Saturday, August 09, 2008
Slowdown in Business
Q: Dentistry is experiencing a slowdown in business; do you think the economy is the main reason?
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”
It's Business • Marketing 101 • Ask Tom Terry • Consumer Affairs • Business Survival • Patient Compliance •