I was on a bike tour last week with a large medical data processing group. Talking with them about what they did this phrase came out repeatedly: “Data is not information.”
As dentists using computers we generate a lot of data. However if we cannot assemble that data into a meaningful format it has little value. Beyond that what does it mean? Just knowing the numbers is not useful unless we can turn the number into significant action.
Here is an example. Your computer keeps track of the number of prophys you do and the total production of every service you provide. That is data. You can assemble that data to give you a ratio of the prophy income to total income. Numbers or ratios of this kind are called Key Performance Indicators or KPIs. Now what?
In order to act on that data you need to know how your prophy to income ratio or KPI compares with the norm and with the ideal. You also need to know what action you can take if the KPI indicates a problem.
Finally you need to monitor change after the actions are taken turning data once again into information.
Few dentists have the training or experience to use this kind of business information effectively. That is why we rely so heavily on business consultants. Dentrix users have another option.
Dentrix offers an online consulting service called Profitability Coaching. Profitability Coaching monitors the data generated by your Dentrix system generates KPIs and then creates a personalized action plan for your office. Finally they will monitor results and follow up with help as needed.
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Dental Purse: Dental art is anything that depicts teeth or dentistry in an interesting or artistic way. If you have any suggestions for future Dental Art pieces please send them to me or give me a link. Thanks.
A break from the dark and frightening images, although there are sadly many more in the collection. This purse with teeth is a bit whimsical yet still has a sinister feel. True dental geeks however know the mold and shade of the teeth and are wondering if they are in proper occlusion.
All the Dental Art images can be found here on Pinterest.
Very interesting stats from Sesame Communication research, When patients receive a finacial reminder for a past due amount and they are offered the option of paying online:
- Within 24 hours 38% pay the balance.
- Within 48 hours 50% pay the balance.
Cubex uses a digital cabinet to store inventory and track usage. An online management program called SIM (Smart Inventory Manager) gathers the data, and even places orders automatically as needed.
One of the first things most dentists and team members notice is that the Cubex cabinet seems much too small to hold all your supplies. The basic cabinet is the size of a large bookshelf, about 77 inches high, 51 inches wide and 24 inches deep. (Larger models are available if needed.) It seems too small but once you organize the supplies you actually use and reduce the amounts you have in stock to what is really needed it is in fact large enough for most offices. When you see all the “stuff” you had stored in cabinets, piled in the closet or stuffed under the sinks fit into a single cabinet that has about one forth the capacity you were previously using it shows you how much we were wasting in excess inventory and storage space.
Are you net savvy? Take this quiz to determine your online footprint.
- Do you have a practice web page?
- Has the practice web page been updated in the last year?
- Do you send e-mails to patients?
- Do you have an office blog?
- Are you on Facebook, as a dentist?
- Do you Tweet?
- Are you listed in online dental directories?
- Do you have videos on YouTube?
- Can people contact you through the Internet?
- Have you claimed your Google+ place?
Give yourself one point for every yes answer. If you answered no to question 2, your web page is not up to date, subtract 4 points. It is actually worse to have an out of date poor web site than to have none at all.
If you scored a perfect 10 then you are an up to date, 21st Century, net savvy, Web 2.0, power practice.
On the other hand if you scored 5 or 6 you are typical. If you scored less than 3…well you wouldn’t have because at less than 3 you wouldn’t be reading a blog to begin with.
The point of the quiz is to demonstrate that having an online footprint does not simply mean you have a web page or an office Facebook page. A practice web site is just the beginning. To use the Internet effectively means tapping into the power of dynamic, interactive web sites; social media, e-communications, search engines, social networking and more.
For help with setting up your online foot print I recommend Sesame and TNT Dental
In case you missed it here is a link to a classic article from last year in Dentalcompare. It is intended to be fun and funny however you may recognize some things that actually happen in your office.
Back with the patient Harriet is ready to try again. Mr. Grumple has been here almost an hour, he is still in pain and now he is clearly ticked off. Judy the front desk fool person is standing in the hall frantically gesturing toward all the people in the waiting room and pointing at her watch. Dr. Paperman steams in, sees what is going on and asks, “Where is the x-ray?”
Harriet bursts into tears.
via Harriet the Harried Dental Assistant | Dentalcompare.com.
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