5 Steps to Incorporating a Specialist into your Practice
Congratulations on matching with a Alliance Dental Specialist! As your specialist’s Treatment Day approaches, here are a few tips on how to set them up for success.
1. Communicate Early and Often
Once compensation terms have been set, there’s quite a bit of work to ensure your practice is ready for the specialist. First, set a point of contact in your practice in addition to yourself, such as an office manager. It’s helpful to reply promptly to email communications and be proactive in dealing with concerns for the specialist.
Communicate early and often with the Specialist on patient concerns, medical alerts, schedule changes, and more. Traveling Specialists are adaptable but they don’t like surprises. Try to provide the specialist with at least 1 week’s notice of any schedule changes.
2. Be Prepared
Triple check everything before the first treatment day. First impressions are important, and preparing as much as you can for the Specialist before they step through the door will help the relationship start off on the right foot. Make sure your front and back office run through the appropriate training to handle the specialist’s instruments, explain treatment plans, and more. We’ll provide resources for you and your team.
3. Help Your Team Adjust
During your team’s first few meetings with the Specialist, ensure that everyone is diligently receiving the Specialist’s guidance. Walk your back office through procedures, indications, complications, post-op care, and other clinical topics. Be sure everyone on your team understands how to communicate specialty with patients.
4. Set Patient Expectations
The most crucial aspect of your relationship with the Specialist is patient selection. Review indications and contraindications for treatment, healing time, risks and benefits, and explanation of procedures to the patient.
5. Onboard Your Specialist
Make sure you have the Specialist configured into your practice management software and update any procedure codes and fee schedules. Make a binder of all their documents provided, consent forms, your agreement, etc. If the relationship progresses in the right direction, have your webmaster add them to your website.
Specialists are in high demand and the specialty community is small. Your reputation as a host for providers is valuable for growth and attracting top talent for your practice. Ensuring your practice is prepared for traveling specialty before each Treatment Day will boost your reputation as a practice to work with, as well as the standard of care you provide your patients.
Interested in learning more? Schedule a call with a member of our team and find out how bringing in a part-time specialist can help grow your practice.
