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ePaper created 2018-02-16, 11:17:41 | version 1.38.0
| practice management survive the future Don’t blink— You may miss something! Author: Chris Barrow, United Kingdom Staying in touch with patient expectations is arguably the single most important way to survive the future. I recently took fi ve weeks off work to go catamaran sailing in the Caribbean, get married while there and then leave my lovely new wife behind to explore the mountains and deserts of Oman with seven friends. On my return, the back issues of dental magazines were full of General Dental Council changes to its reg- ulatory systems, the National Association of Special- ist Dental Accountants and Lawyers revealing a 53 per cent increase in UK practice goodwill values in the last year, mydentist taking a break from practice purchases, the FGDP (UK) seeking independence, the risk that NHS dental contract reform could force as- sociates to become employees and Simplyhealth an- nouncing their name change for Denplan. Add in the Bupa purchase of Oasis before I started my wander- ings and the rise and rise of digital dentistry and we have what can safely be described as a rapidly chang- ing and disruptive marketplace. Predictions are a dangerous game. I have been asked to submit prophetic articles on many occasions in the past. Perhaps unusually (because I am wired that way), I have always made a point of returning to the predictions some years later, just to see how close I came to getting things right. I am delighted to tell you that I have maintained an average score of 50 per cent on my guesses as to what may happen next. The challenge, as they say, is knowing which 50 per cent and, frankly, I never have a clue. Sorry! So my purpose here is not to add yet another list of half-truths to the speculations of my peers in writing and speaking; I would rather offer some thoughts on how to survive the disruptive dental market. Rule 1: Stay focused on the patient No matter what big business, private equity or shareholder pressure does to the dental industry, the independent dental business owner will be able to de- liver a unique selling point built on customer service. The patient experience will always be the way in which you can positively differentiate yourself. Staying in touch with patient expectations is arguably the single most important way to survive the future. 06 CAD/CAM 4 2017