AADOM Insights

AADOM now accepting applications for prestigious Fellowship Program

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

A professional distinction and title can lead to better visibility, opportunities and jobs. In today's increasingly complex and highly specialized economy, credentials are everything. Sure, you know you've got the skills to do the job, but how do you convince your patients, your employers and potential employers? For many career-minded professionals, a professional distinction, such as AADOM Fellowship is often the answer.

Do you know an exceptional office manager?

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Nominate them for the 2013 Office Manager of the Year Award! Celebrating the best in dental office management!

AADOM announces Software Palooza event at 9th Annual Conference

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

AADOM is excited to present their first Software Palooza at their 9th Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla. These practice management software intensives will be taught by software trainers and super-users. Attendees will earn credit toward their Fellowship achievement by participating in workshops offered by: Eaglesoft, Dentrix, QSI and Carestream. The date of Software Palooza is Sept. 18, and attendees can stay and enjoy the full schedule of speakers and workshops offered at the Annual Conference. Attendees can expect training on electronic services, feature enrichment and scheduling. The classes will be delivered in a workshop format with a hands-on component. Registration is now open.

AADOM free webinar: Prospering in a PPO Environment

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

1 p.m., May 29
Approved for one CE toward AADOM Fellowship Program.
Today's economic environment and changing dental landscape present unique business challenges never seen before in our industry. There has been a large shift from "traditional" dental plans to PPOs. In fact 80-plus percent of all plans sold last year were PPOs. The No. 1 concern for dental offices today is not enough new patients. We also see fewer patients covered by dental benefits.

Support your fellow office managers through the Member Forum

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

The Member Forum is a members-only benefit for members and by members. If you are not taken directly to this post it means your membership is not active. Click here to check your membership status or call member services at 732-842-9977. Some of the questions posted recently that need your opinions and guidance are:
New hire packets
Perio protocol
Letter to patients now contracted with MetLife
Finance charges in California
I need new patients

7 practical tips for effective supervision

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Dental practice managers have increasing difficulty navigating today's alphabet soup of federal employment laws — ADA, ADEA, FMLA, IRCA, OSHA, NLRB, etc. State and local laws further complicate the making of employment decisions. At the risk of oversimplifying things, we prepared this list of seven tips for effective supervision to avoid legal liability in the workplace.

Lifelong learning through a hygienist's eyes

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Ask a hygienist to picture his or her career within a dental office. Some may think of a small family practice inside an old building in the center of a small town, catching up with patients, some of whom are now considered old friends. Others will see a hectic schedule full of drama in a big mega practice. Hopefully, most will think positively about patient care. But some will see their hands being tied when it comes to the services they can provide.

Crucial tips on delegating the right way, so everyone wins

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Delegating is not just about assigning work. Delegating is about making sure that the right work gets done at the right level, and making your team more capable over time. Building capability requires learning. And there is no learning as great as that which comes after failing. Many managers treat delegating in exactly the opposite way — they watch closely, jump in and take over, fix, or modify work if it is not going well. If you think about this from a learning perspective, what you have just done is to ensure that no real learning occurs.

Troubleshooter: Cellphone use in the office revisited

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Question: In our office, many of the people who work with me use their cellphones or office computers to email, text, tweet or Facebook during the workday. How can I get them not to do that?

Alligators may help some human dental issues

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Scientists are now looking at one of the unique qualities of alligator teeth: the capability the animals have of regrowing their teeth. At any time, they can have 80 teeth while producing 50 sets of replacement teeth. In their lifetime, they may go through more than 2,000 teeth. This ability to regrow teeth has given scientists the idea to study the way this process happens to aid people who encounter numerous dental issues.

The Ultimate Dental Office Manager Education Package!

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Whether you are a novice or advanced dental practice manager or dental professional, there is always more to learn to be better at your profession and to become more of an asset to your practice. The ever popular Ultimate Education Program delivers the ultimate in dental practice management education.

Accountability in the dental office: The secret to an efficient, effective team

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Have you ever wondered why your colleagues seem to have great teams, where everyone is happy and pleasant and gets along? And then you wondered, what am I doing wrong? Why isn't my staff as happy and pleasant as theirs?

Take your gloves seriously

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Wearing gloves during clinical procedures is a price we pay for ensuring clinician and patient safety. While cross-contamination is a serious issue, something as seemingly innocuous as gloves has a great potential to create unnecessary stress leading to musculoskeletal damage and injuries.

How to think like a confident leader

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Projecting the image of a confident leader to your investors employees, and customers is crucial. But, self-assurance doesn't come naturally for many. Learning to think like a confident person can help you find composure, no matter how big the hurdle.

Making space for change

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

Disconnects between a leader's vision and organizational culture are all too common in organizations. However well-respected — or well-feared — a leader may be, change cannot and will not occur simply because a leader says it will. Making space for change requires modifying organizational structures and culture to create both the possibility and the opportunity for change. It is not enough just to communicate change.

Weighing in on good and bad ideas

21 May 2013 12:15:11 CDT

We have all heard the expression that there is no such thing as a bad idea. When we are in the process of brainstorming for new ideas or solutions to old problems, we wish to limit or eliminate boundaries, and let any and everything flow. The traditional brainstorming philosophy that it is better if more ideas can be generated than what "is needed." Something will surely work when we produce volumes of ideas. Yet, some argue that there are, indeed, some bad ideas.