Advertising feature
21st Century private practice
cent of dental practices still have no computerisation at all. However, keeping up to date with 21st Century technology can not only help you attract new patients, but help your business thrive. The following tips are designed to give you an idea of where to start.
T
Websites Having a website is one of today’s most important, yet inexpensive, advertising tools. The best websites are visually appealing, informative, inviting and regularly updated, so invest in a good basic design and the rest can be done in-house. Most dental practice websites are out- sourced to a specialist provider for design and support and this can be an easy and efficient way to achieve an internet presence.
Mobile phones Over 45 million people in the UK and Ireland own a mobile phone and for the forward- thinking dental practice, its simplest application can be its greatest asset. By reminding patients of their forthcoming appointments via text message, you can save thousands of pounds in lost revenue. These can even be sent automatically on a daily basis, as part of a prac- tice management software system.
Computerised records Storing computerised patient records not only eliminates the need for hundreds of patient folders, it also opens up a world of marketing opportunities and
36 Ireland’s Dental magazine
here’s more to run- ning a successful practice than flashy gadgets – in fact, up to 30 per
Denplan’s Michael Rudmanlooks at the benefits of investing in 21st Century systems and technology
time saving measures. A couple of clicks is all it takes to make, cancel or amend appointments and, with patient information at your fingertips, you can devel- op even better relationships by noting birthdays, applauding special milestones for children or recognising nervous patients.
Speculate to accumulate All these ideas are all very well and good, but in the current financial climate you may be wary of making expensive changes to your practice. However, Practiceworks (sole suppliers of the Kodak R4 sys- tem) indicates that a two-surgery practice could have a basic networking system installed from under £10,000, while with digital imaging and other innovations you could be looking at closer to £25,000. With a little effort to make the best use of the new technology, Practiceworks estimates that most practices will cover the cost of such an investment with- in 12 months.
Installation and training can
usually be done in three days with the practice being closed for a maximum of just one day. Additional training can be deliv- ered at any time and some payment plan providers offer a range of verifiable CPD cours- es to help integrate your team into new systems or ways of working.
Some also offer a
wealth of services, including the ability to share patient informa- tion to ensure your records are always up to date and a wide range of professional and per- sonal discounts.
Ireland’s Dental magazine 36
Social media If your practice already has the basics you’re probably a convert already, so what else is out there that could make your dental practice stand out from the crowd? Social networking sites such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter can not only allow you to share all your latest news and information with colleagues and patients, but the real-time nature of online updates can cause a real buzz and interest in what you have to say. You can set most up in minutes and it’s a great way of updating your patients and colleagues on your latest practice news, events, services and products. And the best thing is – most social net- working sites are completely free! So, if it’s time for an injection of technol- ogy, my advice would be to con- sult the experts and take that leap to bring your practice into the 21st Century.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michael Rudman is Dental Strategy Manager at Denplan. With more than 11 years experience providing marketing advice and solutions to small businesses, Michael has been focusing on Denplan products for four years, to not only develop its offering for practices, but expand its online communications strategy.
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