PDA MEMBER ADVANTAGE
Delivers Value for YOU
By D . Scott Aldinger , DDS , Chair , PERC Board of Directors
It may seem to many of you that the past 18 months have basically been a series of rapid-fire events – mostly unpleasant – to which we , whether as a profession , individuals or a society , have had to respond with unwelcome haste . If so , it would not be surprising if you hadn ’ t noticed , or fully appreciated , the implications of a particular positive event during that time : the re-branding and upgrading of PDA ’ s endorsed vendor program .
As you may recall , PDA got an offer too good to pass up and sold the Bell agency ( a . k . a . PDAIS ) a couple of months ago . For some time , I served as chair of the board that oversaw the agency , as well as the endorsed vendor program . The sale provided the perfect opportunity to implement a re-branding of that program that we ’ d begun planning in late 2020 . ( Note : part of the terms of the sale included an agreement for PDA to continue to endorse Bell and for Bell to continue to use the name PDAIS .)
So , PDA legally formed a new company , the Pennsylvania Enterprise Resources Corp . ( PERC ), to oversee the endorsed vendor program now known as PDA Member Advantage . The changes involve way more than just new names and logos , though . Most significantly , PDA Member Advantage places the greatest emphasis on delivering value to PDA members . And PERC , with a board comprised of PDA member dentists ( including me !), is accomplishing this primarily by making the criteria for becoming ( and remaining ) a PDA Member Advantage company more stringent . Among other things , this means :
• The product ( s )/ service ( s ) to be offered must be made available at terms , prices and conditions generally more advantageous to PDA member dentists than would otherwise be available to non-member Pennsylvania dentists , the general public , dentists in other states or via a company not part of PDA Member Advantage .
• PDA Member Advantage companies must commit to the highest standards of service and support , with PERC acting as an advocate for PDA members .
• The product ( s )/ service ( s ) must be available to and marketed to all PDA member dentists throughout the state of Pennsylvania .
• Financial disclosures from each PDA Member Advantage company relative to the endorsement arrangement must be submitted to PERC on at least an annual basis .
32 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL