Dentaltown October 2017 - 74

technology
focus: 2017

would your practice be? It would be difficult to communicate,
costing you time and leading to extra stress, both of which could
negatively affect patient care. The best, most high-tech gadgets
and equipment won't be worth as much to you in the long run if
they can't communicate with your practice management system.
Just like your team members, your software needs to speak the
same language as the rest of your technology. That basically means
you need software with an API that talks to other systems. If you
have no idea what that means, don't worry. There's really no need
to get into the nitty-gritty of how this all works from a technical
standpoint; that's what your IT department and technology vendors
are for. But if you really want to ensure your technology and your
practice management software can communicate and enhance
practice efficiencies, invest in software that is backed by a company
that offers a robust partner program.
If the practice management vendor you choose has a variety of
partners, such as dental companies that specialize in 3-D imaging
systems and digital intraoral X-ray systems, you know those
technologies will be able to communicate with your software. You
can purchase those technologies with confidence. On the other
hand, if the vendor doesn't have a large community of technology
vendors it works with, there's a good chance you'll struggle to find
high-tech products that seamlessly integrate with the software. The
technologies then often become more of a burden than a way to
make your practice more efficient, and usually end up in the corner
of the office or on a shelf somewhere collecting dust.

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OCTOBER 2017 // dentaltown.com

Is your staff up to speed?
Of course, when you implement additional technologies into your
practice, it requires training for your team members. Many dentists
want to skip this step, but offering proper training will help ensure team
members are proficient at using any new products or equipment. The
key is not to overload your staff with so much training and so many
products that they feel unqualified to perform half the tasks you ask
them to complete each day. Your goal should be to automate as many
processes in your practice as possible, and that starts with your software.
That automation-whether it's confirming patient appointments
or uploading digital images to the patient file once they're taken-is
what your practice management software is for. Really get to know
your software and take advantage of all the different opportunities
you have to automate processes. The more you can automate, the
more you can free up your team members to focus on other tasks
and to enhance the patient experience. Spend time training team
members on any duties they must actually perform themselves so
they're confident in their skills, and let automation do the rest.
Always remember: Technology is the foundation of your practice
and patients are the pinnacle. Building a strong technology platform
also will help improve the patient experience, which should be every
dentist's goal. When patients have positive experiences, they're
more likely to stay loyal to your practice. They're also more likely
to refer. Patients want to know that you care about their well-being
and have the necessary expertise to provide them with high-quality
care. They notice more than you realize and are impressed when
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown October 2017
