Tom Terry's Blog http://tomterry.com/blog.php en Copyright 2008 2008-09-14T15:25:14-08:00 New Website and Blog http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/new/ The new Website and Blog is up and running, so this will be the last entry for this Blog. Click on the “Home” located in the upper right corner to be directed to the new site.

]]> 2008-09-14T15:25:14-08:00 Slowdown in Business http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/slowdown_in_business/ Q:  Dentistry is experiencing a slowdown in business; do you think the economy is the main reason?  It's Business, Marketing 101, Ask Tom Terry, Consumer Affairs, Business Survival, Patient Compliance A:  NO – I do think the economy plays a role, but a very small one.  The main reason is that the “Business” side of Dentistry has change dramatically since 2005 and will continue from this point on.  Even when the economy is good Dentist will be experiencing a major change in their business climate unless they change their thinking.

The two driving forces for the changes to the business side of Dentistry are Staff and Patients. I do not want to address the staff issues in this blog entry right now, but I do want to say this about patients. The luck factor that Dentistry has enjoyed and taken for granted for so many years “that our patients love us and will never leave us” or “our patients tell their family and friends about us” has run out. Today patients are more educated consumers, spend the time to research consumer related issues and because of this has become skeptical about Dentistry to the point patients do not trust you.

In order for Dentist to change this critical issue, Dentist will need to change their thinking and the way they operated their business. Old School ways are not only dangerous but a guaranteed path to failure. Dental Offices that are not using state-of-the-art will become museums and the Dentist who shunts technology advancements will be forced into restless pastures.

The Dental Profession must learn to earn the trust of patients and the only way this can be done is by educating patient in “what you know and what you do with what you know” provided that what you know is current, cutting-edge, technology driven and validated by expertise. This means the Dental Professional who partners with mundane conduct will soon fall to self-induced extinction.

Change your “Thinking”, start focusing on results and not on effort, constantly make your best better and strive to achieve a new standard – “Excellence in Patient Compliance”

]]> 2008-08-09T16:47:14-08:00 New Website and Blog http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/new_website_and_blog/ It's Business, Business Survival We are currently in the process of design and development of a new Website and Blog.  Like your business, our business too must change to keep up with the new service demands and technology.

As in the past, Tom Terry Seminars and Axion Consulting will continue to be the premier resource for cutting edge information products and services that are critical for Dental Practices to survive and thrive in turbulent times!

]]> 2008-08-01T14:43:37-08:00 I Think So http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/i_think_so/ It's Business, Infection Control, Consumer Affairs, Risk Management, Business Survival, Patient Compliance When it comes to patient safety we need to do the things that reduce risk and not increase it.  This means not only having the products and equipment which is only 1%, but also a solid skill base – the other 99% of the equation.

I am always amazed when I ask Dental Professionals about their procedures regarding sterilization and cross contamination prevention and I get a response of “I Think So”.  There is no room for “I Think So” in Patient Compliance, you either achieve the critical results or you don’t, period!

]]> 2008-07-28T01:58:31-08:00 Is your practice "Patient Compliant"? http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/is_your_practice_patient_compliant/ It's Business, Self Development, Business Survival, Patient Compliance, Managerial Effectiveness The mindset of Dentistry for years is to be “OSHA Compliant” to the point Dental Professionals are running around doing OSHA this and OSHA that and not even realizing there is a much bigger picture, a much higher standard that must be achieved . The higher standard is what I call “Patient Compliance”; make no mistake, patients don’t need your service and nothing guarantees patients will come through the door.  Be clear - You are not the only Dentist in town!

Running a business today is tuff and it is getting tougher and I am not just talking about successful businesses either. The following are some key concepts that Dental Offices need in order to survive, yes that’s right survive, face the fact Dentistry’s luck has run out.

- Establish a “Standard of Operation” base on Patient Compliance and not just Regulatory Compliance.

- Establish systems that will maintain the Standard of Operation.

- Establish an ongoing staff training program that will assure achieving the Standard of Operation consistently.

- Establish a philosophy of continuous communications among staff and management.

- Establish a philosophy for patient education with focus to build trust through educating patient.

- Establish a policy that bestows to management both responsibility and authority.

- Take control by constantly enforcing the policies and procedures of the office.  Make it clear that staff works for the business and towards one Standard of Operation.

It will take hard work and full cooperation from every member of the team to keep the practice moving in the right direction.  Each staff member must instill the concept to do their very best, while making their best better. It will be the mindset of what you know and what you do with what you know that will take Dental Offices to beyond surviving to thriving in the months and years to come.

]]> 2008-07-21T11:37:29-08:00 Cheap and Argumentative http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/cheap_and_argumentative/ It's Business, Self Development, Business Survival, Quotes & Critical Thinking When you do not look beyond cost you will never see value.  When you argue about things you have no knowledge about, you stop learning. 

]]> 2008-07-18T01:26:40-08:00 Keep Results in Mind http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/keep_results_in_mind/ Quotes & Critical Thinking If you don’t keep results in mind, you won’t know when you achieved it or not!

]]> 2008-07-15T01:38:50-08:00 No Excuses http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/quote/ Quotes & Critical Thinking Always look for ways to improve and not excuses not to.

]]> 2008-07-14T01:36:39-08:00 You’re Fired! http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/youre_fired/ Q:  I have an employee who wants to do things her way.  She doesn’t attend team meetings, safety meetings or follow the policies of my office. She feels she knows it all and has done it all because she has been working in the Dental field for over 15 years. What do you recommend I should do? It's Business, Ask Tom Terry, Risk Management, Business Survival, Managerial Effectiveness A:  FIRE HER! – Employees that are set in their ways, who refuse to change or improve, to strive to do better have no place in any business. 

I have a question, who is running your business?  Sounds to me it isn’t you!

]]> 2008-07-12T13:20:53-08:00 Patient Compliance http://tomterry.com/blog.php/weblog/patient_compliance/ Regulations, It's Business, Infection Control, Risk Management, Business Survival, Patient Compliance Do you want to surpass all regulatory requirements for Dental Compliance?

Then set the standard for your practice to achieving “Patient Compliance”, the results are night and day!
Find out more by sending me an email: tom@axionconsulting.com

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