6 short tips from dental experts on how to improve your front office

By Lauren Burns, Associate Editor
March 18, 2013

Today’s dental office must embrace the advantages and impact of digital communications. Using services such as Smile Reminders or Lighthouse 360 will give your front office the ability to remind patients of their appointments using text messages and emails. People always check their smartphones for messages but give a low priority to checking their home phone voicemails. These services help avoid the no-show appointment, since patients can receive messages up to one hour before their scheduled appointment. The office can know in real time if the patient is planning on coming in or if the office can use the additional time available with a patient that is currently in the chair.
-Dr. Paul Caselle, Caselle DentalBeginning in 2013 you’ll have to keep yearly track of insurance code changes, deletions and additions. In the past we had to update our databases every two years, but now modifications will occur on a yearly basis. This means that around October you should keep an eye out for any announcements made by the American Dental Association regarding the proposed changes. Publications like DentistryiQ.com will also keep you updated, as well as your state and local societies. Failure to change the codes in your practice management system could result in delayed or denied claims, which delay our cash flow.
-Teresa Duncan, Odyssey Management

Did you know that the practice management system you have drives your practice profitability and may need a tune-up? The reports you run daily, weekly, and monthly are the lifeline to practice profitability. That information measures doctor and hygiene production, collections, adjustments, continuing care, referral sources, treatment plans, case acceptance, and schedules, which are just a few of the areas that we get either accurate or erroneous data. An effective practice analysis should be performed regularly and includes:

• Evaluating the practice management software program and checking the system setups for proper coding, etc.
• Running reports to track practice numbers and determine the health of the practice.

-Pauline Grabowski, Pauline Grabowski & Associates