WEB SITE SAVVY

Most dental practices now have web sites, and many dentists have chosen to have their site managed by a professional in order to keep it fresh, pertinent, and current.  Several things may help make your site particularly effective.

Make certain your web site administrator has added Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to your site so that your practice name will be at or close to the top of the list of search results when a prospective patient searches for a local dental office.

Include informal doctor and team photos plus photos of the office itself on the site to give prospective patients and idea of who will be providing their dental care and what the office looks like.

The addition of video testimonials from satisfied patients and other referral sources is appealing to “shoppers”.  Some before and after pictures of patients you have treated might be effective here also.  And for established patients, invite patient comments to be submitted on-line.  Take the comments to heart, even the occasional negative ones.  We learn ways to improve when a patient cares enough to take time to give candid input, and we really listen.

FACEBOOK ADDITION

Facebook, the popular social media site, is purported to have close to one billion users.  Think about having a Facebook page for your dental practice as many other businesses, agencies, and organizations have.  Bing, Facebook’s search engine, should be optimized by the search engine organization company with which you work.  And make certain your practice Facebook page contains complete, current, and attractive “newsy” information about your practice.

INCREASE PRODUCTION WITH MORE PAYMENT OPTIONS

Today’s economic slowdown has resulted in decreased production in many practices.  Numerous workers have lost employment, and, therefore, are without dental insurance.  Others are still working, but their employer has had to cut costs by eliminating dental insurance altogether or changing the plan to require higher deductibles and co-pays combined with lower reimbursement rates.  The result has been patients with lower or no dental insurance benefits and less cash with which to pay for dental care.  Obviously, this negatively affects acceptance of treatment and, therefore, production.

To combat this problem, many practitioners are increasing payment options in several ways.  Smaller or even zero down payments on extensive treatment plans, reduced monthly payments, and in-office financing are some options being utilized.  If these options are offered, consultants suggest obtaining two ways to auto-draft patients’  accounts as the primary method of monthly payment or as a back-up if a patient fails to make a monthly payment.  (1)  Arrange an automatic monthly debit to the patient’s charge card backed up by (2)  automatic drafting of a patient’s bank account should the charge card be maxed out or cancelled.  These alternative methods of payment help assure your practice will receive payments in a consistent, timely way.

WHO SAID THAT?

“When I dream, I am ageless.”           

                                                               Elizabeth Coatsworth, American author of books                                                                                    and poetry for children and adults                                                                                                   

“If one examines the lives of successful people, one finds they always do what is right, no matter how they feel; and by doing right, they end up feeling good.  On the other hand, unsuccessful people wait to feel good before doing what is right.  As a result, they neither do what is right nor feel good.”              

                                                                  Anonymous

“Joy bursts in on our lives when we go about doing the good at hand and not trying to manipulate things and times to achieve joy.”     

                                                                 C. S. Lewis, English author, Oxford University                                                                                 professor, Christian apologist

HELP FOR KEEPING MOBILE DEVICES SECURE

Use of mobile devices to store and access patients’ health information is increasing significantly each year.  Smart phones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices provide an increasing number of dental professionals with instant access to their patients’ data while posing a security risk.  The responsibility for securing all health information stored on mobile devices rests with the dentist(s) in a practice.  An important source of information about help with mobile device security is an online program available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Go to www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/your-mobile-device-and-health-information-privacy-and-security.  The site provides videos, tip sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, and other material about mobile security that can be downloaded for use by dental professionals.