Most successful dentists know that they can’t do it all. With the encroachment of corporate dentistry and PPOs, it sure helps to have Professional Management on your side. Our mission is to support Independent Private Practitioners. We know that for many of you, one of the main reasons that you got into Dentistry was so that you could be independent and create the practice you want to have. That is why our management approach is never canned and is always customized to your philosophy, resources and talents.
If you look at all of our clients collectively, by being with Advanced Practice Management, you are already part of a big group. We monitor over $30,000,000 per month of dental activity and seen this way, we are big guys too. However, you, the Doctor, are always the one in control, not the suits. We think that makes all the difference and it is difference for the good.
However, the growth of the large group practices should shake any smart private practitioner out of complacency.
From the Owner’s point of view, DSO’s/large group practices have the following advantages:
- Group purchasing power. Reduced equipment and supply costs.
- The ability to, in effect, collectively bargain with insurance companies to get better reimbursement (whereas it’s illegal for you and your colleagues or study club friends to do so).
- Professional Marketing Resources.
- Standardization of systems (an advantage vs. no systems but a disadvantage if you want systems that fit for your practice vs. your practice fitting into a system!).
From a Consumer Point of View, Large Group Practices offer the following advantages:
- Expanded and more convenient hours.
- Wider PPO network participation.
- Access and visibility (most of the common multi-location groups are well-located with street leveling parking in high traffic areas.
- Perceived up-to-date technology.
- Wide range of services in one entity (less need to go elsewhere for Endo, Ortho, etc.).
So how do you deal with this? Most of you don’t want to work
Saturdays, evenings or even Friday afternoons. Most of you don’t
want to, and shouldn’t, join every PPO. I am not a purist; some
insurance participation is usually necessary but it’s a matter of the
right balance for your practice – something I’ve discussed many
times elsewhere.
TO US, YOU ARE THE BIG GUYS!
Your advantages:
- Continuity in caregivers. Your patients are more likely to see
the same providers from visit to visit. What are the
implications of this for you in terms of staff happiness and
retention? - Truly personalized service. You are not working off
approaches dictated by the “suits.” You know your patients
and community. - The ability to adapt. You can make decisions regarding
personnel, technology, services, etc. quickly. You don’t have
to wait for a bureaucracy to move! - Customized Care: You set your own criteria and standards for
treatment. The Doctor decides what’s best.