Accelerate My Practice Blog

Social Media is the biggest trends in today's Dental Marketing! One of the hottest resources in social media is Facebook. Facebook is an excellent social networking platform. By platform I mean that it allows you to connect with your dental patients as well as family, friends, team members, other dental practices, as well as businesses. Let's begin by creating a Facebook Page for your dental office. It is important to select more than one administrator when creating your Facebook Page. By having more than one administrator it will allow more than one perspective.

Once you have created your Facebook Page keep these 3 underlying components in mind. Each component is important in forming a balance that is attainable in reaching your overall goal. The first is to keep the posts entertaining. When updating the page...add some dental specific humor or entertaining news related to the topic at hand. Second, continue to educate on your Facebook Page. Third, offer promotional tactics that will allow a return. An example is an in office special or referral incentive that your dental practice might be offering at this time. By utilizing these areas you will allow proper balance and measurement of tracking. There are various ways to keep your audience intrigued. Brainstorm with your dental team and patients when deciding on topics to be posted. Be certain that your content is timely, relevant, and more importantly FUN!

How Best to Handle the Competition of Your Dental Practice

This is one of my favorite topics to write about and discuss. My first question to everybody regarding this topic is, “who do you think your competition is?” The range of answers is interesting to say the least. I hear everything from "all the dentists that have moved into my area," to "Apple and other companies." My personal opinion on the matter is that your competition is any and all discretionary spending sources. Letʼs face it, people have less spending money in the past 5 years or so than they did before. If you have ever sat through one of our programs then you have seen the evidence that many consumer product companies are doing surprisingly well. In fact, recently most all are doing well, as is shown within the stock market. In late 2008 the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a low of 6626 and, as of writing this article, had hit a high of over 15,000. For those of you unsure of what that means, it means lots of companies are doing very well within the stock market. Of course to do very well in the stock market, they are selling lots of stuff. What this means for you is people are spending money again. They are being more discerning than they used to for sure.

This article is provided by SBA.gov to help all dental office owners understand the impact on their businesses.


Key Provisions Under the Affordable Care Act for Employers with Fewer Than 25 Employees

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act occurs in stages, with many of the reforms and requirements taking effect in 2013 and 2014. Some of the provisions that may impact employers with fewer than 25 employees include:

Small Business Health Care Tax Credits

The small business Health Care Tax Credit helps small businesses afford the cost of health care coverage for their employees and is specifically targeted for those businesses with low- and moderate-income workers. The credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have. Since 2010, businesses that have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and that contribute 50% or more toward employees' self-only health insurance premiums may qualify for a small business tax credit of up to 35% to help offset the costs of insurance. In 2014, this tax credit goes up to 50% and is available to qualified small businesses that participate in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Eligible small employers can claim the current credit through 2013, and the enhanced credit can be claimed for any two consecutive taxable years beginning in 2014 through the SHOP.

Healthy Habits = Passionate Dental Practice

Sometimes the most challenging part of our day is "taking a look at oneself in the mirror." This is the reality check when facing our truth in life.  We must constantly approach each challenge while in the face of adversity; not in the absence of adversity. The same rules apply in our Personal and Professional lives. Let's discuss how this philosophy relates to our Dental Practice. Let's use the analogy that like plaque on our teeth, decay will cause other issues.  The same is true with our minds.  The environment "created" within your Dental Practice can potentially cause bitterness, resentment, and possibly even a Team Member.  The result is just like decay… will cause other issues.  Dentistry provides solutions to issues related to our mouth.  We strive, as the clinician, to ensure that our clinical knowledge and ethical perception go hand in hand.  Therefore, at times the other components that typically complete a practice are somewhat dim in brightness. The Team should excel and demonstrate in every facet the same "light".  We have shared several archives and probably already shared most of the importance of team communication, personal mindset, and value of the Patient.  The AMP! drive is to"Prosper in the face of any challenge by getting focused on what you want in life and business."  Every week we share the Clinical and Mindset nuggets to continue enhancing your growth within your practice through our TV Shows.  Often times we get feedback that personal lives are impacted as well.  Our goal is to grow you; you must awaken the passion from within YOU!

The Patient Hand Off In Your Dental Practice.....AFTER ALL..."The Shortest Distance between two people is a smile" ~author unknown

Let's discuss the Value of every patient that comes into your Dental Practice. A successful "Hand -Off Process " requires that each Dental Team Member play an important role.

This is an example that I use quite frequently: Imagine for a moment it's the fourth quarter of the national championship football game; the score is tied, and your team's quarterback fakes a pass, turns, and hands the ball to the running back. The running back has absolutely no idea where he is supposed to go, gets slammed by the opposing team's defense, and fumbles the ball, which is promptly recovered by the opposing team and run in for a touchdown.

If you are imagining that dropping the ball even under pressure/heat is very unfortunate, pat yourself on the back...you are correct!