7 tips on why it's important to have a vision for your practice

By Lauren Burns, Associate Editor
March 18, 2013

I feel that one of the most important things a dentist can do in practice is to create a mission statement as well as a vision statement. Both of these serve to identify and reinforce the practice in the eyes of the patients, staff, and even the creator of the statements themselves, the doctor. Once these two are put in place, there is never a question as to what direction the practice is going. The doctor or the staff can always ask, “Is what we are doing consistent with our mission and our vision?” If it is not, then it cannot be done or the mission and the vision have to be redefined. Mission statements should be a few sentences that define what the dentists’ purpose for the practice is. A vision statement is how the dentist plans on accomplishing that purpose in the long term.
-Dr. George E. Bambara, Attachment Dentistry SeminarsDentists today will need to run excellent businesses to avoid plateaus or declines in production. The fastest method to achieve this is the 3-Step Method For Accelerated Production. The 3-Step Method refers to setting 25 key numerical targets to be achieved each year, implementing step-by-step documented expert-proven systems, and training the team in value creation scripting with interpersonal relations. Anything short of this leaves the practice in danger of new levels of competition due to an increased supply of dentists, opening of many new dental schools, decreased insurance reimbursements, and the expansion of national corporate dental centers.
-Dr. Roger P. Levin, Levin Group

Envision a “remarkable recare” department. What are the components?

1. Patients who are motivated to return for recare?
2. Patients who say “yes” to periodontal treatment, regardless of their dental benefit limitations?
3. A hygiene staff who is excited about the level of care they are providing and the results the patients are enjoying?
4. The latest in patient education technology?
5. An 85% recare return rate?
6. Services billed out of recare are 35% periodontal procedures?

Before you can have a “remarkable recare” department, you must define it. Once these components have been defined, you can begin to take the steps necessary to implement your vision.
-Virginia Moore, The Practice Source

Many practices struggle to stay focused on larger goals because life takes over. Before long, they find themselves in a rut with a tough climb out of it. A simple method for staying on the path to reaching your goals is to remember to do the “three Rs” at least twice a month:

• Resolve to think of your higher-level goals and direction.
• Refocus your activity plans accordingly.
• React by diligently working your plans.

If you keep thinking of where you are going, then you and your team will know how you are going to get there.
-Richard Train, Dental Practice 911