North Texas Dentistry Volume 9 Issue 4 2019 ISSUE 4 DE | Page 12

practice management
Avoiding the
September Slump
by Bethany Petty
We hear it all the time – “It’s a down month, but
it’s September” or “We are expecting to be slow
since school is starting.” Whether it’s Septem-
ber or another slow month, each practice expe-
riences trends that can often be repetitive or
predictable. Over time, we create explanations
for these slow times and generally treat them
as acceptable. What if we treated the slow sea-
son as abnormal and avoidable? Here are some
ways that can help your practice avoid the
“September Slump”.
2. Prepare for the slow times
in advance.
1. Know your trends.
If you are uncertain of the trends in your practice, then take
time to get to know them. To spot trends, you can utilize both
subjective and objective data. Question your team. They are
often keenly aware of the slow times. Lean on your practice
management software for the objective data. It is important
to research correctly. We like to compare apples to apples.
In other words, compare months that should look alike. For
example, compare January of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 – are
there similarities?
12 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
All too often, practices are sitting in the slow times wishing
them away. Preventing the slumps takes preparation months in
advance. Once you identify the slow times in your practice,
begin to prepare. Knowledge is power and gives you the ability
to prevent the slump. For example, you can financially prepare
for the slow month. As you establish your marketing budget at
the beginning of the year, make sure to include extra funds for
the two months leading up to your slump month. You can also
prepare in advance by identifying the weak aspects of your prac-
tice that need improvement. For example, if your research
revealed that your practice notoriously has less case acceptance
in June and July, then invest in training your team in treatment
acceptance methods.
3. Include your team in thinking
outside the box.
First, make sure your team knows that you are not okay with
having a slump month. Many staff members view a slump
month as acceptable, normal, and even pleasant. They must