Dental schools aren't great sources for business education, and this will not change anytime soon. That leaves only one choice: Learn and master it after dental school. Start by setting an objective for managing your patients, staff, and operations and work toward acquiring the knowledge and implementing the systems that will ensure success.
Think of patients as more than just a set of teeth. Always remember that patients are more than a set of teeth. They have feelings and opinions, and if their needs aren’t met, in today’s competitive dental climate, they’ll go elsewhere. Your job is to focus on wowing each patient with exceptional customer service.
Don’t forget that you are the CEO of your practice. Every business needs a CEO, and as the practice leader, that’s you. The good news is that it’s still possible to learn and master the business of dentistry after dental school. There is a great deal of helpful information (e.g., manuals and training resources) that can be accessed from organizations like the ADA. Another great resource is a good dental study club. Becoming an active participant in monthly discussions with colleagues facing the same business challenges encourages you to run every area of your practice like a CEO.
Dr. Roger P. Levin is CEO of Levin Group, a leading practice management and marketing consulting firm. To contact him or to join the 40,000 dental professionals who receive his Practice Production Tip of the Day, visit LevinGroup.com or email [email protected].
The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.
