High Tech Consulting

6 critical points that will save you sixty thousand dollars!

How to: Plan, Develop and Manage the High Tech Dental Office...

or What am I Doing with this Computer Anyway?

Six Points

1. Now is the time

This is truly a time of revolutionary change. Dentistry, along with the rest of the world, is racing into a high tech, computerized, digital, electronic future. Most dentists know this is coming but they are intimidated by it all. They are afraid they are being left behind, they are not sure of what products they need, how they will make them work in their office, or what the cost and return on investment will be.

Making the commitment to purchase a new dental computer system is a major investment in time, energy and money. Getting started right, with a plan and set of goals will help the investment pay off and it will save the dentist literally thousands of dollars.

2. Buying High Tech Systems

Learn the key questions dentists almost never ask. The type of computer system you need will be determined by the type of practice you have, the management systems you have in place and where you want to be in the future. There are multiple options when buying computers and knowing who to ask and what to look for can save you thousands of dollars.

Practice Analysis
Choosing Software
Training and Support
Hardware Purchase
Room Layout and Hardware Placement

3. Getting Started

One inevitable truth about using computer based management systems is that it takes work to do it right the first time and then the system will do it right forever. Getting started right is critical. Don't make the common mistake of seeing how it goes and then learning what you are doing. The most critical time with any new system is the first month. How you get started, how well you set up the system, will determine how you use the systems you purchase. It is much harder to come back and do it over than it is to do it right the first time.

Data Transfer
Practice Set Up
Setting Goals
Integrating with Word, Excel or Others
Problem Solving

4. Managing Technology

The biggest problem faced by most dental offices with an advanced computer system is not computer related but is a basic failure of management systems. The best technology will not overcome a poorly run practice. On the other hand a well managed practice with only slight modifications can use technology to truly excel.

Goal Setting
Treatment Room Entry
Return on Investment
Marketing
Data Base Marketing
Accessing the System via Modem

5. Staff Training

Most dental office use only a fraction of their computing capacity. They have little formal training and spend practically nothing on advanced training. No wonder they never achieve all they could. Staff training is critical in three areas; getting started, moving on to advanced uses and training new staff members when they join the team.

Staff Training
Getting Staff to use the Complete System
Training New People
Using each Module

6. Future Planning

We have seen the future and it is digital. Advanced add ons to basic systems are being developed every day. Some of these add ons will become essential office systems and others will fade in to the past along with eight track tapes. Knowing what is important and planning for future change is an incredible advantage.

Future Developments
Integrating with Other Systems
Cameras Imaging Systems
Digital X-Ray
Using and Integration with Information Systems
Internet
Office Web Sites
E-mail
Additional Software Options
Other Windows Programs
Accounting
Drug Programs

The Next Step

Have fun and good luck.

"The future is coming and it will be amazing."

Lawrence F. Emmott, D.D.S.
727 E. Bethany Home Rd. A-100
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone: (602) 279-1641
Fax: (602) 279-1507

An Overview of services and costs.