Feels Like Home

A couple of years ago my family happened to visit a small neighborhood Italian restaurant, “New York, New York” in Portland, OR. The owner and his daughter are always there and treat the customers like old friends. One of the menu items is Cesar Salad which the own makes at the table. He has an East Coast accent and makes you feel like you are in his restaurant in Brooklyn. We ordered a large pizza which took up the entire table top. By time we left we felt like we were family. We have returned several times and each time we feel like we are visiting friends. Last Friday as we left, I thought to myself, "Wow that feels like home."

One of the things I miss most about private practice is the ongoing relationships that I had with my patients. I miss the catching up at each recall, watching the kids grow up, move away, come back and have kids of their own. As dentists, we have the unique opportunity to build relationships with our patients. I have always contended that the term, “dental home” is more than just a term but it is a feeling. These feelings of "home" help patients feel confidence in our abilities and treatment recommendations. If your patients are hesitant to accept your treatment recommendations on the first "go around", be patient, build the relationship and you will be surprised at their reaction to your recommendations when your office "feels like home."

If you want your office to "feel more like home", contact DentistCEO, dental practice management for Portland and the surrounding area.

And find DentistCEO on Facebook here.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Some of my fondest memories in private practice we the moments of uncontrolled laughter that I shared with my patients and assistants in the operatory. As doctors sometime we fail to allow our patients to see us as "just plain folks." While creating beautiful smiles may be our primary goal, there is nothing like a good laugh to show them off. It is amazing how a "laugh break" relieve the stress of a busy schedule.

Dentistry is a great profession with the potential for lot's of good times. Contact Dr. Brad Larsen at DentistCEO and let the good times roll.

Find DentistCEO on Facebook here.

"The Buck Stops Here"

As I reviewed the reports of the recent events surrounding the killing of Osama Bin Laden by the US Special Forces, I was struck by this picture of the White House staff in the situation room as they watch the events unfold. The intensity of those present is obvious. Even though President Obama is not sitting at a computer or personally directing the operation, his concern is evident as it should be because in the words of Harry Truman, “the buck stops here.”

Often when I work with doctors I find that there is a lack of progress in tackling the challenges in their practices because the owner/doctor feels that because he has delegated a task and his/her responsibility for the successful completion of the task has ended. An effective leader understands that the success of a project is more a matter of “assign and report” rather than “assign and forget.” During my years of private practice, I found that once I had adequately trained my staff, they could work well independently and I was confident in their ability to successfully complete projects. My confidence in my staff was reinforced not only by their successfully reinforcing their project but by frequent reports. I am a fierce advocate of delegation but I always bear in mind that “the buck stops here.”