Today\u2019s Report finds us in a time that I would venture to say we\u2019ve never been in before. The entire country finds itself without a fully open dental practice for patients to go. For that matter, depending on the state you live in, no place to go for any reason and instead we must \u201cshelter in place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I have written in other formats, many Doctors have grabbed on to this unfortunate circumstance and decided to make the most of this time that they are not hustling from op to op seeing patients all day long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some Doctors, most I would say, at least in our Universe of Business Owner Doctors, have chosen to see Emergencies when necessary and otherwise be available for their family of patients when and how they can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now and for the foreseeable future, things change day to day. While we will know a lot more in a week as more data, testing, and state by state outcomes are revealed, still it\u2019s all uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are still right smack in the middle of the \u2018crisis\u2019 and if you didn\u2019t catch the video that Kevin and I did this week (where he brilliantly lays out the 4 Phases of Disruption and talks about exactly where we are right now in Phase 2), you should watch it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I thought instead of my own pontification on the current state, I would stick to our theme here that our Weekly Report has been built on for a decade and that is actionable ideas and powerful strategies that make an impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a list of a dozen things that I have either recommended or Doctors have been doing during this shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the way, those words are very important. We are NOT in a down-turn \u2013 we are in a shut-down. Those who understand that and take action will experience the difference. Some will just suffer the reality they perceive to be true, not the reality that actually is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll explain this difference more next week as well as the three very specific things that every business owner should be doing right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, the dirty dozen, that you probably never get around to doing any other time than right now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Review and Update (or write) Protocols for various Positions and\/or Operations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Read your reviews, update your testimonials, build a new before and after book<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Check in individually with every Team Member and their families<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Call Patients or at the very least record a video for them sharing your thoughts and well wishes\u2026 you could, as a team, create a list of \u2018things to do while you\u2019re home\u2019 and share it with your patients <\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Update and enhance your Pre-Appointment Welcome Package and Materials (possibly improve your Health History forms)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Record Educational Videos for Core Procedures or Specialties and\/or Post Op Instructions <\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Review your cashflow statement, check your fee schedules, review your statistics from January and February to see where your average visit value is at<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Verify insurance claim accuracy, reimbursement, codes, denials, etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Create specific visit category checklists (hygiene, sleep, implant, etc)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Update (or create) your Frequently Asked Questions, Practice Mission, Clinical Philosophy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11. Personally thank people and professionals that refer; check in with your friends; most of all do what I talked about earlier this week and just be present with your family<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12. Clean up your office, files, charts – home and practice – to free your mind; get rid of clutter and make room for opportunities <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just some ideas to hopefully get you thinking. I\u2019m sure your list is already long on the to-do\u2019s that you want to accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did call it \u201cdirty\u201d for a reason, as some will take some grunt work. But a little bit of organization and practice development goes a long way. Of course, there are the existing things that can be done with virtual consultations and tele-dentistry or other avenues of patient care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll work on \u2018recovery\u2019 actions, properly weighting the schedule, catching up on hygiene, and all of those other things that will be necessary when the time is right. We have some amazing Practice Reopen and Patient Re-engagement materials in the works our DST Universe as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, for today, I\u2019ll finish with just a couple final thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, it is important that you know there are some very positive signs that are encouraging. As a wise person once said there is something that the best and the worst case scenario share in common \u2013 that\u2019s the reality that neither one of them are going to happen. You are only hearing about one of the two right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That doesn\u2019t change the unfortunate sadness of people dying nor should it change our civic duty to continue to be responsible in coming together (by not getting together) as a country. It also doesn\u2019t mean that you should be without hope or optimism. As I said in my video to you this week, keep your feet grounded and your mind clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something that has come from all of this is a quite heated and contentious debate in our great industry about \u2018essential\u2019 vs \u2018non-essential\u2019 and \u2018emergency\u2019 vs \u2018elective\u2019 and a whole bunch of other things as well. Oh, don\u2019t worry, in the coming weeks I will share some thoughts and I have others anxious to share their thoughts too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, as I try to remind you in some way every single day (just in case today is the day you need to hear it most), we will make it through this. The main thing is you stay strong and healthy in body, in mind, in spirit. Stay the course through these uncharted waters and know, always, that you are not alone \u2013 and by the way, you never were and you never will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The waters are choppy, the storm is raging, but our vessel is sound and capable of withstanding anything. We\u2019ll make it through to calm, peaceful, and prosperous times ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we have to batten down the hatches, we are still going to throw open the sails because onward we must go!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"