From efficiency and workflows to strategies for boosting production and collections, Henry Schein One consultants can help any practice attain greater success
Tamara Whitley brings 30 years of business and insurance experience to her role of co-owner and office director at Whitley Family Dental, in Dallas, TX. This experience includes building relationships, disaster recovery protocols, HIPAA compliance, insurance administration, account management, client implementations, talent development, process reengineering, operations support, metrics development, and preventive measure implementation. She also works alongside her husband, Dr. Bill Whitley. Tamara is a dynamic executive who balances strategic thought leadership with tactical execution to design and implement dental office solutions. She is also a lifetime member of the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM), having earned her DAADOM distinction.
Five years ago, Tamara Whitley, co-owner and office director at Whitley Family Dental in Dallas, TX, was in search of customized training on the Dentrix practice management software. Turning to Henry Schein One Dental Consulting, she discovered that she would not only get the software training her team needed, but robust reporting on critical components for dental practice growth. Here, she shares her experience working with a Henry Schein One consultant and why she continues to use the service today.
In most dental offices, when you switch to a new practice management software, the team tends to freak out about the move. While most offices only use 10% of their software’s capabilities, our goal was to use 100% of Dentrix capabilities, but we wanted customized training.
Personalized Training and Advising
That's where our Henry Schein One dental consultant, Pam, came into the picture. Once she learned about our practice values, goals, and financial health, as well as the data that was most important to us, she was instrumental in not only having Dentrix work for our team, but she set reporting benchmarks to help monitor and guide us in achieving our goals.
Pam has a wealth of knowledge and experience gleaned from her 27 years running a dental practice. She applies that knowledge to our existing operations and future goals. She knows the ins and outs of my practice and holds us accountable. If Pam sees us doing something that didn't work well for her in the past, she is quick to help us brainstorm and transition to a more tangible solution. After implementing one of her solutions, I was able to save 1 full-time headcount and 1 part-time headcount.
As the office director, I often consider Pam to be the watchdog for the watchdog. For example, when I ran into trouble with our technology upgrades, she helped me get the assistance I needed. When my office had 52 fee schedules, all of which were financially unsustainable, Pam devised an exit strategy using Dentrix tools and reports to keep track of the exits. This simple change proved to be one of the most significant factors leading to improved profitability.
Together at each meeting, Pam and I continue to take a deep dive into the Practice Advisor report and compare current data to the practice benchmarks. We then take strategic action if certain benchmarks are not being met. She will ask me questions like, “We’ve seen a dip in new patients this month. Has something happened with the marketing efforts?”
Every time we speak, she teaches me something new! She offers robust reports to support our practice operations and helps us maintain our efficiencies.
A Wealth of Expertise
This consulting transcends practice management software. What began with me looking for software training has led me to my happy place where I am prepared and confident in running our practice. Knowing that I have an expert, like Pam, to assist me is everything; she is just a phone call or email away.
Everyone in the dental industry recognizes the importance of being on the cutting edge, but running a practice is hard work! We have so many requirements and guidelines that we must follow from the ADA, CDC, OSHA, HIPAA, and more. Henry Schein One consultants stay current on every aspect of running a dental office. Adding a consultant to your team will take your dental practice to the next level!
