Sustainable Dentistry

Sustainable Dentistry

A Two-fold Strategy to Recession Proofing your Dental Practice

Ashli Klingaman

Long-term success for a dental practice is centered around the ability to be adaptable, innovative and apply tools that can weather the storm. In a rocky economy, it becomes even more necessary for practice owners to be adaptable, not just for survival but to ensure growth and stability during those times.

Let’s look at a practical plan to build a solid foundation for your practice that can weather economic turbulence. These are functional tools and tips you can use both inside and outside your dental office that will help you run things better, keep your money in good shape and build strong connections with your patients that last.

Internal Tools for Dental Practice Resilience
Practice Management Systems and Supporting Practice Automation

Using a robust practice management system, combined with a supporting practice automation solution, can assist in the efficiency of a dental practice and its sustainability during economic downturns. Having a state-of-the-art practice management system that integrates electronic health records and a supporting HIPAA-compliant portal with online patient forms can streamline administrative processes that significantly enhance the operational efficiency of a dental practice.

According to a study by the American Dental Association, practices with integrated PMS reported a 20% increase in operational efficiency, allowing staff to focus more on patient care. Automated features practices reported being the most impactful include:

• Automated appointment scheduling

• Online bill pay

• Automated billing requests and record-keeping

These features not only reduce the administrative burden, they also contribute to a more seamless patient experience. By optimizing workflow and improving team collaboration, a well-implemented PMS, combined with automation solutions, contributes to cost-effectiveness and better use of resources, key factors in maintaining the financial growth of a dental practice during a recession.

Additionally, the integration of EHR systems can improve communication and collaboration among dental team members. Real-time access to patient records allows for more informed decision-making and ensures that all members of the dental team are on the same page, ultimately contributing to enhanced patient care.

Cost-effective Supply Chain Management

Disruptions in the supply chain can have a considerable impact on practice revenue during unstable economic times. Delays, shortages and increased costs for essential dental supplies can lead to operational challenges and financial strain for dental practices. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental practices faced challenges with the availability and accessibility of personal protective equipment (PPE). This didn’t just negatively impact the ability of practices to do procedures safely, it also led to increased costs due to the high demand for PPE globally.

Managing the dental supply chain is a critical part of a practice’s day-to-day operations and plays an important role in keeping the money side of things steady. It’s all about talking to suppliers, finding smart ways to manage costs, and making sure you’re not drowning in too much of what you don’t need or running out of what you do need.

By conducting a thorough analysis of supply needs and consumption patterns, dental practices can identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising the quality of patient care. This strategic approach to supply chain management minimizes financial risks and positions the practice for sustainable growth.

External Tools for Dental Practice Resilience
Marketing and Online Presence

In today’s tech-savvy environment, being online is a big deal for bringing in and keeping patients. BrightEdge found that more than half of a business’s online visitors come from people searching online. So, having a solid plan for digital marketing—like being easy to find online and using ads that reach the right people—can really make your dental practice stand out and connect with more patients in your area.

Especially when the economy is uncertain, many businesses tend to reduce their spending on advertising. Surprisingly, the right move is the opposite—increasing marketing efforts into channels that align with your practice goals can help keep a steady stream of patients. Creating a professional website, staying active on social media and using online ads can all play a part in making your practice more visible online.

Telehealth and Virtual Consultations

Bringing telehealth services into dental practices is like having an extra tool to keep patient care going strong, especially when it’s tough for folks to drop by in person. With virtual consultations, dentists can check in on nonemergency cases from afar, giving advice on oral health concerns and freeing up chairs for more revenue-producing services. It’s not just about making it easier for patients, it also shows that the practice can roll with the changes in healthcare.

Getting into telehealth means investing in technology that’s both safe and easy to use. Dental offices can use different tools to have online visits, share helpful information and connect with patients from a distance. Some of these features can be integrated into your practice’s website, reducing the initial cost investment and providing a seamless experience for patients. It’s about solving today’s problems and getting ready for innovative new ways of giving dental care down the road.

Community Partnerships and Networking

Getting involved with the local community and teaming up with nearby businesses and health providers is like building a friendly circle that helps your dental practice get noticed, especially when things are tough economically. When you partner with local organizations, you can refer patients to each other, and it also makes your practice stand out more in the community.

The American Dental Association found similar findings in a recent survey. In that survey, dental offices that actively connect with their community saw a 15% boost in new patients. So, by being part of local events, supporting community projects, and reaching out to people, not only do you help the community, you also get more potential patients noticing your practice.

Recession-proofing a dental practice requires a dual-focused strategy that combines internal and external tools. By focusing on efficient practice management and supporting practice automation, cost-effective supply chain management and patient retention strategies, dental practices can strengthen the foundation of their operations. At the same time, using things like online advertising, virtual health services and teaming up with the community helps make your dental practice strong and flexible.

Keeping up with the changes in dentistry, being ready to adapt, and making strategic moves to withstand tough times ensures your dental practice not only survives but does well in challenging situations.

ProSites has been helping dental practices build the bridge between patient care and practice success for over 20 years. It is endorsed by NYSDA for dental marketing solutions and website design for its members. To learn more and claim exclusive discounts as part of your NYSDA membership, visit ProSites.com/NYSDA. Ashli Klingaman is content marketing manager for ProSites. She arrived at her position with experience in sales, training management, human resources and marketing within the retail and Software as a Service industry. At ProSites, she consistently seeks innovative ways to bridge the gap between human capital development and business success.