The Business of Dentistry Podcast

How a plan forms the basis of your business

Today host Zoe Close brings to you Nigel Jones, Sales and Marketing Director at Practice Plan, who explains the ways in which a dental membership plan can form the basis of your business!

What you'll hear today:

• Nigel explains how dental membership plans are the best way of packaging preventative care for patients
• How a dental membership plan can help to build stronger relationships with patients through increased rapport and trust, leading to increased loyalty
• The impact a dental membership plan can have upon goodwill valuations 
• How you can bring an improvement to your cash flow through a dental membership plan.

Increasing treatment plan uptake!

Today’s unmissable episode of Bodcast is hosted by Sales and Marketing Director, Nigel Jones. In this episode, Nigel is joined by Richard Collard and together they share their expert advice and guidance on ways in which dental practices can increase their treatment plan uptake.

What you'll hear today:

• Nigel explains why he believes there will be significant growth in the cosmetic treatment market in the next few years
• Richard and Nigel's advice on how practices can maximise their share of the increase in market, as well as maximising their chances of benefiting their patients
• Creating the right environment for patients from the very first contact with your dental practice to ensure they feel sufficiently calm and relaxed
• The importance of having a good conversation with patients and presenting the solutions.

 

The 10% Push

In this special episode of Bodcast, Les Jones is joined by Simon Tucker to provide an unmissable insight into what you can expect from the expert duo at the upcoming Practice Plan Workshop Tour!

What you'll hear today

• An insight into what you can expect in the interactive and practical workshop.
• Les and Simon explain the concept behind the 10% Push.
• Simon shares how he will be providing practical hints and tips on how to make the most of your existing patient base.
• Les explains how he will be looking at how to attract new patients to your practice on the day.

Hygiene referral fees - what you need to know

In today’s episode of Bodcast, host Zoe Close, Area Sales Manager at Practice Plan catches up with Business Consultant Sheila Scott to discuss hygienist services within the dental practice. Don’t miss Sheila’s advice on what actions need to be taken to ensure your hygiene books are kept full, without risk of complaints.

What you’ll hear today:

• Sheila explains the four reasons why she believes that dental practices should focus upon hygiene services
• How standard 1.7.6 in ‘Standards for the Dental Team’, issued in September 2013, impacts upon the way in which hygiene referral fees are paid
• Sheila’s expert advice on an alternative to paying associates a referral fee which is directly linked to individual patients.

 

Developing your business strategy

Don't miss this episode of Bodcast with host Les Jones, Creative Director at Practice Plan which focuses on marketing your dental practice. Les shares his knowledge on the importance of developing a clear strategic plan for the future of your business, as a basis for any marketing activity you do. 

What you'll hear today:

• The importance of having a clear, well-communicated and well-monitored strategic plan within your practice
• Les shares a simple four-step model to help you to develop a strategic plan for your business using the 'Strategic Pyramid' covering your vision, goal, strategies and actions
• Advice on how to ensure your team are all on board with your plan by providing context for what they're doing using a top-down influence  
• Les provides his expert advice on the importance of engaging the whole team in coming up with ideas and monitoring progress, plus ways you can achieve this. 

 

The difference between brand and branding! With Les Jones

Don't miss this episode of Bodcast with host Les Jones, Creative Director at Practice Plan which focuses on marketing your dental practice. Les shares his knowledge on the importance of developing a strong brand for your dental practice and provides his expert advice on the key areas you need to focus on.

What you'll hear today:

• Why brand is important
• The difference between brand and branding
• Les' expert advice on why the following four distinct areas all need your attention and focus when developing your brand: products and services, physical environment,collateral and your team
• Whether a strong,powerful and charismatic brand can be created in a small practice.

Prototypes - A discussion on blends and how they work in practice with Paul Worksett

Today’s unmissable episode of Bodcast is based upon the future of dentistry and focuses on the latest stage of the reform programme to the English NHS dental contact. Listen as host, Sales and Marketing Director Nigel Jones catches up with dentist Paul Worskett who is currently testing one of the prototypes and provides a fascinating insight into his own experiences of how the blends work in practice.

What you'll hear today:

• Paul’s own experiences of being involved in the reform programme
• An insight into Paul’s early impressions of working under the prototype contract
• A consideration of the financial risks of being part of the prototype contracts
• Insight into where the implementation of the Dental Quality and Outcomes Framework (DQOF) is up to, as well as how the measurement systems associated with ensuring appropriate capitation payments are going
• Remuneration of associate dentists under the prototype contract
• Paul’s views on whether the Minister of Health Alistair Burt’s target of 2018/19 for the rollout of the contracts, is a realistic one
• The impact, if any, of the Brexit vote on the prototypes
• Paul’s take on time-limited contracts.
•  

How to build a strong team - Part 2 with Michael Bentley

Today’s episode of Bodcast is the second with Michael Bentley focusing on how to build a strong team. Host Zoe Close, Area Sales Manager at Practice Plan caught up with Dental Consultant Michael Bentley to find out his tips and advice on creating ‘The ULTIMATE Interview Process.’

What you’ll hear today:

• Michael’s advice on how to get the very best out of your candidate for all roles in the practice
• How to use an informal walk around of the practice as part of the interview process
• Michael’s recommendations on using a medical history form
• Advice on interviewing clinicians
• Guidance on what skills to look for in your candidates and how to find out about these as part of the interview process
• The importance of holding a question and answer session at the end of your interview process
• How to use a trial day to ensure you’re finding the right candidate.

 

How to build a strong team - Part 1 with Michael Bentley

Today’s episode of Bodcast is the first instalment with Michael Bentley on building a strong team. In this unmissable episode, hosted by Zoe Close, Area Sales Manager at Practice Plan, Michael shares his valuable insight and advice on adopting an effective recruitment process in your dental practice.

What you’ll hear today:

• Michael’s expert advice on creating a vision plan for your vacancy
• Tips on where to advertise your position
• What to do with CVs as and when they drop through your door
• Advice on recruiting clinicians
• Michael’s suggestions on how you can use application forms to find out what you need to know about applicants
• Guidance on shortlisting candidates for interview.

Getting to Grips with the CQC – Part 2 with Harriet Purdie

In this second instalment of 'getting to grips with the CQC', Area Sales Manager at Practice Plan, Zoe Close, catches up with CQC expert, Harriet Purdie who provides useful insight into the best way to prepare for a CQC inspection.

What you’ll hear today:

• The importance of delegation and empowerment within your team
• Harriet’s guidance on why you need to gain feedback from your team
• The questions the CQC expects you to ask your patients to gain their feedback
• How you can audit your compliance within your practice.