North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 2 NTD 2017 ISSUE 2 DE | Page 23

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Revisit your appointment book. Reduce appointment times because of per-patient efficiency improvements. Dentistry has become easier, Doctor! Keep the practice doors open... five days a week! You can golf when you are successfully retired! Analyze employees’ skills, knowledge, and abilities. More training is a more effective practice builder than more pay! Advance the staff that excel; terminate the ones that no longer keep up with your growing business. (Dentists have historically hired too fast, and fired too slow!) Background check all of your new hires. (Dentists trust resumes too much!) Separate your role as the boss from your personal rela- tionships with the staff. Your employees need a leader. The most effective dentists have a way of talking that is both authoritative and sympathetic; both demanding and supportive; both disciplined and patient. “Sustainable Advantage” includes establishing an ethical culture – this is the greatest investment you can make to keep your business profitable and in compliance year after year! Everyone in the practice has rules to go by: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Doctor, protect yourself. Behave ethically on social media and in public. The “Perfect Practice” is closest to having achieved ethical goals. The staff knows it, and the patients know it too! The “Perfect Practice” has Sustainable Advantage and never has to close its doors. Dr. Richard V. Lyschik’s transition, management and coaching experi- ences go beyond the traditional single general dental practice sale. His Dental Office Network Team has helped thousands of dentists acquire, expand, merge multiple practices, build from the ground up, as well as guided older, disabled and “burned out” dentists sell with dignity. The Practice Rescue Department has resurrected practices in demise, saving them from imminent disaster. Over 50% of dentists return 2-3 years later to invest in another dental practice! Dr. Lyschik has broken numerous industry records as the highest producer in the country! Just ask any major lender – they all know him! To discuss your transition plans with a sea- soned fellow dentist who “speaks your language” and a recognized Premier Transition Specialist, or to schedule your free appraisal, contact Dr. Lyschik by email at [email protected] or call [phone]. Be sure the practice is in compliance with HIPAA (Man- agement plan in place, antivirus software and hardware protections current, back up and disaster recovery plans established), OSHA, and have your employee manual cur- rent. Ransomware infections are considered a breach; you would have to notify your patients, the local media, and be listed on the HHS Wall of Shame. Preserve evidence. Back up to the Cloud and also to your offsite hard drive. Alarm your practice. Demand everyone use their own pass- codes to the building and computers. Make this mandatory, and fire the employee that does not comply! And then there is Medicaid fraud! You get to meet the Texas Medicaid Fraud Control unit and the FBI. Pack your toothbrush and expect a sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine for each false statement you make. Nowadays, the alternatives to a “Perfect Practice” are very punitive and may ruin your business for good. Employee dis- crimination claims are up 24%, employee retaliation cases are up 69%, and employee pay lawsuits are up 174%! One out of six businesses never recovers after a lawsuit. www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 23