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Dr Bellavia's Management Pearls




Pearls for Everybody
Pearls for Understanding your Personality
Genetic Human Personality
Learn what Genetic Personality is and how it affects your life.
Human Communication, Part-1, Listening

Do you find communicating with others difficult? Do you or do those close to you have physical difficulties or habits that make your conversations annoying or argumentative? If so, maybe this pearl series can help you to better communicate with others, avoiding frustration and arguments.

Human Communication, Part-2, Speaking
Do you unwittingly avoid discussing certain subjects? Do you typically answer the question asked or the question you think you were asked? When an argument ensues, do you respond by accusing others of what they accuse you of? If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better communicate with others by having honest discussions instead of heated arguments.
Using Mind-Set to Control your Emotions
Does your strongest emotion/style control your reactions when you are stressed? Would you like to take control of it? Well attached is a method that always works, no matter what your strongest emotion
How your Director Style Helps/Hinders your Life
Does your get-it-done, angry director style help or hinder your practice and personal life? Do your team members have the optimal director style strength for their positions? Do you want a happier more fulfilling practice and life? If so, maybe this pearl series can help.
How your Relator Style Helps/Hinders your Life
Does your relationship-maintaining relator style help or hinder your practice and personal life? Do your team members have the optimal relator style strength for their positions? Do you want a more fulfilling practice and life? If so, maybe this pearl series can help.
How your Analyzer Style Helps/Hinders your Life
Does your fearful analyzer style help or hinder your practice and life? Do your team members have the optimal relator style strength for their positions? Do you want a happier more fulfilling practice and life? If so, maybe this pearl series can help.
How your Socializer Style Helps/Hinders your Life
Does your socially interactive joyful socializer style help or hinder your practice? Do your team members have the optimal socializer style strength for their positions? Do you want a happier more fulfilling practice and life? If so, maybe this pearl series can help.
How your Strongest Styles Create Conflict
Do certain team members seem to conflict with each other? Do you seem to conflict certain team members? Does this conflict increase on hectic Tx days. Does this conflict increase with team members doing poorly in their positions. If so, maybe this pearl can help. Is Your Interpretation of Others Correct?
Dealing with Extreme Emotions: the Free Will to React

Do you find it difficult to deal with emotionally distraught people? Do your reactions calm or intensify the emotional reactions of others? Do you think that you can muster up the “free will” to help others deal with their emotional reactions? If so, maybe this pearl can help you to help the emotionally distraught.

Dealing the Extreme Emotions of Anger & Rage
Do you find it difficult to deal with angry, hateful or enraged people?  Do you find it difficult to deal with your own anger, hatred or rage?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you to calm that anger, hatred or rage.
Dealing the Extreme Emotions of Fear & Terror
Do you find it difficult to deal with fearful or terrified people?  Do you find it difficult to deal with your own strong fears?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you calm that fear and terror.
Dealing the Extreme Emotions of Sorrow & Despair
Do you find it difficult to deal with sad or depressed people?  Do you find it difficult to deal with your own sadness?  If so, maybe this pearl can help reduce the sadness or despair/depression experienced daily.
Dealing the Extreme Emotions of Joy & Mania
Do you find it difficult to deal with excessively joyful or manic people?  Do you find it difficult to deal with your own joyfulness at times?  If so, maybe this pearl can help calm the uncontrollable joy or mania in yourself and others that you may experience daily.
Mindfulness: Part-1, Understanding Strong Directors [ wait until JUN 14th 2024 ]

Are you a strong (angry) director or is your spouse/mate or anybody close to you a strong director?  Are you mindful of the motivations behind that strong director’s reactions?  Do you create discord when you misunderstand his or her true motivations?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better understand how directors think so that you can coexist more harmoniously.

Mindfulness: Part-2, Understanding Strong Relators [ wait until JUL 19th 2024 ]

Are you a strong (sorrowful) relator?  Is your spouse/mate or anybody close to you a strong relator?  Do you know the motivitations behind what that relator says and does?  Do you create discord when you misunderstand his or her true motivations?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better understand their motivations so that you can coexist more harmoniously.

Mindfulness: Part-3, Understanding Strong Analyzers [ wait until AUG 16th 2024 ]

Are you a strong (fearful) analyzer?  Is your spouse/mate or anybody close to you a strong analyzer?  Do you know the motivitations behind what that strong analyzer says and does?  Do you create discord when you misunderstand his or her true motivations?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better understand their motivations so that you can coexist more harmoniously.

Mindfulness: Part-4, Understanding Strong Socializers [ wait until SEP 20th 2024 ]

Are you a strong (joyful) Socializer?  Is your spouse/mate or anybody close to you a strong socializer?  Do you know the motivitations behind what that strong socializer says and does?  Do you create discord when you misunderstand his or her true motivations?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better understand their motivations so that you can coexist more harmoniously.

Pearls for Healthy Living
Are you Getting Enough Sleep?
Are you getting 6-8 hours of sleep/day? Do you wake up many times while sleeping? Do you lie awake in bed for hours during the night? Maybe this pearl can help you get a better night’s sleep.
Keeping a Healthy 6th Sense
Are you less “athletically graceful” nowadays than you were in the past? Do you have more “senior moments” than you would like? If so, your 6th sense (somatosensory system) may be out of wack and need resetting. This pearl can help you reset it.
Jump-Starting your Immune System
Are you healthy enough to deal with a Covid-19 or other infections?  Is your immune system up to the task?  If you are not sure, maybe this pearl can help.
Reducing your Heart’s Effort
Are you getting the nutrients required to keep your heart healthy? Do you know how to determine whether your heart is working as efficiently as possible? Maybe this pearl can help.
The Perfect Aerobic Exercise for your Heart
Are your aerobic exercises strengthening or weakening your heart? If weakening, can you change your exercise routine to strengthen your heart? This pearl may help you.
Your Healthy “Energy Coherence”
Are you aware that your body is healthier when its electromagnetic energy is in balance than when it isn’t?  Have you ever heard of energy coherence?  Do you know that disease can unbalance your energy coherence?  Do you even care?  Maybe this pearl can help you find out how all of this might affect your health.
The Wonderful World of Protomorphogens
Are you, or someone you care about just tolerating diabetes, thyroid disease or heart disease? Do you think that something might be done about it? If so, maybe this pearl can help you or them do something more proactive than just tolerating it.
Are you Helping or Hindering the Life you Desire?
Are your goals regarding your success and health clear or muddy? Are your beliefs helping or hindering a successful and healthy life? Maybe this pearl can help you to better attain your goals for a more successful, healthier and happier life.
Playing “The Relationship Game”
Are you and your family having difficulties talking about problems? Are you at odds with some or all of your practice teammates? Do you want your team to feel like more of a team instead of just a group of individuals? Then maybe this pearl can help.
Making Prioritized Decisions about your Life

Do you make quick decision or put off making decisions? Do you prioritize the factors involved and use the most effective method to decide how to resolve your problems or attain your goals? If interested in making better decisions, check this out.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Do you believe that good and bad are opposite? Do you believe that people can be evil (ugly)? Would you classify yourself as either good or bad or ugly? Well, maybe this pearl can help you sort that out and in the process help you out.
How Angry is Your “Dark Side”?
Is our “darkness” inherently wicked or evil—or is it just a consequence of our genetic and nurtured personality? Do you know what your potential for “darkness” is? Do you think that you have control over your potential darkness? Continue on if you are interested in what your potential for darkness is and how to enlighten yourself.
How Loving is Your “Bright Side”?

Have you ever wondered what love is?  Does it brighten your life?  Do you want to experience more love in your life?  Well maybe this pearl can help you to better understand love and possibly experience more of it.

Allowing More Love in your Life
Do you experience the healthy, wonderful feeling of love daily?  Or does your fear, anger or opinions get in the way?  Would you like to experience more love each day?  If so, maybe this pearl can help.
Allowing More Love in your Life Revisited
Is sharing love an important apart of your life? Do you share limited love because you are a strong director, analyzer or socializer—or a weak relator? Do you really share as much love as you want to share? Maybe a revisit of a previous pearl may help improve your love life.
Do You Have “That Caring Feeling”?

Do you tear up when experiencing the misfortune of others?  Do you express sorrow when experiencing the good fortune of others?  Well, maybe this pearl can help you to understand what “That Caring Feeling” is, what causes it and how it might help you to experience more love in your life.

Your Joyful Life

Did you ever think you were living a Joyful Life? Does your Joyful Life dwell more on the positive or on the negitive aspects of your life? Maybe this Pearl can help you decide--and in the process live a happier life.

Some Thoughts on Relieving Chronic Back Pain
Do you suffer from chronic lower back pain?  Do you suffer from occasional or chronic hip pain?  Or are there other pains (i.e., shoulder, leg, foot, etc.)?  If so, maybe this pearl can help.
Dealing with Pain, Part-1: Lower Back, Hip and Lower Body Pain

Do you suffer from lower back pain?  If you do, are you dealing with it as effectively as possible?  Whether you are a dentist or not and weather “Lower Back Pain” is your present or future problem, you may want to better understand what you are dealing with and how to avoid it.

Dealing with Pain, Part-2: Upper Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain

Do you suffer from upper back, neck or shoulder pain? If you do, are you dealing with it as effectively as possible?  Whether you are a dentist or not and weather upper back or shoulder pain is your present or future problem, you may want to better understand what you are dealing with and how to avoid it.

Dealing with Pain, Part-3: TMJ Pain [ wait until APR 19th 2024 ]

Do you or your patients suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular) pain?  Does someone close to you suffer from TMJ pain?  Are you interested in finding possible ways of reducing/eliminating TMJ pain?  If so, this pearl might help.

Interesting Miscellaneous Pearls
Our Varying Perception of Time
Does time seem to fly by, move slowly or move just right—or all of these variations? Actually, time doesn’t change, but our perception of it does and that can affect our lives. Maybe this pearl can give some insight as to why.
Life Pearl: The Forces of the Universe
Are you aware of the three forces of the universe that control your everyday life? Are you aware that these forces have numerous variants? Do you even care? If so, you might find this pearl both interesting and enlightening.
The Farces of the universe: The Musical
Do you think that the universe is controlled by gravity? Do you believe that “the big bang”, “black holes”, “worm holes”, “dark matter” and parallel universes exist? Do you think that the sun (or any star) is a solid mass of thermonuclear fission? If so, you might find this pearl both interesting and enlightening—or, maybe your opinions will be diametrical.
What is GRAVITY?

Do you know that the mass of the universe is mostly from the atom’s neutrons and protons? Do you know where gravity comes from? If interested you might find this pearl enlightening.

Emotional Writing [ wait until OCT 18th 2024 ]

Do you know that when you write in a highly emotional state that your emotional energy impregnates your writing?  Do you ever experience strong negative or positive emotional energy emerging from someone else’s writing?  If not, this pearl can help you to understand that you should only write/design something when you are in a positive emotional state if you want others to read, use or appreciate it.

Understanding the Realities of A.I. [ wait until MAY 17th 2024 ]

Does the thought of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) frighten you? Do you wonder what the limitations of A.I might be? Well maybe we can figure out the realistic limitations of A.I. and put your mind at ease—somewhat.

Practice Management Pearls
Pearls for Your Practice Odyssey
Ortho-Grad Survival Program (25,000+ downloads)
Are you about to graduate your orthodontic specialty program? Do you know what you are going to do next? Well, maybe this Ortho-Grad Survival program can help you decide.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-1 The Perils of Staffing
Have you established your Dream Practice yet? Have you overcome the many perils to establish it? Maybe this 5-part series will help you establish it.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-2 The Perils of Hiring & Training
Have you established your Dream Team yet? Have you overcome the many perils of hiring them? Have you overcome the many perils of training them? Maybe this part of the series will help.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-3 The Perils of TC Marketing
Have you created a successful marketing program yet? Is your internal marketing (TC) program packing them in? Maybe the 3rd part of this series will help.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-4 The Perils of Scheduling
Have you designed your Ideal Schedule yet? Is it great or just adequate? Maybe the 3rd part of this series will help.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-5 The Perils of a New Office
Is your present office adequate for your needs? Have you considered all of the perils of establishing a new office? Maybe the 5th part of this series will help..
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-6 The Perils of A New Associate/Partner
Is your present office adequate for your needs? Have you considered all of the perils of establishing a new office? Maybe the 5th part of this series will help.
Your Practice Odyssey, Part-7 The Perils of Goal-Attaining
Is your present office adequate for your needs? Have you considered all of the perils of establishing a new office? Maybe the 5th part of this series will help.
Pearls for “The Changing Face of Orthodontics”
The Changing Face of Orthodontics, Part-1, Braces
Do you appreciate how much orthodontics has evolved over the past 50 years? You should! Are you aware of the latest trend of self-manufacturing your brackets and aligners in your own office? Maybe this pearl can help you put the pros and cons of the changing face of orthodontics into prospective..
The Changing Face of Orthodontics, Part-2, Aligners
Do you know that patients are doing their own orthodontics using aligners? Do you see this as a threat to your practice? Would your practice’s bottom line improve if you could purchase your aligners individually? Well, maybe this pearl can help you put this changing face of orthodontic aligners into prospective..
The Changing Face of Orthodontics, Part-3, TC/RT Procedures
Are you using the latest Initial Records and TC procedures to get your patients started? Are they effective and efficient and getting more patients started, sooner? Maybe this pearl can help you put this important aspect of the changing face of orthodontics into prospective.
Pearls for Organizing your Team
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Team Organization

Do you have the best organizational structure for your team and practice personality?  Does your team have a high morale and do they work cohesively?  Do you have effective Team Leaders?  If you want to successfully put it ALL together, this pearl can help.

Automate your Team Management

Do you know each of your team member's daily responsibilities?  Do each of your team members know what they are responsible for daily?

Develop Practice Leadership

Do you know what makes a team leader?  Do you have leaders on your team?  Do you want team leaders on your team?  Maybe this pearl can help

The Staffing Problem

Are you overstaffed, but seem to be understaffed because your team is poorly organized? If so, knowing what your staffing needs (based on your FS/D) may help

Resolving the “Bonuses Problem”

Do you use bonus programs to motivate your team to improve or grow your practice? If yes, maybe you shouldn't... if no, maybe you should!   Bonuses can help and hinder your practice—find out why.

Vaccinating “Embezzlement Virus”

Have you heard of other doctor’s staff members embezzling?  Are you sure that your practice is safe from embezzlers?  This Management Pearl can help you evaluate your practice and put your mind at ease.

Vaccinating the “Dismorale Virus”

Are certain staff members destroying your team morale?  Does this low morale still exist even when you get rid of them?  If so, your practice is suffering from a dismorale virus that this management pearl can help vaccinate you against it.

Office Policies Manual

Do you have a current Office Policies Manual?  Is it fair to your team?  Does it protect the practice from staff abuse?  Maybe this pearl can help you answer these questions.

Pearls for Hiring your Team
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Team Hiring

Are your team members the best available to employ in their positions? Are they naturally inclined to do well in their positions? Do they share a “team attitude?” Do they last? If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Don’t become Liable With Applicants

Do you allow “final” applicants to do position work to “see what they can do”?  Do you expose “final” applicants to bloodborne pathogens?  If so, you are opening yourself up to a possible law suit or legal action!  This pearl can help you avoid that.

Replacing Team Members

Do you have team members that need to be replaced?  Do you find it difficult to replace them?  Do you know how to replace them?  Maybe this pearl can help.

Negotiating Salaries and Benefits

Do you have problems negotiating salaries?  Does your team get upset when new staff make more than they do.  It can all be resolved with one simple approach.

Pearls for Training your Team
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Team Training

Are all of your current team members fully trained in their positions? Are your new team members fully trained in just a few weeks? If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Keeping those Great New Hires

Have you ever hired the ideal person for a position?  Have you ever lost that person in the first few days/weeks?  This pearl can help you avoid this in the future.

Team Evaluation System

Do you find it difficult to identify where your team needs improvement?  Do poor attitudes that are difficult to confront permeate your team?  Are there team members you would like to improve, but if not possible, replace?  If so, this pearl can help.

Is Practice Protected from OSHA?

Do new team members get their OSHA training on day-1, or are you leaving yourself liable?  Is all of your team member’s OSHA training up to date?  Do you have an “instant” OSHA training system in place?  If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Are your OSHA SDS’s Current

Are all of your SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and Labeling up to date as of June 2015?  Have your team members been trained on the new SDS and labeling elements?  If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Is your HIPAA Under Control?

Is your patient information secure from wondering eyes?  Does your team NOT discuss your patient’s problems with others?  Do you have sufficient documentation at the start of treatment to comply with HIPAA regulations?  If not, maybe this pearl may help

Training Patients to be Cooperative

Do too many of your patients find it difficult to cooperate during treatment?  Do you have a specific program in place to deal with this?  Do you have at least one clinical team member properly trained to make that program a success?  If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Pearls for Scheduling your Team
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Team Scheduling

Is your present schedule hectic one minute, boring the next, and not very productive? Are you wasting doctor time or is your team not optimally utilized? Are you having difficulty designing a schedule to resolve this? Then this management pearl is what you are looking for.

How to Stay on Schedule
Do you find it difficult to stay on schedule daily when dealing with early, late and emergency patients? If so, the 3-Step Decision Process can help you.
Optimize your Daily Patient Flow

Do you have a well-designed daily schedule?  Whether you do or do not, you can still create a better patient flow.  This pearl can show you how.

Making your Patient Visits more Exceptional

Do your patients look forward to or resent visits to your office?  Are you doing all you can to make their visits as pleasant as possible?  Maybe this checklist for exceptional patient visits will help

Keeping Your Team Busy

Is your practice productive and are your team members busy?  Do you know how to keep them busy when the doctor is not in the office?  Do you have a contingency plan for when you will be out of the office for an extended period of time?  If so, this management pearl may help

Pearls for Treatment Quality Control
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Tx Quality Control

Is your Tx mechanotherapy giving you the ideal treatment results you desire? Are your cases being completed using the least amount of chairtime? Are your cases are being completed by their ECD (Estimated Completion Date)? If you need to get your cases under better control, maybe this pearl can help.

The Receptionist Personality Dilemma

Is your receptionist a strong relator who establishes rapport (trust) with all patients?  Is your receptionist a weak director who finds it difficult to follow your schedule?  Typically, this is a package deal, but this pearl can help you to reconcile this dilemma.   It is not easy to create a great schedule that is smooth and productive, but it can be done.

Periodic Patient Treatment Reviews

Does your treatment seem to fall behind on non-cooperative patients?  Are your patients and families upset because they are in treatment too long?  Are your referring dentists upset with not knowing how treatment is progressing?  If so, maybe this pearl can help.

Are your Run-Ons Destroying your Production?

Are you sure your cases are being completed on time?  Do you have a program in place to resolve your run-on cases?  This pearl may help

Don’t let SOS, Missed and Cancelled Patients Destroy your Treatments

Do your SOS & Emergencies Failures seem high (more than 5/day)?  Do your Missed and Cancelled appointments seem high (more than 8/day)?  Are you, or are your patients the cause of this?  Maybe this pearl can help you figure it out

Are Your Emergencies Under Control?

Do your Emergencies just show up, or do they call first?  Do you have a means of determining what kind of appointment to bring them in for?  Do you have problems finding an appointment for them?  Maybe this pearl can help you reduce the frustration of emergencies

Is Indirect Bonding for You?

Have you tried using Indirect Bonding?  Do you think that it might be a good Idea?  Do you think that it saves DR-Tx-Time in your schedule?  If not sure, maybe this pearl can help.

Is Do-It-Yourself Plastic Aligners for you?

Do you use plastic aligners to treat some or many of your cases?  Are the results you attain with plastic aligners satisfactory?  Do you feel that the lab cost of aligners is a bit too high?  Have you ever considered making your own plastic aligners?  Well maybe this pearl can help you decide.

Controlling your Lab Appliances and Inserts

Are your lab appliances being ordered properly?  Are they all arriving at the chair on time for the patient’s appointment?  If not, maybe this management pearl can help.

Pearls for External Marketing of your Practice
Marketing Your Practice

Do you know the basics of marketing?  Is your current marketing fruitful?  Maybe this pearl can help.

Orthodontic Websites that Work

Is your website doing its job?  Does it turn on prospective patients—or turn them off?  This pearl can help you decide and make the simple changes that get the job done.

Maximizing Your Market Availability

Is your office availability discriminating against certain patients?  Are your treatment days clashing with your time away from the office?  Do you reschedule your patients more than they appreciate?  Maybe this pearl can help resolve that.

Increasing your DDS Referrals

Are you getting enough referrals from all of your local dentists?  Do you maintain a close connection with your referring dentists?  Does you team maintain a close connection with your referring dentist's teams?  Do you notify your referring dentists when you send them a referral?  If not, maybe this pearl can help you get more referrals.

Dealing with a Practice Downturn

Are you noticing a downturn in exams/starts? Is it because your referring dentists are retiring?  Is it because you are not putting on an impressive exam?  Are local dentists doing a lot of orthodontics (braces or aligners) at a much lower fee?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you maintain/build your practice.

Pearls for Internal Marketing—Tx Coordinator Program
A~D~D~I~C~T Your TC Programs

Are your exam conversion rates high? Are your OBS and Ph-II Recall Patients getting started? Are your communications or your patient visit procedures helping your practice? If not, this pearl can help you become aware of the new programs that can make it happen.

The TC Personality Dilemma

Does your TC establish rapport and provide a great exam that new patients like.  But, does she seem to have difficulty "closing the sale" (i.e., she has too many Will-Call-Back patients)?  If so, it may be you and/or the TC's personality dilemma that is reducing your starts.  This pearl can help you clear that up.

The Initial Payment Conundrum

Are your percent Initial Payments averaging between 25% and 35%?  Are your Paid-in-Full-up-front cases under control?  Are your additional family member low initial payments under control?  If not, maybe this management pearl can help.

The “Records Fee Dilemma”

Do you, or should you, charge separately for Initial Records?  What about the high cost of Scanning or X-ray equipment…does that matter?  This pearl might help you to figure it out.

Getting Doctor Into and Out-of of the Exam

Do your TC and New Patient have to wait for you, too much of the time?  Does your clinical team have to wait for you to get to their chair after an exam?  It doesn’t have to be that way!

Getting “The Forgotten” started

You use a lot of resources to get your exams in the door and many are put on Pre-Active Observation.  Do you have these patients under control? Maybe this pearl can help you get them under control.

Dealing With Patient Transfers

Are your transfer-in patients a financial loss?  Are they difficult to treat with the other orthodontist’s mechanotherapy?  Is there patient/family resentment that you or the other orthodontist might be taking advantage of them?  This pearl may help you to avoid all that.

Selling Orthodontics

Are you aware that you and your TC are actually selling yourself in the new patient exam?  Do you find the term "selling" objectionable?  If so, you might be missing out on the best way to get your patients to say "yes" to starting treatment.  This pearl can help you decide.

Negotiating Financial Arrangements

Are your patients discouraged from starting because of your financial agreements?  Are your agreements flexible or inflexible?  Maybe this pearl can help you decide.   Your fees are what you feel your services are worth, based on the time and expense you put into the treatments you provide—this is your decision.

Starting the most exams possible

Are more than 15% of your exam patients “Will-Call-Back”?  Do too many of your exam patients not start treatment?  Do you think that you might not be doing your best to start every exam patient?  If so, this pearl can help you ferret out the reasons why you have fewer starts than possible

Starting your Will-Call-Back Patients

Are too many of your exam patients ready to start not getting started?  Do you have too many Will-Call-Back patients after their exams?  Are these Will-Call-Back patients getting lost and thus, not started?  If so this pearl may help.

Total Control for Starting ALL Will-Call-Back Patients

Do you collect monthly TC statistics to maximize your new patient starts? Do you have control of your Will-Call-Back (WCB) new patients, making sure that they start? Do you have control of your OBS-Recall patients, making sure that they start and don’t get lost? If not, maybe this pearl can help you gain that control with an all-in-one Excel monthly spreadsheet.

What type of Tx Charting Works for you

Did you give up your paper forms when you got your (plastic) computer?  If so, is your exam-consult-start control better or worse?  And, is your initial and daily financial control better or worse?  If worse, maybe this pearl can help you get your control back.

Are Credit Checks Really Necessary? [wait until 11-15-24]

Do you do Credit Checks on your patient guarantors? If you currently do credit checks, does it help reduce past due accounts or account write-offs? If not doing credit checks, are your past due accounts or account write-offs high? Do you avoid doing Credit Checks for fear of its legality or negative reactions from the patient/family? If so, maybe this pearl can help you to better determine whether credit checks can be of value to you.

Pearls for Controlling your Finances
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Financial Systems

Are your financial systems all that they can be?  Have you accounted for the necessary sub-systems required to make your computerized financial systems more effective?  If not, maybe this pearl will help.

The Bookkeeper Personality Dilemma – Past Due Accounts

Is your Financial Coordinator a strong analyzer who pays attention to financial detail?  Is your Financial Coordinator a weak director who finds it difficult to collect past due accounts?  Unfortunately, this is typically the situation, but this pearl can help you to reconcile this dilemma.

The Insurance Acceptance Conundrum

Are you noticing a recent disturbing drop in your Production/Collections/Net?  Are you in a conundrum about accepting patient insurance in general?  Do you feel a need to accept other types of insurance to maintain your practice?  Are you perplexed about how that may affect your practice?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you make the best decisions.

Calculating Transfer Patient Fees

Do you have an accurate transfer in and transfer out formula for your BRACES patients? Do you have an accurate transfer in and transfer out formula for your ALIGNER patients? They are very different and this pearl may help you to resolve that issue.

Miscellaneous Fees Calculations

Do you have a proper Fee Schedule?  Do you find it difficult to calculate unusual or limited (non-Full or non-Ph-I or Ph-II) fees?  If so, maybe this pearl can help you with an accurate method of calculating them.

Daily Cash & Charge Control

Are you sure that whatever collections coming in the door are getting to the bank?  Are your miscellaneous charges making it to the bookkeeper to bill?  Most doctors think that they have this under control until it is too late.  Maybe this pearl can help put your mind at ease.

Where’s the Money/ Pt-I, your Production

Is your production optimum for your services?  Is your TC setting your fees and financial agreements correctly?  Are your contracts accurately set up on your computer and followed up?  Is your financial coordinator a part of your financial agreement control?  Are your miscellaneous charges getting posted?  If not, maybe this pearl can help.

Where’s the Money/ Pt-II, your Collections

Do your collections accurately represent your adjusted production?  Is your bookkeeper collecting everything charged?  Are your past due accounts minimal?  Are your Credit Card, Direct Deposits and Insurance payments under control?  If not, maybe this management pearl can help. 

Where’s the Money/ Pt-III, your Net

Does your net usually fall within 35% and 55% of your collections?  Are your charge adjustments/courtesies greater than 3% of your fees?  Are some of your “expenses” actually part of your net?  Do you have a monthly budget?  If not, maybe this management pearl can help.

Pearls for Attaining your Goals
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Goal Attaining

Are your Goal-Attaining systems all that they could be? Have you accounted for the programs required to attain your goals? Are your practice goals Realistic? If not, maybe this pearl will help.

Setting Realistic Goals

What are Realistic monthly any yearly goals based on?

Making Your Fees More Acceptable

Are your fees distracting your patients from your treatment? Are your fees naturally acceptable or unacceptable? This pearl may help you to decide.

Can Plastic Aligners Increase Net?

How productive are you using Invisible Plastic Aligners? Is it worth it? This blog may have the answers for you.

Pearls for your Partnerships Associates and Retirement
A~D~D~I~C~T Your Associate or Partner

Are you considering a partner or associate?  Might you like to know how to go about obtaining one?  If yes, maybe this pearl will help.

The “Associate” Question

Are you the type who can have an Associate or Partner?

Compensating an Associate

Are you considering or wondering about an associate?  Are you in a quandary about associate compensation?  If so, maybe this pearl can help.

Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement

Are you looking for a new partner or associate? Do you teach other orthodontists in your practice often? Do you do practice transitions? If so, maybe this pearl can help you avoid embarrassment or legal problems.

Merging an Orthodontic and Pediatric Dental Practice

Have you ever considered merging your ortho practice with a pedo practice? Are you aware of the complications involved? If so, this management pearl may help you to decide the best course of action.

When Can You Afford to Retire?

Do you have enough savings to retire? When can you afford to retire? What is the best way to retire? The answers may not be that complicated.

What is your Practice Worth?

Are you considering the sale of your practice as an important part of your retirement income? Are you considering selling off part or all of your practice? Are you considering purchasing somebody else’s practice? If so, this management pearl may help you to decide the best course of action.

Miscellaneous Practice-Related Pearls
The One Question that answers all questions
Do you have situations with guarantors that are difficult to deal with?  Do you have situations with patients that are difficult to deal with?  Do you have situations with referring dentists that are difficult to deal with?  Do you have situations with staff, associates or partners that are difficult to deal with?  If so, maybe this pearl can help.
How Does Your Practice Rate?
Ever wonder what level your practice size is on? Ever wonder if your practice is doing its best, no matter what level? Ever wonder if you could do something about it? Maybe this pearl can help.
Balancing Your Practice Personality
Is your practice overly task-oriented, lacking warmth? Is your practice overly people-oriented making it difficult to get tasks done? Do certain team members “clash” with the rest of the team? If so, this management pearl may be of value to you!
Getting the Most out of your Consultants
Have you ever hired a consultant? Were you satisfied with the help you received? Was the outcome worth your time and expense? If not, maybe this pearl can help you to better select your next consultant.
Are you protected from hackers?
Has your website ever been hacked? Would it be a problem if your website was hacked? If so, maybe this pearl may help avoid it.
Is Dental Monitoring for you?
Do you have many run-on patients? Are some of your appointment intervals greater than 10 weeks? Do you like to try new Tx Mechanotherapies? If so, dental monitoring might help…maybe not.
Resolving Conflict
Do you have difficulty resolving conflict with your team?  Do you have difficulty resolving conflict with your patients?  Do you have difficulty resolving conflict in general?  Maybe this pearl can help.
Coronavirus Precautions
Is your area free from Coronavirus infections?  Have you taken the proper precautions to protect your patients?  Have you taken the proper precautions to protect your team?  If not, maybe this pearl can help.
Orthodontics with Social Distancing

Are you prepared to reopen your practice once the economy is open?  Are you prepared to deal with Social Distancing laws?  If not, maybe this pearl may help.

Pt. Communication During Covid-19

Have your patient visit communications suffered because of the pandemic?  Do the family want more information at their visits than they are getting?  Maybe this pearl can help improve your communications.

Helpful Covid-19 Forms
Do/did you obtain a Covid-19 Informed Consent form all of your patients? Do you obtain a Covid-19 Health History on patients before they enter your office for the first time? Did you obtain a Covid-19 Health History on established patients when you reopened? If not, maybe this pearl can help.
Hybrid Orthodontics

Have you considered doing Teledentistry (virtual dentistry)? Are you aware of how much your patients might appreciate it? Do you think that it would be too difficult to set up in your practice? Well maybe this pearl will help you to decide.

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