It’s no secret that over the course of the past couple of years, dentists across the country have been dealing with a staffing crisis. Whether it’s due to high turnover or a shortage in staff, this is a serious dilemma as it impacts operations of a clinic, and in return, its revenue.
This isn’t a new trend, and it’s expected to continue for another five years. So what gives?
Whether you can personally relate to this phenomenon or not, its impact is bound to catch up to your clinic, so it’s imperative that you take the necessary precautions and implement the right changes to avoid being hit by this shortage, right away.
Our mission is to support you with the right know-how and tools to equip yourself with the right systems before you have a crisis or need.
Now listen, our solutions do not provide overnight miracles. They are long term measures worth implementing as soon as today in order to help you get back on your feet and run a fully-staffed clinic sooner, rather than later. Let’s take a closer analysis at what you’re doing within the walls of your own clinic. Here are the top three critical areas to address during this potentially challenging time:
Your People
No dental clinic operates the same way as another. The culture, dynamic, expectations and operation flow is unique to each practice. When onboarding new team members, regardless of the extent of their experience in the industry, always assume that this is a clean slate. Proper learning and development initiatives must be in place to ensure their successful transition with your team.
Before hiring a new team member, make sure you’re looking for the right fit. You want to feel confident that they will get along with the rest of your team, and emulate the values and character important to you to represent your clinic when they start working with patients.
Make sure you have an onboarding package or training program. Standard operating procedures are a critical component to any and every industry. Even if the new staff member you’re bringing on has 10+ years of experience working in a dental clinic, you still want to be certain that they are trained up according to the standards you set for your practice, too.
Team-building is so incredibly important to strengthening and preserving your staff. Creating initiatives to bring your staff together, share responsibilities, have fun while working together and giving them the opportunity to grow into leadership or mentorship positions keeps the workplace culture vibrant and exciting. No one wants to feel stuck professionally. Invest in your team’s development. The dental industry may be slower than most to change, but technology and changing demands continues to move faster than ever, continuing to emphasize professional development, with monthly lunch and learns or programs is paramount to ensure your team offers the best services out there.
Your Systems
Here’s some important questions to ask yourself.
Have your practice protocols shifted completely or are you now wearing multiple hats? Is your team doing everything they can and still not getting ahead of things?
Your people rely on systems to know what to do, when to do it and how to get it done. A practice built on proven, effective & efficient systems will make everyone’s job easier, enjoyable and ensure quality output. When employees are empowered to perform their best by being provided with the best support, they will most likely stick around and continue to deliver great work.
You never want to wait until you lose a team member due to lack of support and training, and subsequent burnout. Make sure you have the right systems in place so that operations are as smooth and efficient as possible.
We go into deeper details about said systems in this article here: https://shiftacct.com/blog/post/dental-software-trends
Your Training
The best and most fulfilled teams are the ones that know what to do, how to do it and when to get it done. When bringing on new team members, it’s important to compliment their onboarding with a combination of modules/independent learning as well as mentoring/shadowing when training them.
You cannot make do with only one over the other. Since you may already be short-staffed, both styles of learning are necessary when training new/inexperienced team members. With self-directed onboarding guides, whenever time allows (which it rarely does), you can ensure your team has adequate support until the new member feels confident enough to shadow someone from their team.
Make sure to choose the right person to mentor your new hire. Usually it’s someone who is seasoned, quick on their feet, warm, friendly, eager to teach/answer any questions and contributes to the great practice culture you’re building.
The Takeaway
The primary key to success for the future of dentistry lies in building the right foundation today. Implementing the right systems & putting together a stellar team go hand in hand to build a flawless flow of operation and a maximized, profitable & fully running clinic. This can only occur by overhauling the current practice systems and implementing new ones that focus on the well-being of the team, to ensure low turnover and an amazing workplace culture that is reflected in the services you offer to your patients.
Shift Accounting works with over 80 successful clinics across Canada. We go beyond basic book-keeping, providing a range of financial and administrative services, as well as consulting and CFO contracting. We are invested in your success. Contact us today for more information on how you can take the next step to grow your practice and build a more profitable business.
