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Biomedical subjects

Roger Levin

Publications and source records attributed to Roger Levin.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Inventory control.

By establishing clear inventory ordering targets and following the guidelines outlined in this column, the staff member handling the process will understand the high and low levels of inventory control and be able to maintain an accurate system. Inventory control represents approximately 6 to 8 percent of practice purchasing. The main goal of the advice in this column is not to reduce the cost, unless there is waste involved, but rather to establish a process that allows the practice to purchase supplies on a regular basis, avoid mistakes and maintain a steady expense level.

Dental Equipment↗

How home care is essential to ensuring successful orthodontic treatment outcomes.

Patients can significantly affect the outcome of their orthodontic treatment. A practice committed to developing the right systems, scripts, and educational materials will experience a more satisfied patient, increased efficiencies, and higher profits. Educating and motivating patients to maintain their oral health and providing recommendations or dispensing of home care tools such as a power toothbrush increases patient compliance, positively impacts treatment outcomes, enhances customer service, and generates a new revenue stream for the practice. In a tight economy and a highly competitive orthodontic market, a power toothbrush can positively impact your marketing and case close rate. Treatment and fees being relatively equal, patients will tend to accept treatment from a practice that can demonstrate concern for the patients' overall oral health and greater value-added components to the orthodontic case. Power toothbrushes as part of a comprehensive orthodontic treatment provide a great differentiating marketing strategy.

Child↗

The dentist as a leader.

Leadership is one of the more difficult business skills to develop. Any dentist can be a better leader and should view this as an essential aspect of his or her own personal business development. Dental practices today are more dependent on staff than ever before, and it is well-known that the number of well-trained staff looking for positions has diminished. To overcome this challenge, we have to increase the skill set, knowledge and commitment of our teams. To do this, dentists will need to be better leaders and continually work to improve these same skills in themselves.

Humans↗

Creating a viable practice vision.

Vision guides the long-term development and growth of a dental practice. It provides focus and purpose to the dentist and team and creates clear goals for achieving practice growth and moving toward realizing the vision.

Humans↗

Dental business management.

Business models and systems do not exist for their own sake. Rather, they are designed to help your practice achieve its goals. Before you adopt any new system for any aspect of your practice, define the goals and write down the specific objectives you expect the system to achieve. Bear in mind that systems need to be easily understood by team members and by those who join the practice later on. It is important to understand that economic changes, governmental mandates and other factors beyond your control may make it necessary to reassess the way each system operates on a regular basis.

Humans↗

Applying statistics to the dental practice.

There are numerous variables in the specific mix of procedures a practice performs. Other practice production variables include the number of patients a practice serves and the number of team members available to accomplish the practice objectives. The majority of practices would benefit by following a model similar to the one above. To return to the McDonald's example, success is measured according to whether each McDonald's sells the optimal product mix for its customers. It doesn't matter what components make up that mix. The same thing is generally true for dental practices. Conducting a "percentage production analysis" to determine how closely a practice follows the above model can be beneficial. It can help in making decisions regarding what changes need to be made to achieve optimal production levels and greater practice success.

Dental Hygienists↗

The business of dentistry.

Dentistry is a rapidly evolving health care occupation that can offer an outstanding quality of life, allowing each doctor to define how he or she would like to practice. Dentistry has a high-income potential compared with many other occupations, and this also contributes to the quality of life of dental professionals. But the profession can be overwhelming due to the variety of procedures performed, the large number of systems in place and the multiple management issues to deal with. While there is no one-size-fits-all system that will work for all practices, KPIs can help each professional evaluate how he or she would like the practice to operate and grow. Using KPIs to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of your practice, you can set and establish the systems that will assure achievement of those goals.

Benchmarking↗

Three basic principles of success.

Basic business principles all but ensure success when they are followed consistently. Putting strategies, objectives and tactics in place is the first step toward being able to document systems, initiate scripting and improve staff training. Without the basic steps, systems, scripting and training the practice for performance would be hit or miss, at best. More importantly, applying business principles ensures that limited practice resources are dedicated to the achievement of the strategy. By following this simple, three-step process, a dental practice can significantly enhance both financial success and dentist and staff satisfaction.

Decision Making↗

The value of new patients.

Make no mistake: dental practices are businesses. Dentists as CEOs need to focus on key performance indicators and statistical tracking in order to understand what is happening in the practice over its life span. Average production per new patient is a key factor to be tracked because it is an essential driver of the financial performance of any dental practice. The health of this factor will have a dramatic effect on the financial well-being of the dentist, and on the timing and character of his or her retirement. At the same time, it is essential to balance financial factors with exceptional quality of care for every patient. Without both, neither will be successful in the long-term.

Attitude to Health↗

Setting your practice goals.

Goal setting is a powerful business technique. Far more than just a motivational concept, it is an outcome of strategic planning. Doctors who set goals are usually more clearly focused on where they want the practice to go and when they want to get there.

Humans↗