Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

pointment for any reason, all they need to do to alert the ap- propriate staff member is reply to the text. For patients who do not embrace new technol- ogy so readily, the system can be programmed to send them a letter instead. Immediately, the number of telephone calls drops dramatically, enabling receptionists to divert their time and attention elsewhere, such as attending to patients in the waiting room. The current economic cli- mate gives pause for thought when it comes to investing in expensive new computer equipment or software pro- grammes for your practice. A managed service is a cost- effective solution to this dilemma, as it provides all the benefits of the latest sys- tems with minimal expendi- ture. The leading provider even offers a rental arrange- ment that involves monthly payments with no introduc- tory fee. In the majority of cases, practices will be able to use the system from their ex- isting computer set up, how- ever occasionally it will be necessary for the service pro- vider to improve the broad- band connection to a high speed version. For the most part, though, transferring re- sponsibility of your practice database and software to a reliable third party is a vi- able and affordable option for nearly every dental practice in the UK. To maximise the benefit of an integrated management system basic staff training is a must. Some software is incredibly easy to use and enables all members of the team to perform a variety of tasks much more quickly without requiring in-depth IT experience. However, as with any changes in the practice, an introduction to a new system or procedure saves even more time in the long run. In the past, staff training was somewhat cumbersome and costly, involving time- consuming offsite courses or the presence of an in- structor in the practice, both methods interfering with the day-to-day running of the practice and patient care; how- ever, online training is now the technique of choice for minimal disruption and opti- mal learning. The beauty of online training is that it offers live, interactive tuition, which can be organised at a mo- ment’s notice to fit into a convenient time to suit the staff and practice. Prices are akin to traditional forms of training, but avoid the ex- pense and inconvenience that comes with travelling to an external training facility. Pre- recorded instruction videos and other learning materials are readily available and re- usable, offering a flexible way to integrate training into your day and assisting a seamless transition to the new system. Remote hosting services are in the unique position to be able to offer further resourc- es in terms of upgrading and training opportunities, mar- keting advice and additional services for maximising prof- it, such as how to exploit the internet for the benefit of the practice. Developments in modern practice management soft- ware are easily on a par with those of clinical dentistry, such as the rapid innovations in restorative solutions. In- creasingly, practices are en- trusting their databases and administration software to managed services, which are in a position to employ safety measures and data protec- tion compliance that would otherwise be out of reach, expensive or unwieldy. Pro- viders use and maintain ex- tremely powerful remote servers so that practices don’t have to make large upfront investment or arrange to ser- vice or repair costly equip- ment. Each member of the dental team can perform their role to the best of their abil- ity with the support of this highly efficient tool, ensuring the practice is an effective, productive and dependable proposition in an exceedingly competitive industry. DT About the author Neil Sanderson Carestream Dental For more information please call Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk For more information please call 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamden- tal.co.uk 17Practice ManagementFebruary 6-12, 2012United Kingdom Edition R4Practice Management Software GIVES YOU MORE AND KEEPS ON GIVING constantly improving constantly developing constantly delivering 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., 2012. 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 More features, More benefits, More time, More support, all of which can help you achieve More patients and More profits ...and there’s still more to come