Orthotown September 2015 - (Page 6)

embrace progress // column How Staffing Helps Mitigate the Threat of Corporate Dentistry By Daniel Grob, DDS, MS, Editorial Director, Orthotown Magazine As I travel around the country speaking with colleagues, inevitably someone in every group asks the question, "What do you think about corporate dentistry?" The topic seems to be on everyone's mind. Depending on the situation, I might reply, "Aren't most of us corporations?" This somewhat snarky response usually gets a "You know what I mean" reply. It seems like there has always been some form of disruptive technology or financial mechanism threatening to alter the way the service industry of dentistry is practiced. In the 1960s, it was dental insurance. Next, assignment of benefits threatened to take away the independence of the profession. PPOs, capitation and closed panels were countered by direct reimbursement. Now, corporate dentistry has borrowed from the best (or worst) of all of the above and created the next disruptive force to challenge the profession. Let's define corporate dentistry For the purpose of this column, we'll use the term "corporate dentistry" to mean a business or organization that manages multiple dental or orthodontic practices under a common name, with employees managed from a central facility and payments made and recorded at that same facility. Then we can answer the question of what makes corporate dentistry such a popular topic for discussion, and what makes it a supposed threat. The report, 6 SEPTEMBER 2015 // orthotown.com "Critical Trends Affecting the Future of Dentistry," commissioned in 2013 by the American Dental Association, provides some insight into what is on the horizon for us as practitioners. Some of the report's points follow. * Ninety two percent of dentists remain in private practice. * There is, no doubt, a growing trend toward multisite, smaller networks, with cost and system evaluations being the key for reimbursement. * A decrease in traditional dental insurance with an increase in government-sponsored and selfpayment options is the future. Yikes! You say. Doesn't look good! Starts with staff What can we do to compete? Most practice consultants and advisers agree that it starts with staffing. We can ignore the threat or paradigm shift or perhaps join a professional employer organization (PEO) that takes care of all of the details of building, running or growing a practice, with the caveat of perhaps an easy exit upon reaching retirement age. Most of the benefits of these entities involve staffing and training. It would not take much to get most dentists to agree that staffing is one of the most difficult elements of not only starting a dental practice, but growing and maintaining it, as well. In Dr. Howard Farran's book, "Uncomplicate Business," the first of three sections is devoted to people, before any mention of time and money. People means staff! Long gone are the days when clinicians practiced by themselves in an operatory with a cherished key employee at the front desk-often his or her spouse-with a capable dental assistant at his or her side. In the field of orthodontics, employees have always been essential to delivering cost-effective and standardized care. Gradually, the employee with the most years got the next job or promotion and pretty soon the practice was staffed with overpaid, undertrained, underutilized and unproductive staff. In the field of orthodontics, employees have always been essential to delivering cost-effective and standardized care. In our practice, and I am sure in most of your practices, patients are scheduled by the number of employees available and matched to facility and not to the doctor. Continued on p. 8 http://www.orthotown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown September 2015

Orthotown.com Highlights
Embrace Progress: How Staffing Helps Mitigate the Threat of Corporate Dentistry
Vertical Control
Combined Orthodontic Restorative Treatment
Industry News
How CBCT Can Help Jaw Alignment and Airway Issues
What’s On Your Tray? Banding and Bonding
What is Your Retainer Protocol?
New Products
Practice Solutions
Leveling the Playing Field: Partner with Staffing Experts
The Time for a Cloud-Based HCM Solution
Poll
A Response-Driven Treatment Plan: Navigating a Diffi cult Case Without a Road Map
GORP Review 2015
Ad Index

Orthotown September 2015