Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

19Practice ManagementDecember 12-18, 2011United Kingdom Edition rules and, in some cases, a fee) is always a good idea but I’ve seen many that can’t be read until you’re right on top of them and/or contain so much information that a passer-by will simply be that – a passer- by. Similar considerations ap- ply to signage at your practice. Oh, there are some awful logos out there – yet there are many (inexpensive) brilliant design- ers. And now for your “shop” window, should you have one. What is it they say about peo- ple in glass houses? That’s right, they should undress in the basement. Tidy away those boxes of leaflets and the recent delivery of surgical gloves and get those mugs off the counter please. As for the window dis- play – do have one. There’s no need to employ a visual mer- chandiser (aka window dress- er), as a few brochures stand- ing upright will do. You can include your opening hours and your website, Twitter and Facebook addresses (useful if people look in the window when you’re closed). How about a couple of photos of smile makeovers you’ve done with testimonials alongside? Awards you’ve won could go in the window too. How about a welcome message on the door – ‘Come on in for a better smile? Now I’m in a practice and looking around. That noti- ceboard could do with sort- ing out. And where on earth did those prints come from – they are so depressing! I suggest you Google “dental practice interior design” and look through the galleries of the various companies that come up. Okay, so they are new builds or complete refur- bishments but they will give you ideas for artwork, flowers and seating arrangements. If you’re with a plan provider, they’ll probably help too. What’s next? It has to be the loo. For me, a clean toilet in a practice is as important as the clinical staff being GDC registered. I may, however, be unusual in thinking this. When the Science Museum in Lon- don conducted a poll recently to find the 50 things the Brit- ish public said they could not do without, a flushing toilet came ninth – behind an Inter- net connection, Facebook and email! Nevertheless, when you’re in the business of promoting good health, an unhygienic toilet is a big no no. More than that, it does not look good if there are paper towels on the floor, if the waste bin is full, if the soap dispenser is empty and so on. It just needs members of staff to check it regularly – and sort out any problems. That’s many of the visual things covered. To finish, I’ll deal with music, televisions and videos. Until quite recent- ly, I accepted these as quite normal in dental practices – in the same way as they’ve be- come common in shops and shopping centres. Then a col- league told me about Pipe- down – the campaign for free- dom from piped music (www. pipedown.info). Download its fact sheet and you’ll discover that more people hate piped music than like it. A survey of blood donors found that play- ing piped music made them more nervous. If you’re tempted to screen patient education material in your practice consider that an animation about an im- plant showing a scalpel cutting the gum and drills of increas- ing size boring into the bone will be a complete turn-off for most patients! In my next article, I explain how to find out what your pa- tients really think of the ser- vice you give, of your practice, of your staff and even of you! DT R4Practice Management Software GIVES YOU MORE For more information or to place an order please call 0800 169 9692 email sales.uk.csd@carestream.com or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk Carestream Dental © Carestream Dental Ltd., 2011. featuReS of R4 R4 Mobile Direct link to PIN pad Patient Check-in Kiosk Care Pathways Communicator Steritrak E-Forms Patient Journey On-line Appointment Booking Text Message and Email reminders Clinical Notes Appointment Book Digital X-Ray Managed Service Practice Accounts E-FORMS - allow you to get rid of the unnecessary paperwork cluttering up your practice. Patient forms are sent by email, completed online and digitally signed at your practice at their next appointment. At last, thanks to Carestream Dental, the ideal of a truly paperless practice is upon us. E-FORMS Eliminate paper from your practice .....and save a tree E-FORMS Eliminate paper from your practice .....and save a tree About the author A proven manager of change and driver of dramatic business growth, Jacqui Goss is the managing partner of Yes!RESULTS. By using Yes!RESULTS den- tal practices see an increase in treatment plan take- up, improved patient satisfaction and more appointments resulting from general enquiries. Yes!RESULTS turns good practices into great practices. Jacqui Goss Managing Partner, Yes!RESULTS Ashton House Sale Cheshire M33 6HE Tel: 08456 448066 Mob: 07795 562617 Email: jacqui@yesresults.co.uk Website: www.yesresults.co.uk Twitter: @Yesresults www.facebook.com/Yesresults http://uk.linkedin.com/in/jacquigoss