The Web-based Dentist

Jan Keller

In the current economic environment, the collection of accounts receivable becomes more of a challenge each day. There are several easy steps to take; however, that can help:

• Strengthen your collection procedures.
• Shorten your accounts receivable aging numbers.
• Improve your overall collection rates.
• Improve cash flow.

 

Let's take a look at a few that you can implement easily and quickly.

 

Define Your Internal Credit Guidelines

If your first thought was "what guidelines?", now is a perfect time to develop and implement a strong internal credit guideline policy. It's important to have clear written guidelines for your team to follow that go beyond "Make sure our patients pay, or "Just collect the money." And remember, as the doctor, you must resist the urge to make or imply financial arrangements when discussing treatment with a patient. Let your Financial or Treatment Coordinator handle this at the appropriate time, based on your treatment guidelines.

 

Tip: Allow your Treatment Coordinator leeway to vary from the guidelines based on the credit worthiness and past history of the patient, or in an attempt to attract the right new patient into the practice.

 

Tip: A system of controls for checking out a potential patient's credit should be in place, and it should be used before treatment is rendered. Further, there should be clear communication between the entire team as to current patients who become delinquent or otherwise do not follow the credit policy. Your morning huddle is an excellent place to bring this information to the team's attention.

More About Jan Keller and Associates...

In my home if anyone picks up a laptop chances are they're cloud computing. I have kids in school; they are writing and submitting papers to their teachers using Google Drive; nothing is saved to a local drive. One of my kids was the yearbook editor. I was impressed to see that the entire yearbook was designed on the cloud. Even textbooks have been replaced by the cloud; my daughter's algebra text and worksheets were all on-line.

Most people are accustomed to using the cloud to make life a little easier. We bank online and shop online because it's so much more convenient. What we really like is having immediate access to information without having to rely on somebody else. We would rather visit our dentists' website to find out when our next appointment is than pick up the phone and call. With the cloud we're empowered by immediate access to data.

With cloud-based dental software, like Curve Dental, you can provide your patients with a smart-looking patient portal from which they can access the data they want: Current balance, next appointment, payment history; they can even pay their bill on-line, watch patient education videos, and soon they'll also be able to complete medical history form and other questionnaires.

If your practice is still chained to a server, if you're still saddled with the hassles of software upgrades and the worries of data backup, then it's time to modernize. Servers are out. The cloud is in.

 

Chat with one of our dental software experts at 888-910-4376 to learn more. Ask about our Google Nexus 7 tablet giveaway for doctors who make the switch by April 25, 2014.

 

Classic Dental Jokes

Doctor to parsimonious patient: "No, Mrs. Borde, we give no discount for empty spaces when cleaning and polishing teeth."

More Dental Jokes

Fun Dental Facts

 

The Orange Summit is what every Curve Dental customer should aspire to attend at least once in their life time. The Orange Summit is a conference for our customers, a time and place to learn, to listen, to think, and to rejuvenate.

 

Another Stuffy Conference?

Never! We like to think we're a little bit different than the other guys. While other companies are herding their customers into over-conditioned hotel meeting rooms, charging a premium, and sprinkling them with bland nothingness, we promised ourselves we would meet our customers someplace special and inspiring.

 

Further, we recognize that our relationship with our customers is paramount-and you can't build a relationship in a cold hotel meeting room! The best way to build lasting relationships is to experience something special together. Sharing a hike among the mighty saguaro cactus, riding ATV's through dry desert streams, or watching the sun cast an orange hue on Superstition Mountain; creating memories of a lifetime is sharing something special.

 

There will be enough time set aside for training, lectures, study, roundtable discussions, one-on-one instruction. In fact, you can earn up to nine continuing education hours. You'll also have opportunity to rub shoulders with the president, the product manager, the director of development, a member of the board, and others. You'll meet other doctors and team members who manage their practice on the cloud and you'll learn much from them as well.

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