Sharing the same dental values

Taking over an established dental practice can be a challenging process. It was a situation that dentist Dr Paula Richardson found herself in when she came to taking over a neglected private practice with a mix of plan providers.

Paula, from The Ilchester Dental Practice, talks about her challenges and what helped to overcome them…

‘I soon discovered that the practice I became in charge of was in desperate need of a transformation. The practice was private and had a mixture of plan providers, which was difficult for the team to juggle. Also, I realised that most of our patients were bonded to an external company brand, rather than our own practice brand.

‘I was worried that if we made any changes and stopped providing certain options then the patients would move away from us. I was also worried about it being a huge hassle for my team and a huge risk to the business. 

The perfect plan

It would have been easy to talk myself out of it, so I decided to take small steps. I wanted a plan that would help my patients budget for their yearly dental maintenance whilst remaining bonded with my practice. With this in mind, I started to look into alternative options, searching for one that would suit my needs.

‘One plan provider stood out from the start. What had attracted me was the fact that they seemed to hold the same values and what they could offer was a support system that was in the background, but willing to help me when I needed them. 

‘I decided that I wanted to know more about what was involved if we consolidated our plan offering and the impact it could have on my team and patients. We chatted through my concerns and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, with the right support and advice, switching my patients over could be straightforward. 

‘I do have to admit that it wasn’t all plain sailing. I was warned that there might be a few patients hesitant to change, but all the hard work was worth it in the end, which was made so much easier with Practice Plan’s help.  

The perfect fit

‘I felt that Practice Plan genuinely cared about my business and what I wanted to achieve in the future. Working with them has provided me with a regular monthly income and really helps the cash flow, which is a great benefit to any business, and our patients feel bonded to us – which my team take pride in.

‘Practice Plan has a range of services, some that suit us and some that don’t, but what is useful is that they are there when I need them, but when we don’t, we have the freedom to run our practice the way we want to. 

‘I am now proud to say that our practice is very slick and runs exceptionally well, with a very high standard of care for our patients.’

The right support

Switching your plan provider is a little like changing your bank. Many people think about it, but believe it’s too much hassle. But it’s much easier than you think, the benefits could be huge and you don’t have do it on your own.

If you are a dentist, practice owner or manager and would like more information about Practice Plan’s dedicated support, then call Practice Plan on, 01691 684120 or visit www.practiceplan.co.uk/change.

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