Fall has arrived, and COVID cases are down. Will we ever get back to normal? I sure hope so. Until then, let’s stay vigilant and continue to lead the charge against misinformation in the fight against COVID. Vaccine mandates are a hot topic so please be sure to follow the latest ADA/FDA and CDC guidance. I have had at least one patient request treatment from “vaccinated personnel only”. Patient education is paramount in a situation like that!
In November, we have two back to back exciting events. On November 10th, we will have our joint meeting with UPCDA at the Hilton in Carillon. On November 11th, we are having a Joint Social with HCDA. The executive board and I value your membership. If I can help you in any way to add value to your membership, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Brent Mayer, DMD
PCDA President
813-417-3346
|
|
Upcoming PCDA & UPCDA Meeting |
Date: Wednesday, November 10th
Time: 6:00 PM Social / 7:00 PM Business
Location: Hilton at Carillon Park
Joint Meeting with Upper Pinellas
Mask wearing is encouraged due to some participants being immunocompromised.
Title: Ethical Practice Management: Employment Strategies for Dentists (2 CEUs - Burnout Prevention)
Speaker: Dr. Annelise Driscoll
Program Description:
In today’s litigious society, it is estimated that 45% of dentists will get sued by current or former employees. Lawsuits can cost dentists hundreds of thousands of dollars and are usually not covered by insurance, which can impact dentist’s wealth accumulation goals significantly. Having both knowledge, policies, and strategies in place to ensure compliance is critical for the financial growth of the practice and dentists. This webinar will provide dentists with the knowledge of relevant laws that apply to dental practices, assess areas of vulnerability within the practice, and formulate strategies to implement a successful practice compliance program.
Course Objectives:
- Understand some of the Federal, State, and local employment laws that dentists are required to comply with as employers
- Assess areas of risk within the dental practice
- Align practice compliance strategies as wealth accumulation strategies
Speaker Bio: Dr. Annelise Ydstebo Driscoll, MBA, PhD
Dr. Driscoll is an accomplished Educator, Administrator, Researcher and Consultant with approximately 30 years’ experience in Health Care. She brings with her an extensive background in oral health and dentistry. Dr. Driscoll has been in the Healthcare Administrative field for 25 years in private, public, and corporate practices of different sizes, before transitioning to 10 years of academic teaching, research, public speaking, published author and peer-reviewed journal editor, and consultative project development in a health executive capacity. She completed her Executive MBA from the University of Central Florida, College of Business and her PhD in Public Affairs/Healthcare Administration at UCF’s College of Health and Public Affairs. Having spent the majority of her career integrally involved in the business side of dentistry, Dr. Driscoll has a strong passion for providing comprehensive, contemporary, and applicable education to assist dentists in protecting their dental practices and assets. Click here to read more.
|
|
PCDA 2021-2022 Meeting Schedule |
|
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Practical Abuse Education for the Dental Professional, Dr. Glori Enzor
The Club at Treasure Island
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
No Bone, No Problem: Full Arch Immediate Load Implant Solutions for the Severely Atrophic Patient, Dr. Mike Pikos and Dr. Phil Hedger
St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater
|
|
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
OMG I got a Bad Review, What to Do?, Dr. Len Tau
The Club at Treasure Island
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
TBD
The Club at Treasure Island
Friday, April 8, 2022
End of the Year Celebration (rescheduled from September 9th)
Parks & Rec, St. Pete
|
|
Affiliate Collaboration Virtual Seminar Series |
|
The Pinellas, Upper Pinellas and Hillsborough County Dental Associations teamed up to provide additional added value and benefit to your membership! Pre-registration is required prior to each virtual meeting. The lectures are not available for viewing at a later time.
Post webinar, a CEU Certificate will be emailed to you, and the WCDDA will upload the course attendance into CE Broker for you contingent upon the time logged into the virtual platform.
|
|
Upcoming Virtual Seminars |
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Ethical Practice Management: Employment Strategies for Dentists, Dr. Annelise Driscoll
Hosted by PCDA & UPCDA
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Dentistry’s Next Great Frontier: Integrative Dental Medicine, Dr. DeWitt Wilkerson
Hosted by HCDA
Hernando County Dental Association members are invited to attend!
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Practical Abuse Education for the Dental Professional, Dr. Glori Enzor (2CEUs)
Hosted by PCDA *required for re-licensure
Hernando County Dental Association members are invited to attend!
Pre-registration is required for the virtual lectures.
|
|
FDA Virtual House of Delegates
January 22, 2022
WCDDA Gasparilla Tent
January 29, 2022
FDA Dentists' Day on the Hill
February 1, 2022
WCDDA President's Reception
February 3, 2022
|
|
WCDDA Annual Meeting
February 4, 2022
Florida's Mission of Mercy
March 11-12, 2022
WCDDA Summer Meeting
August 5-7, 2022
|
|
The Value of Values The Power of Patient Communication in Facilitating Practice Growth |
There is more to patient communication than case presentations and financial negotiations. Many subtle communication points, both verbal and nonverbal, speak volumes to patients long before the dental team ever gets to those important conversations. For example, does your lobby and office convey your care about patient comfort and easing their anxiety? Do team members, including the dentist, communicate a patient-centric culture and a genuine happiness to be working there? Are potential new patient first phone calls resulting in appointments? What does your new patient welcome process say to patients?
All of these aspects of communication strongly influence patients even before the dentist reaches the point of trying to persuade them with case presentations and asking for referrals, both of which are vital to practice growth. The concept of influencing others in a positive way is important for the benefit of both the practice and its patients.
Influencing Others
In his book, Influence: "The Psychology of Persuasion", best-selling author Robert B. Cialdini identifies three types of people when it comes to influencing others: (1) The Bungler doesn't know anything about influencing people and typically doesn't even realize his or her role in effective patient communication. Outcomes are usually "lose/lose." (2) The Smuggler is a thief who uses the power of influence to mislead and manipulate in order to achieve a one-way gain, ie, a "win" for the practice that's not necessarily in the best interest of the patient. (3) The Detective of Influence is aware of his or her level of influence and intentionally applies principles to the benefit of both the practice and the patient; outcomes are always "win/win."
The term "influence" is often equated with a negative connotation of manipulation. Only the Smuggler uses influence in the wrong ways for the wrong reasons. Dentists need to change their paradigm by reminding themselves that patients visit because they need what the dentist has to offer. Dentists know better than their patients what that need is, and it is their responsibility to help patients make good decisions about their oral health. Communication must be done with the confidence that you as the dentist are influencing them to make those good decisions, and not manipulating them into doing something they may not need or want.
The Four-Minute Rule
Becoming a good "detective of influence" takes practice; using the four-minute rule is a great first step. When meeting patients for the first time, dentists should take about four minutes to learn about the patient before asking why they have come in. By spending these first few minutes conversing with new patients, information can be gathered that can be used to influence them later to both their and the practice's benefit. For example, ask the patient where they live and for how long they've been there. Ask about their family, what their interests are, what they do for a living, and who referred them. By showing authentic interest, dentists will garner valuable information that can help them make the most appropriate treatment recommendations. In addition, they may be surprised at how much they enjoy getting to know their patients.
Influence Is a Process
Influencing patients-for the right reasons and to create "win/win" outcomes-is a process. It begins with the small communication touchpoints mentioned earlier and follows through to advantageous treatment recommendations. The principles of influence can be applied to the dental team so that they can consistently execute a well-orchestrated process for every patient, thereby delivering a great patient experience and supporting practice growth.
Learning to be a good influencer becomes the basis of an effective process that leads to repeat visits, larger purchases, and a continuous flow of new patients through referrals. A patient visit can be divided into three main parts, with the principles of influence used in each. First is the time from the call to the appointment, to increase new patients. Next is from the moment the appointment is scheduled through when the patient is in the chair; this part of the experience is a major factor as to whether or not the patient stays, pays, and refers. Lastly is the time from the chair through the end of the appointment where treatment is presented and consented to and which most doctors think is what determines whether a patient will consent to treatment. In fact, whether or not they consent starts from the first phone call interaction through the entire process. Each part of the process builds on the previous part, with the principles of influence being applied along the way.
Practitioners should critically assess every aspect of their patient communication process to improve new patient growth, conversion, and compliance, and learn how to set new expectations and change behaviors that will lead to a "win/win/win" situation for their patients, team, and practice.
About the Author, Jay Geier
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Scheduling Institute (schedulinginstitute.com), a results-focused practice management firm that specializes in team training and doctor coaching
Article submitted by, Dr. Devin Gapstur
PCDA Vice President
|
|
My name is Lindsey Crnalic, and I am looking for an associate position as a general dentist. I will be a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry in June 2022. I am looking to return home to the Tampa Bay Area to make a positive impact on my community. UAB has some of the highest clinical requirements in the nation, and I have been able to build a strong foundation in operative, removable, and fixed dentistry as well as treatment planning. I was previously a dental assistant with the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and helped run a small childcare company while in dental school, bringing along business and management experience. I would love to discuss any potential opportunities. I can be reached at lacrnalic@gmail.com or 727-348-0830. Thank you!
|
|
Do you volunteer your time, skills expertise or donate dentistry in office or a local clinic? The Pinellas County Dental Association would like to know about it!
At the beginning of each PCDA year, we would like to recognize and award members who support the local community by volunteering their time, expertise and talents to those in need at a local clinic or even in their own office! Each year, one select member will be awarded for their service and others will be recognized for their service.
Thank you for your service to the Pinellas County Community!
|
|
Membership Dues for the PCDA are Due!
If you've already made a payment, thank you for your continued membership! If you have not yet submitted payment, please use the online link to pay below or contact the PCDA by email/ call (727) 342-0374.
|
|
Do You Know a Colleague Who is NOT a PCDA Member? |
Do you know of a new dentist or a non-member dental colleague in the area? Encourage them to join the PCDA! New dentist member dues are discounted by 50% for the first year! If they are interested in joining, considering sharing the link below! Easy online application and payment option available. |
|
 |
Stay Connected with the PCDA |
Would it make your life easier to receive text notifications from PCDA? We encourage you to subscribe and text the word PCDA to 33222.
|
|
|
|
A Piece of Pinellas County History
One hundred and fifty years of Pinellas County (Hillsborough until 1912) Dentistry is now a book “From Rocking Chairs to Robotics” by Jon Wilson, a historical journalist who captures the passion, talent, personalities and determination of a wide variety of dentists. Dentists who forged a primitive reaction to suffering into a noble profession with the highest ethical standards to achieve community oral health. Time has proven that as the mouth is healthy so is the body. Dentists are Medical Specialists and their civic efforts to improve physical health are unequaled in the medical field, which has too long ignored the contribution of dentistry to the science of health. Hopefully, our new generation of dentists will relish the stories and be inspired by ‘the old guard’ on our “founding fathers” who sacrificed monetary gain and fame for integrity in being an advocate for their patients in the face of the economic pressures. The book will make you proud you are a dentist, belonging to an
unusually gifted association. The battles that have been fought will be fought again to keep commercialism, and industry control at bay while at the same time preventing government intrusion that impairs doctor/patient relationships. The book will equip our grandchildren dentists with the knowledge and fortitude to take dentistry into a desirable intentional future. Our great history should be a sellout. Hope everyone of us will want the pride of our profession on our office bookshelf.
Dr. John Harrison with the spirit of Dr. Chuck Martin.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy, contact the Pinellas County Dental Association at smilepinellas@gmail.com or call (727) 342-0374.
|
|
|
Executive Board & Committees
2021-2022
|
|
Brent Mayer, DMD
President and Delegate
Deborah Lowry, DMD
President-Elect and Delegate
Devin Gapstur, DMD
Vice President and Alternate Delegate
Ronak Shukla, DMD
Secretary and Alternate Delegate
Jesse Jakubowski, DMD
Council Chair-At-Large and Alternate Delegate
Kenneth Grundset, DDS
Executive Treasurer
Charles Ford, DMD
Ethics Chairman
Luis Martinez, DMD, PA
Peer Review Chairman
Gregory Langston, DMD
Delegate
Rita Hurst, DMD
Editor
Kristie Johnson, DMD
Immediate Past President and Alternate Delegate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
