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RevUp Dental
RevUp Dental
Is your dental practice stuck growing? It's not your dental skills holding you back, it's what's happening under the hood. RevUp shows you where you're losing patients and fixes it with proven systems, training and marketing that makes you money.
Blog By:
Nick Fotache
Nick Fotache

What to Look for When Hiring Dental Staff

What to Look for When Hiring Dental Staff

3/25/2024 3:56:40 AM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 78


In today's fast-paced dental industry, it's more important than ever to look beyond just the technical skills when hiring new staff. Let's dive deep into why personality, customer service skills, and aligning with the practice's vision are just as crucial as technical abilities.


Hire for The Personality, Train for The Skill

Many dental practices prioritize technical skills during hiring, focusing on specific patient management systems and insurance processing capabilities. Yet, this overlooks the critical importance of soft skills like warmth, friendliness, and customer service, which are essential for creating a welcoming atmosphere and enhancing patient loyalty. 

Contrary to the belief held by many dentists that hiring outside the dental industry is challenging, the reality is that software and technical skills can be taught relatively quickly. In contrast, the innate ability to connect with and care for patients, a trait not as easily taught, is invaluable. To cultivate a successful team, dental practices must adopt hiring strategies that include comprehensive onboarding and ongoing training that extends beyond technical tasks, ensuring staff are fully integrated into the practice’s culture and vision. This holistic approach promotes a unified team dedicated to exceptional patient care.


Learning from Hospitality: The Ritz-Carlton Experience

The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain is renowned for its exceptional customer service, much of which can be attributed to its rigorous staff training and strong emphasis on company values. By insisting on a rigorous training period before staff members interact with guests, and by instilling a deep understanding of the company's vision and values, the Ritz-Carlton ensures that every employee is prepared to provide exceptional service. 

This level of dedication to training and vision alignment is something dental practices can aspire to, recognizing that such investment in staff development pays dividends in patient satisfaction and loyalty.


The Importance of Personality in Hiring

Focusing on personality and the potential for growth and learning within the dental field is crucial. For example, someone with a background in retail might bring valuable customer service experience that can be leveraged in a dental practice setting. It's about finding individuals who are not just capable of performing the technical aspects of their job but who can also contribute positively to the practice's environment and patient experience.


Retaining Talent through a Positive Workplace Culture

Creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and part of a team is essential for retention. This includes recognizing the importance of every role within the practice and ensuring that staff members have the opportunity to grow and develop their skills. Practices should strive to be places where employees want to work, motivated by more than just a paycheck.


Conclusion: Building a Patient-Centric Team

In conclusion, the key to building a successful dental practice lies not only in hiring individuals with the necessary technical skills but also in finding those who embody the practice's values and vision. By prioritizing soft skills, ongoing training, and a strong practice culture, dental practices can create a team that excels in delivering exceptional patient care. It's about creating a patient-centric environment where the staff is genuinely invested in providing the best possible experience for every patient who walks through the door.
Category: Practice Management, HR and Accounting
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