I have the privilege of bringing Patti DiGangi to you. Patti is a hygienist of over 30 years, filled with vision and passion for our industry more than ever. She empowers hygienists all over the country with her courses and inspires me to be the best hygienist I can be for my patients. I refer to Patti as the Queen of Coding. I am always learning something new from Patti. And, I especially love her little book, DentalCodeology More than Pocket Change. She has made periodontal coding so simple to understand and easy to follow in this handy book.
Posts Taggedtreatment plan
What Can We Learn From the Oprah Incident?
I cannot help but relate this story to the opportunity we have every day with patients. Consider, in dentistry, how we impact the hearts and minds of our patients through their experiences — good and maybe, not so good (dare I say, bad). How could we ever know the true depth of how their experience can run in their social circles? And, how their experience may impact whether we lose or gain a patient? We don’t. Therefore, why would we ever risk creating a negative experience on our watch? This reminds me of a quote I love and happens to be painted on a wall in the office of one of my clients.
How Do You Say Ahhh?
It is not uncommon that a patient’s condition can be modified in a relatively short period of time — often due to systemic factors such as pregnancy, stress, diabetes, etc. In this case, the patient may require either a localized or full-mouth non-surgical periodontal therapy approach (SRP) in addition to or in lieu of a prophylaxis. This scenario often challenges hygienists because it becomes an appointment that can require more time educating and treating the patient appropriately. However, having a well-defined protocol in place will support a team in swiftly shifting gears from what is scheduled into what the patients’ needs are in a productive and fluid manner.
Proven Recipe for Happily Returning Patients
I know, we like to think we’re “doing our job” by “educating our patients” and making sure they “understand” how “important it is that they ______”. The blank can be filled-in with all kinds of things such as, floss, brush at least 2 times a day, rinse with our super galactic formula rinse, complete treatment…UGH!!! Do you know how completely uninspiring all of that is for our patients? Do you think they don’t know what they “should” be doing?
All Lit Up
Patients are always interested in new treatment options. Most patients have heard of lasers in dentistry, but not sure how they can be used. As with any new treatment options, there is the need to explain the treatment plan recommendations and the outcome of what to expect with a soft tissue laser. Especially when using visual aids, hygienists find it very easy to explain how laser therapy will enhance their treatment. This is where patient education is a must. By creating value for our patients, they understand and are willing to accept laser therapy for their dental care.
10 Steps to Building Lifelong Patient Loyalty
The key to creating lifelong loyal patients lies in our ability to build trust and rapport with our patients. And, it begins before the first call to our office. I’ve compiled an easy to follow guide as a means for examining ten distinct areas that have an immediate and lasting impact on a new patients’ perception of their dental experience. I invite you, along with your team, to use this guide and look closely at your current office procedures, practices and personal interactions that make up the new patient experience. Even the slightest shift in one area can make a dramatic difference in your efforts to build a trusted, lifelong relationship with every new patient.
Bringing Sexy Back
Sleep is the new SEXY! WHAT?!? I know…you may have thought I was prepping you (no pun intended) for a chat about gorgeous white, sexy smiles. But, we get enough of that — don’t we? Seriously, I have…