New Practice Owner- Advice
New Practice Owner seeking any good advice from experienced owners. Open to any "pearls of knowledge", advice, anything for a new owner.
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tvalentine
tvalentine

Small Claims OR Poor Fame? Help!!

9/19/2025 2:59:50 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 13
In a nutshell, I guess no good deed goes unpunished....and I should collect up front.

A new patient came in with an emergency fracture, who was referred to me from a good patient in my neighborhood. She had a lot of decay and a fractured tooth with discomfort. I followed protocol, consent forms (risk for endo), even had patient sign a financial form and completed a filling on one tooth and core/crown prep on the fractured tooth. The tooth became sensitive after a bit and I provided her with a referral to an endodontist before our crown seat appointment after an in office visit (no charge). I thought all went well but she did not return for the scheduled crown seat. We were able to contact her only once. At that time she reported going to another dentist (not the endodontist) and this new provider was completing treatment including the crown. She stated that she was not going to pay our office anything. I was shocked as we seemed to have good rapport. There has been no response from the patient from phone calls, certified mail (all received), statements, e-mail, or otherwise.  

This has never happen to me (younger dentist trying to build a small practice in a small city). Looking back I should have gotten payment in advance, care credit, or equivalent. Her balance currently is $499.50 after honoring her insurance reduced fees and downgrading the crown fee cost to a temporary crown for one tooth, and a large filling for the other. I added the lab cost for the fabricated crown. In the past, I have sent a few delinquent accounts to a local collection company, but never had any luck collecting. The other day I was talking with a colleague from a different state. He advised that I take the patient to small claims court. I have never done this or considered it. I have heard all sorts of things about this and do not want to make an emotional decision, but an intelligent one.

Please help, comment, or message me!!

My questions are:

1) Have any of you taken a patient to small claims court? What happen?

2) If the dentist sues a patient, I would assume the chart is considered “evidence”. Do any of you know how HIPAA factors into this? (Like can the dentist discuss specifics?)

3) Did you have any issues with your small claims experience? ( PR nightmare, reviews, etc). If yes, how did you manage it?

4)If you accept insurance, like I do (preauthorization never are immediate & one cannot file a claim until an x ray or the delivered crown is seated) what is your strategy to collect up front with an emergency patient?

5) Should I try small claims court to collect from this non-responsive patient? What do you recommend for my situation?


Any and all suggestions from your experience are appreciated. I want to learn from this and make the right decision moving forward.

Thank you very much for all of your time, experience, and advisement. I appreciate everything.

respectfully,

Valentine
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