Greetings!
Did you miss us? We have been busy during our hiatus from sending the monthly newsletter. Another Practice Transformation Masters Program has begun, Sandy has been working with study clubs, private practices, and busy helping the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry develop the educational content for upcoming Regional programs and the Annual Scientific Session in Dallas (mark your calendars: April 26-May 1, 2010).
Many dentists are reporting a serious increase in hygiene cancellations
and no shows and a subsequent decrease in their production numbers.
With few exceptions, dentists are finding it increasingly difficult to
keep hygienists working at full capacity. It is too easy to put the
blame entirely on economic conditions because, in many cases, there's
more to the story.
In this issue we will address this
phenomenon NOT from the current economic perspective but from what
practices might be doing internally to sabotage their own efforts. Read
on and we will provide some tangible solutions to help you evaluate
your own contribution to this challenging problem.
In recognition of this hygiene issue, we are offering our audio workshop; Creating a Hygiene Practice of Distinction to Email Newsletter readers only for HALF OFF the regular price of $279. Pay just $140 when you order by December 18th and receive this 12-hour comprehensive hygiene course to help you correct many of these challenges and help hygienists develop their communication skills with patients.
Thanks for reading!
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Unintentional Sabotage in Hygiene
by Sandy Roth
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A no-show or late cancellation is often more a symptom of the patient's lack of interest in hygiene than it is their failing memory. People lose interest when they don't see how the appointment is going to make their lives better and when they haven't participated in planning the appointment. Patients very often lack an understanding of how the hygiene appointment fits into the big picture and this is often a result of how the practice itself treats hygiene. Because no-shows and late cancellations are symptoms of a greater problem that problem must be discovered in order to solve it.
Consider the following list of the variables which influence hygiene down time. As you consider each of the areas identified below, think about the subtle damage each can do and how the cumulative effect can easily sabotage your best hygiene efforts. Many of these variables are easy to address, cost almost nothing to reverse, and will result in a cultural change of significant impact.
Continue
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