Dentaltown August 2016 - (Page 14)

WANT MORE HOWARD? Go to: dentaltown.com/podcasts howard speaks column Continued from p. 10 Supply and demand Of all the docs I've listened to and spoken with over the years, I have yet to hear one tell me that he wished his practice-management software integrated and communicated with QuickBooks online. Instead, when I ask dentists what keeps them up at night, they say, "I can't decide if I want to learn how to do Invisalign, place implants, study sleep medicine, or learn more about TMJ." I'm like, "You don't even know the costs of goods and services in your own office!" There are a thousand and one benefits to having that data communicated between software. But many programs don't share that information-and that must change. That's why we've seen overhead creep up. In 1970 the average overhead was 50 percent; now it's north of 65 percent. You've gone from half overhead to two-thirds overhead. You don't know COGS. You're signing up for all these PPOs that are constantly factoring in numbers that you're not watching, yet every time your practice-management software company asks you what features you'd like to see added or improved, communication with your accounting information is at the bottom of the list. Are you kidding me? Whenever enough dentists have sent in a suggestion, practice-management software companies have worked Howard Live Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, is an international speaker who has written books and dozens of articles. To schedule Howard to speak at your next national, state or local dental meeting, email rebecca@ farranmedia.com. 2016 16 7 Arkansas Periodontal & Implant Assoc. 12 St. Joseph, Missouri brjrdds@stjoelive.com OCT Fayetteville, Arkansas wesshelton@att.net 14 Asteto Dental Labs OCT In 1970 the average overhead of a dental office was 50 percent; now it's north of 65 percent. You've gone from half overhead to two-thirds overhead. You don't know your cost of goods and services. PPOs are constantly factoring in numbers that you're not watching, but you're haven't asked for your practice-management software to be able to sync with your accounting software. a thousand pages and just as many buttons-the vast majority of which you likely don't need, and it was a mistake to want them in the first place. Instead of the polarizing system of having patient and insurance info over here, and then all my payables over there, the time has come to demand that these two vital sides communicate. Your practice-management software can't even generate payroll, for Pete's sake! You have no data in there! The fine print Northwest Missouri Dental Association SEPT it into the programming. That means more and more stuff gets added for all users. Consultants will come into your practice, run a simple report and tell you that you're not using 80 percent of all the bells and whistles of that software. Why? Because it's overwhelming. There are West Orange, New Jersey mdiach@aol.com You're all working very hard to lose money. Here are some facts. You're going to keep being offered PPO plans. You're going to keep having costs, and you're going to keep offering services-and if you don't start demanding that your practice-management software communicates with your accounting software, then you're going to keep losing money no matter how hard you work. Call up or write to your software rep. Tell them that you don't care how many different notification sounds you can choose from. Tell them you want a system that truly manages every part of your practice, so you can finally know your COGS! ■ AUGUST 2016 // dentaltown.com DT_Howard_Speaks_0816_LH.indd 12 7/21/16 11:10 AM http://www.dentaltown.com/podcasts http://www.dentaltown.com http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown August 2016

On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: You Don't Know COGS
Professional Courtesy: The Promise of Technology
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Dealing with Parents Who Refuse GA Whose Children Obviously Need It
Class II Composite Technique
Best Alginate, Hands Down!
The Pillars of Attraction
Out-of-Pocket Collections: Mending the Holes
Dentists Playing Bankers: A new perspective on accounts receivable
Character Studies: Your financial tendencies likely depend on which of these nine archetypes fits you best
Quality Control: Five reasons you should purchase quality hygiene instruments
Practice Solutions: 3M
Opting Into—Or Out of—Typical Transitions
Treatment of Intraoral Infections
Service Profile: Gilleard Dental Marketing
Product Profile: Ivoclar Vivadent
Immediate Implants: Tips for improving the outcome in the aesthetic zone
New Products
You Should Know: Call Sumo
10 Strategic Insights for Patient-Producing Postcards
Monthly Poll: Pediatric Dentistry
CE: Oral Diseases Associated with Men
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown August 2016