The number of doctors who reported high and extremely high stress dropped from 38.3% in 2014 to 31.4% in 2015, according to the Dental Economics / Levin Group Annual Practice Survey. While that’s a good sign, it still means close to one-third of dentists are highly stressed.
Levin Group has found that the number one cause of stress isn’t patients or staff issues, but rather inefficient systems. As systems age, more and more bottlenecks accumulate, leading to operational breakdowns, which negatively affect both staff members and patients.
For example, consider the ramifications of an inefficient schedule. When patients aren’t seen on time, they become agitated and voice their displeasure to front desk personnel, who try their best to defuse the situation. If your practice is consistently running behind, think of the stress and strain your team is experiencing throughout the week.
Systems should be replaced every 3–5 years. Just as dentistry is constantly changing, so is your practice in terms of new technologies, new services, new staff members, new protocols, etc. But it’s not easy replacing systems. That’s why dentists try to get by with old systems for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, that attitude ends up costing practices––not just efficiency, but also production––in the long run. You can’t expect the systems of the 2000s to help you compete on an even footing in today’s dental economy.
Get rid of high stress by implementing high-performance systems. Once you do, you’ll have a more efficient and more enjoyable practice.
To learn more about implementing proven, real-world business systems in your practice, attend one of Dr. Levin’s “Ignite Your Production” seminars in 2016. To see his full speaking schedule, go here.
Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the Apex360 weekly newsletter. If you'd like articles like this every week, let us know.
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