Motivating Employees through Recognition

A common approach many practices take to motivate and reward employees is to offer bonuses and competitive pay. However, in these economic times, it’s more difficult to offer monetary compensation for hard work. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t fret. There are other ways to reward employees – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Public recognition helps build employee morale and personal fulfillment.

At the weekly or monthly team meeting take a few minutes to recognize the team or an individual for his or her contribution. Let them know they play an important role in the success of the practice and that you couldn’t function as a team without them. Some people might not like the spotlight of individual public recognition, so pull them aside and thank them in private.

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Uniforms and Name Tags

Even before a patient sees the doctor, he or she may judge your practice on its appearance alone. You know—that tricky first impression.

One area you can concentrate on is how your staff is dressed and how they present themselves. Many practices have scrubs as the practice attire, because they are comfortable and clean up easily. However, this image may be too casual for some patients who are looking for a more professional look—especially at the front desk, where the first impression is often made.

Creating a professional image at your practice can be done with a particular look or simply with uniforms. Now, I’m not for the old-fashioned all-white nurse’s outfits, however something more business casual may do the trick. Choose a color theme by day or week. Have staff wear shirts or polos with the practice name and logo embroidered on them. This can create a standard with little or no effort. Bonus: it’s another way to market the name of your practice—with staff coming and going from work, and while out and about during lunch.

How is your staff identified?

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Chiro Retail: Good for Your Patients, Great for Your Practice

Many of today’s chiropractors include selling chiropractic-specific products in their office to distinguish their practice from the competition and increase revenue.  Chiropractic retail sales appeals to patients because it provides them with assurance that the products are good for their health, and it helps them avoid a trip to another store.   

Chiropractors often stock small quantities of a variety of items.  Quality is more important than quantity.   “If you believe that you have a product that could or will decrease the healing time for your patient, would you share that with them?  I think most physicians wood,” says Serge Nerli, DC, from the Healing Touch Clinic in New York. 

Depending on the size, style and philosophy of your practice, “cervical pillows, lumbar supports, lumbar cushions and nutraceuticals are a good beginning,” continues Nerli.  “However, other devices also come to mind, such as T.E.N.S. units, portable muscle stimulators, moist heat packs, ice packs, supports for extremities and home exercise devices, such as exercise balls and weights of varying amounts.  The list is quite extensive.  There are even products which assist the patient in reducing stress, whether it’s a squeeze ball or a more sophisticated and expensive electronic device.”

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Infant Oral Health and Educating Parents

Today I would like to share an article sent to me by our vendor Preventive Dental. Dave Carroll teamed up with Sandra Boucher-Bessent from the National Children’s Dental Health Foundation for Modern Hygienist to write an article addressing infant oral health and anticipatory guidance - the process of providing practical, developmentally appropriate information about children’s health to prepare parents for significant developmental milestones.

Enjoy!

-Mary

Infant Oral Health
By Sandra L. Boucher-Bessent, BS, RDHa nd David T. Carroll, RDH, BSM

Early childhood caries (ECC), the presence of one or more decayed, missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child 71 months of age or younger, is a serious public health problem. Preventing ECC is possible when appropriate measures are applied early in a child’s life. Contemporary guidelines emphasize early professional attention that includes an oral examination, risk assessment for infants, and anticipatory guidance for parents. Read the rest of this entry »

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Cast a Wider’Net!; Marketing Your Practice with a Web Site

Times are changing. Running a successful practice today requires more than a knowledge of medicine; it takes a combination of training and business acumen – skills that are no longer mutually exclusive. Nowadays, a good marketing plan should include a Web site.

Your practice can only grow when your marketing plan extends further than your own front door, and Web sites are a great way to promote your practice externally. The goal is to position your practice one level above the competition. When you put forth the effort to create a strong polished message, prospective clients will notice. They will identify with your practice and feel confident that the care you provide is of the utmost quality.

A website gives clients the opportunity to learn about your biography and history, making you more relatable to them. Read the rest of this entry »

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Flu Vaccine Dilemma

As summer comes to a close, I’m already thinking of the fall activities and plans for the year’s end. One thing on my “to do” list for the fall is to get a flu shot. I hate being sick, and if I can avoid a potential illness with a simple shot, then I’m all for it.

Every year I wish I could go to my physician’s office for the vaccination, but the only available appointments are during work hours. Not to mention my doctor is always running behind schedule – sorry, doctor, that’s why I’m not mentioning your practice name.

The only other available options are to go to these “traveling flu shot clinics” that are often offered at local pharmacies, big box chain stores and, in some instances, even banks. Every time a patient goes to one of these retail medicine options, it takes away from the importance of seeing their physician. This is a missed revenue-generating opportunity for your practice, and one that can be easily fixed.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. A simple option may be to bring the “traveling flu shot” concept to your practice. Read the rest of this entry »

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