Amy Dukoff
 |
 EARNING
something new — whether it is a new technique, the proper use of an innovative
product, or a new procedure — usually requires leaving the office.
Getting out of the office is easy to do in theory but sometimes much more
difficult to actually achieve. Depending on the size of your practice,
it might actually mean closing the office, or at least closing the office
early. At some times in one’s professional life closing early might not
be easy. However, when you are outside the office for the purpose
of learning something new, you must not think that the office is “closed”
or that you are being “unproductive.” In reality, you are preparing
yourself to produce more. By “getting out” and learning, you will be enable
to enrich your office more in the long run than you could have if you had
not taken that time away from the office.
When a practitioner is just starting out in
practice, the thought of losing immediate income or not being available
for an emergency or a new patient may seem overwhelming. However,
spending a day out of the office to learn something new is likely to have
valuable long-term effects. In the long run, time invested in education
is likely to bring in more patients and help the practice grow, because
patients like to know that their doctor is in the forefront of the profession.
They are actually pleased to hear that their doctor is attending a meeting
to learn new techniques. Make a point of telling them where you’ve
been and what new innovation or procedure you learned. You may be
surprised to find how much admiration you gain from your patients by reporting
where you’ve been and what you’ve learned. Patients really do like to hear
that their dentist strives to be the best at what he or she does.
Patients like to know that you are truly concerned about giving them the
best care possible.
Education is often overlooked when life becomes
busy, complicated, and financially overwhelming. However, it is always
one of the best long-range investments that you can make for your practice.
Our office promotes education by giving free educational workshops. There
are lots of places to go to learn, including schools of dentistry at local
universities. State, regional, and national dental conferences can be very
valuable. Getting out of the office for education is good, and learning
should never end.
April - June 2007
|
Education
is often overlooked when life becomes busy, complicated, and financially
overwhelming.
|
