Dentists and office managers are tasked to make some tricky dental technology decisions. The problem is not the individual products themselves, but, how they interact with others within your systems. Eliminating risk from this decision making is not likely, but minimizing them takes a few key steps. So, what’s the deal? To drastically improve your chances, start by simplifying your approach by focusing on the big picture. Begin with the end in mind by setting strategic goals and work your way backwards. For example, dental technology systems are connected within the four pillars as shown below:
IMPORTANT! – One source of many dental technology problems is not realizing that one pillar doesn’t work well without the support of the other three. It’s important that these products integrate collectively to streamline your workflow and not hamper your staff. From check-in to check-out, technology should enhance the patient’s experience and increase staff efficiency. Of course, each individual product has its own merits and there are many good ones out there. Nonetheless, it’s the dentist’s responsibility to question the sales individuals with some skepticism and due diligence.
Hype or fact, which is it?
With technology, you may rely on sales people to help make these decisions. Keep in mind their top priority is to sell their product – not solving your technology woes. Knowing this gives you a different perspective doesn’t it? If every dental technology product worked seamlessly and flawlessly with others, this post wouldn’t need to exist. This is where sales biases creep in and lead smart people to make some not so smart decisions. With some basic knowledge, you can methodically weed through the hype and confidently make these decisions yourself.
Learning the basics can also open up a competitive bidding environment. Competitive bidding helps the buyer get the best price and contract terms for proposals. If competing vendors are willing to lower prices, would you turn it down? A minimum of two bids plus the means to confirm and compare bids is well worth the time and effort. One past T2 client saved $45K by using this same strategy.
Dental technology gets complicated, sometimes more than it needs to be. Choices are great, but too many leads to information overload. We’ve all been there. Each vendor wants to bend your ear, and some are convincing. And, it’s two-fold. Beyond that, it still needs to integrate with your current systems. So, where do you learn these basics? More on this later.
Computer systems are another story in and of itself. Their configuration largely depends on the type of software that you choose. For example, committing to cloud dental software after purchasing a new server is a $10K miscalculation that could have been avoided. Not that dentists need to be computer geeks, but your computers are the engine for your digital imaging equipment and dental software.
Do you know what successful technology looks like?
To be frank, a surprisingly high percentage of clients came from miserable past experiences. Why? Whether it be software or hardware, one would think that these products seamlessly connect plug-and-play. Simply mix and match products and voila – everything works? Maybe, but often times this is not the case and is not worth the risk. And don’t expect vendors or suppliers to spend time figuring this out for you. Their job is to sell, then on to the next.
An integration process has never existed.
It’s no secret that dental technology is a sizable investment. Of these two scenarios, which would you choose?
- Without a plan – buy first and hope for the best?
- With a plan – create a strategy, shop it, execute it with a predictable outcome?
Clearly, #2 is in your best interest. So why don’t more practices use this strategy? The short answer is that a proven process has never existed without an underlying sales angle.
Technology issues compound as you continue to add more to your systems. Once you go too far, it becomes increasingly difficult to untangle the mess. This leads to unforeseen expenditures, operational headaches, productivity loss, and staff morale issues. This is unfortunate for those who have had this experience. T2 has helped hundreds of dental practices in this same predicament.
The CloudPrep 6-Point Plan Membership changes the game!
T2 has spent the last two decades helping 600-plus practices with various levels of dental technology. Independent advice has always been our hallmark, which means there is no affiliation with manufacturers or suppliers. This is extremely rare, the way we like it, how it has always been, and the heart of this learning portal. This experience has led to a complete online training program featuring the CloudPrep 6-Point Plan Membership. This portal is designed to be a simple and detailed guide that will drastically improve your decision making. Not to worry, the purpose of CloudPrep isn’t to become a tech geek – surely you have better things to do. Follow the curriculum and you’ll see that the concepts included can be used throughout your career for years to come.
With the CloudPrep yearly membership, you control the pace that works best for you. And for member added support, two interactive phone consultations are included for a limited time. CloudPrep teaches you how to build a more efficient practice with technology and the cloud. It also reveals how to evaluate your practice’s needs, current assets and budget before making any financial commitments. CloudPrep will save you time, headaches, and expensive missteps.
You’ll also find a series of cost control spreadsheets that identify areas to cut costs and compare bids. Read the story about one practice administrator who saved her practice $39K.
What you won’t find is any pay-to-play or annoying advertisements. Trust that the advice is never tainted or biased. Deciding how to decide is as easy as becoming a member. And for less than $7.00 per day, it’s a game changer!
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