LLISTS Here’S Our List of Lists
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Lists_Layout 1 7/28/11 1:34 PM Page 94 the list Lists keep things simple. And we’re fans of lists at Dentaltown. Herein, we’ve collected and written lists for your entertainment and easy reference. From out-of-context quotes from the Dentaltown message boards (just for fun), to what you should have in your emergency kit (seriously!) – we’ve got a list for you. LLISTS Here’s Our List of Lists... Watching your practice’s numbers is just as important p. 95 Numbers You Should Know as the dentistry you do We all remember “P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”… p. 96 In the Media here are 22 additional dentists on our TV screens Things about Dentaltown and Dentaltown.com p. 98 Dentaltown you never knew you always wanted to know Be prepared for the 72 hours following a disaster p. 99 Emergency Kit with this emergency kit for the office Townies present hypothetical to-do lists for each other; p. 100 Townie To-Do Lists a snapshot of the camaraderie of Dentaltown.com To prevent quarterly and annual practice maintenance p. 102 Maintenance from falling by the wayside Insider strategies from p. 103 5 Ways Dentists Can Save Keating Dental Lab on Their Lab Bill ADS answers your 10 most frequently p. 104 Top 10 Questions Dentists Ask asked questions about practice transitions When Buying or Selling a Practice Curve Dental debunks your excuses p. 106 Excuses Dentists Give for regarding cloud computing Not Converting to the Cloud 94 August 2011 » dentaltown.com Lists_Layout 1 7/26/11 1:44 PM Page 95 the list NUMBERS Total Accounts Receivable Each month compare the last four months on the same day each month. Pick a day when there are less insurance payments posted, as that can skew the numbers. The last Wednesday was always a good day for us. Other accounts receivable numbers are equally valid, yet this number is the most NYou Should commonly used and easiest to find. Are the numbers going up or down? Know by Douglas Carlsen, DDS Amount of Refunds and Write-offs Each month, compare the last four months. This is a new addition to the Your Payment Schedule list as the explosion of HMOs, PPOs and office embezzlement has taken a toll on collections. Each day, meet with your financial coordinator to check each patient who was scheduled to make a payment above a certain amount, say $200. This is either from patients who had pro- cedures that day, were scheduled for a treatment plan with possible payment or were to make an Number of New Patients electronic or check payment. Did that patient Each month compare the last four months. Are make the proper payment? If yes, good; if no, the numbers going up or going down? What have the financial coordinator provide the reason marketing strategies are most effective for getting and both the doctor and the coordinator should new patients? Keep track of what works and what decide on a course of action. does not work in your area, for your practice. Total Accounts Payable Have your financial manager or accountant notify you of whether all accounts payable are current. Actually, this is not a “number,” just a yes or no. This includes practice loans, staff What to do when something is off: What does salaries, lab and supply bills, taxes… everything. one do if the numbers aren’t heading in the right If you are not current, find out why, pronto. direction? Go to the source directly involved with the errant number. This sounds a bit vague, Office Checkbook Balance but it works. If the checkbook is steadily wither- This is the real barometer of your practice. Your ing, ask the staff person who pays office bills and collections minus your expenses – your profit – the staff person who collects and posts pay- is inherent here. Each month find the low point ments. If accounts receivable are up, go to the for the last four months, not the high points, insurance and billing coordinators. The person the low points. Are the numbers increasing, who works directly with the number in question decreasing or about the same? will usually have an intuitive monitor to assess the reason for the change. Total production, total expense and overhead percentage have been left off this list on purpose. I want to emphasize the importance of the office checkbook in evaluation. Production and overhead are not necessarily the holy grail of modern dentistry. dentaltown.com « August 2011 95 Lists_Layout 1 7/28/11 1:44 PM Page 96 the list IN THE MEDIA From Seinfeld to The Simpsons, dentists are present throughout pop culture. Do you remember seeing these? In The Movies Most Requested n Dr. Nicholas “Oz” Oseransky (Matthew Perry) in I Celebrity Smiles The Whole Nine Yards – 2000 For Women: n Dr. Orin Scrivello (Steve Martin) in n Julia Roberts Little Shop of Horrors – 1986 n Angelina Jolie n Dr. Frank Sangster (Steve Martin) in n Halle Berry Novocaine – 2001 For Men: n Dr. Christian Szell (Laurence Olivier) in n Tom Cruise Marathon Man – 1976 n Tiger Woods n Dr. Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) in n Brad Pitt The In-Laws – 1979 n Barack Obama n Dr. Doug Madsen (Tim Allen) in Wild Hogs – 2007 Source: Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting Survey, 2010 n Dr. Theodore “Ted” Brooks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) in Snow Dogs – 2002 n Dr. Phillip Sherman or better known as “P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney” (voice of Bill Hunter) in Finding Nemo – 2003 n Dr. Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) in Ghost Town – 2008 n Drs. Steve and Ben Jessup (Phill Lewis and Bill Henderson, respectively) in City Slickers – 1991 n Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston) in Horrible Bosses – 2011 96 August 2011 » dentaltown.com M Lists_Layout 1 7/28/11 1:44 PM Page 97 the list Famous & Fictitious Dr. Tim Whatley (Bryan Cranston) of Seinfeld Dr. Wolfe (voice of Hank Azaria) of The Simpsons Dr. Wilbur Wonka (Christopher Lee) of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Dr. Bernard Nadler (Sam Anderson) of Lost Dr. Barry Farber (Mitchell Whitfield) of Friends Dr. Jerry Robinson of The Bob Newhart Show Captain Walter Koskiusko “Painless Pole” Waldowski (John Schuck) of M.A.S.H. Dr. Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan) of Desperate Housewives Dr. Glenn Martin of Glenn Martin, DDS Dr. Bob Fish of Bob and Margaret Dr. Carl Howell (John Stamos) of Glee Doc Holliday Dr. Barney Clark, the first recipient of the Jarvik-7, the first implantable artificial heart EDIAdentaltown.com « August 2011 97 Lists_Layout 1 7/27/11 9:21 AM Page 98 the list continued from page 79 Things about Dentaltown you never knew you always wanted to know. DDENTALTOWN Top Registered dentaltown password Countries on Dentaltown: pass123 United States Australia tooth123 [lastname, birthday] Canada Romania *Actually, we just made this up. Dentaltown’s India New Zealand Online Community Manager Kerrie wouldn’t help United Kingdom Saudi Arabia us out with this list. But if we hit the nail on the Egypt China head, you should probably go swap out your tired password with something not containing the actual Most Common Townie Passwords* Townie word “password.” Locating the Elusive Root Canal – Dennis Brave, Most Common DDS and Kenneth Koch, DMD Townie Names: Practical Oral Surgery for the General Dentist: David Mark Surgical Extractions – Jay B. Reznick, DMD, MD John Richard Precision Based Endodontics – Dennis Brave, DDS Michael William and Kenneth Koch, DMD Robert Jennifer James Thomas CE Courses on Dentaltown Top 3 Completed 3 Top We won’t tell you who said it or on which thread, but these are all verbatim quotes from the message boards of Dentaltown.com. “My pits and palms are getting sweaty just thinking about it.” “I’ve considered doing dentistry with my shirt off now.” “After all, if you want to catch a kangaroo, you need to think like a kangaroo.” “Hair straighteners, curling wands and refillable lighters.” “If they get blind drunk on Saturday, they are always fine on Monday.” “I love me some Gator.” “Tetley tea is also the official tea of the Harold Radford Society.” “Congratulations on your new chins.” “Usually the aliens are more careful about where they leave their probes.” “How can you go wrong with an inflatable pig?” “It would have to be a really smart monkey.” “I got a reindeer that poops root beer jellybeans...” Quotes from the Message Boards Out of Context “The Ferris Wheel won’t fit.” “Just ’cause Tiger Woods would have put it next to the pin does not make me wrong.” 98 August 2011 » dentaltown.com Lists_Layout 1 7/28/11 1:34 PM Page 99 the list EMERGENCY KIT In just the last few years we’ve seen plenty of disasters strike – for some it’s been devastating, for others it’s been too close for comfort. From Hurricane Katrina, to the flooding of the Mississippi; from tornadoes in the Midwest to the California earthquakes, we all have to be prepared. Disaster preparedness organizations through- out the country insist having 72 hours worth of emer- gency supplies on hand is essential. Many of us have emergency kits at home, but what about at the office? Here’s what should be in your “Go Bag”: Water – enough for each person to have one gallon per day. First aid kit including essential medications. Non-perishable food (don’t forget the can opener!). Blankets. A flashlight with extra batteries. Cash, in small denominations. A battery- powered radio. Matches and candles. Duct tape. Utility knife. Extra clothing. Personal hygiene items. Addresses and phone numbers.