is free. Your office number can be forward to it. The voicemail has ab employee or your voice which...