There is definitely a rhythm to the year for every practice. Being in tune with this rhythm can add nicely to your bottom line. For example, for most practices August is the #1 check-up month of the year. Almost every family practice should add to their hygiene capacity the last part of August. Patients don’t plan ahead so you have to. For most of you, just fitting in an additional 10 or 20 check-up visits in any given month will add $1,000s to your bottom line and help keep your active patient base active and healthy.
Likewise, December, January and February are the #1 Crown and Bridge months of the year. If you have an intra-oral camera (and most of you do), this is when you must insist that it is lit up. Patients who have used up their benefits this year and don’t want to proceed should be scheduled ahead into January. That means your treatment follow-up system must be worked and your staff is on the phones to get those patients cared for. That will help get next year off to a good start. Of course, many of you have already sent (by mail or digital communications) the “Year End Insurance/Flex Plan Letter” as a way to remind patients to get in and get their work done and plan for next year. If you’d like a copy of this letter, just call.
Plan now for the college students who will be returning during the holidays. “Same Day Dentistry” can work well with these patients.
Plan your calendar now for next year. Whenever possible, synch up your vacations with that of your staff. When you are working you want all hands on deck and when you’re off, you don’t want to have to pay people to “paint rocks.” Just think how expensive it is to even loose a week of hygiene (and the treatment that comes from those check-up visits to your schedule) when coverage could be prearranged or not needed at all (if you both plan your time off at the same time).
A little planning can go a long way to leveraging your hard work.