DYNAMIC DATA NEWSLETTER tm August 2000

A complimentary e-newsletter from Linda Miles for the professional dental community.

For subscription (or unsubscription) details, as well as Miles and Associates contact information, please see the end of this newsletter.

Visit us at www.DentalManagementU.com

As we bid summer farewell in just a few weeks, I hope each reader has had a nice break from the day to day operations of their dental practice. It's nice to feel refreshed and ready to go full-force the second half of 2000 to make it a banner year.

September marks the busy schedule for speakers and consultants. This year we have been overwhelmed with requests for in-office consulting as a result of my new Dental Business Library video series. We are thrilled to hear from many former clients, and those we have not yet met.

NEWS BREAK

Just when we think we have heard every trick in the book for dental insurance companies to avoid paying dental benefits, READ THIS..............

According to the August issue of INSURANCE SOLUTIONS NEWSLETTER (I highly recommend subscribing to this. See the end of this article for subscription information), major carriers are feverishly working to develop EVIDENCE BASED CARE processing policies. This means they will require dental teams to prove patients need even the most basic services. Hygiene departments will be turned upside- down as patients who are considered low or average risk discover that prophies are covered once in 12, 18, or 24 months. Bite-wings may soon be limited to every 24 months unless it can be proven the patients are at high risk for dental disease. The trickle-down effect of this can be monumental to the operative side of the practice, labs, dental supply companies, major meetings, and the list goes on. Forget what it will do to the dental profession as a whole, what about the neglect that will result in each patient's mouth as they eliminate their twice per year preventive care appointments? The dental office of the future will become a clinic of emergency patients.

What can we do individually and as a group of concerned dental professionals?

1. Subscribe to Insurance Solutions Newsletter and attend Insurance seminars to stay "on top" of what is happening.

2. Make sure your state association has a copy of the newsletters that keep them on the cutting edge of information.

3. Alert your patients that the employee benefit they thought was ineffective to their needs is about to get worse.

4. Notify your patients that neglecting preventive care appointments is like neglecting their automobile maintenance. In dentistry, taking care of small problems before they become major and expensive, may save the insurance companies money at the patient's expense.

To subscribe to Insurance Solutions, call 888.825.0298 (WA) or FAX your name, address, and telephone number to 425.222.3594. You may also mail your subscription to Insurance Solutions, P.O. Box 880, Fall City, WA 98024. Subscription price, $89 for 1 yr or $149 for 2 yrs. Vicki Anderson, Editor can be reached at amds@ncfweb.net or www.dental-ins-solutions.com.

Insurance Solutions Newsletter is published bi-monthly by American Dental Support, LLC. CDT-3 is owned and copyright protected by the American Dental Association. American Dental support, LLC is authorized to publish CDT-3 under license #2002205.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q: We started the trip kitty fund for continuing education which means we all work an extra half-day per month and donate our four hours of time to building our CE fund. Because our hygienists earn more per hour than the rest of the staff, they don't think it's fair for them to be contributing more.

NOTE: For those readers who do not have a copy of the Trip Kitty, you may request a copy from our office by email or FAX. Each office opens an interest-bearing Trip Kitty account by placing the average half-day's production amount into the account monthly.

A: Even though hygienists earn more per hour, this is not asking anyone to contribute their earned dollars, this is simply a donation of one's personal time. It should be realized that the industry as a whole agrees that hygienists should be paid more for their educational background and their contribution to the practice in the form of patient education. It is also a known fact that the other staff's personal time, as well as the doctor's, is as important to them as to the hygienists. There are two options: 1. Invite the hygienist not to participate in the 4 hours per month or the CE experiences by bringing in a sub., or 2. Invite them to see the Trip Kitty for what it is, a donation of personal time to make major meetings and fun retreats a possibility.

In the first 8 weeks of marketing our Cancun and 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise, we have close to 100 people registered for Cancun (Jan) and over 200 people registered for the Cruise (April). If you have not yet registered, or need more information, please call Annie or Christy at my office 800.922.0866. Or call Kathleen at Executive Travel at 877.524.8466 to reserve your rooms or cabins. There are several offices that wish to go through their own agency to reserve rooms, cabins and airfares. Due to the heavy penalties we face if our reserved rooms or cabins are not used, we must adhere to using the arrangements we have already made. Also, Executive Travel Services is sponsoring several receptions, the breakfasts in Cancun, travel to the Beach Party in Cozumel, etc. Only those booking through Executive Travel will be invited to participate in these special functions.

In addition, all port charges, gratuities, taxes, and superior rooms for both SunFuns are part of Executive's package that no other agency offers. REWARD YOUR HARD WORKING TEAM WITH A SUNFUN SEMINAR TO CANCUN OR THE 4 DAYS CRUISE.

My 4th tour to Australia and NZ will be the end of October and first week in November. I will be home two days and off to the wonderful Dentsar Seminar in The Caymans. A busy second half of 2000. Anne Knouse, Vicki Turner and I will be spending a week in February with nine clients who wish to have their Follow-up Consultation in Jamaica. Two half-days of consulting with each group and afternoons free. Call the corporate office if you are a client and this location is of interest to you.

The following is a client's CONSENT FOR TREATMENT form they wished me to look over. This is especially important when the original treatment plan changes after the original plan has been presented.

PATIENT NAME: DATE: TREATMENT: REVISED TREATMENT:

We are conservative in our treatment, but due to the unpredictability of some teeth, we wish to inform you that treatment is diagnosed to the best of our ability. There are, however, some teeth that may require more extensive treatment than anticipated. Changes may occur in a tooth without any warning. Some of these changes can be remedied with a simple bite adjustment, others may require a different type of restoration.

We will always inform you of any changes in the treatment scheduled and the additional fees with that treatment.

I understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise to change my original treatment plan, and I accept responsibility for all necessary fees relating to additional needed treatment.

Patient's signature Date

Dentist's signature Date

The LLM 5th Annual Speaking Consulting Network will be held June 1-2, 2001. The Crowne Plaza Resort on Hilton Head Island is the setting for this annual event. SCN was founded in 1997 for all independent speakers and consultants who wish to start or enhance their own speaking or consulting businesses. We are so proud of the many members who have become very busy due to their talent, hard work, and the Network experience.

Due to the phenomenal growth, Level I on June 1-2 will be for first and second year members. Level II will be for the advanced members the following Monday and Tuesday, June 4-5, 2001. This past year, Dr. Paul Homoly's 90 minute session on platform skills was so well received, that next year he will be presenting a three-hour session on Monday, June 4. Some of the advanced members will be asked to present in his session of coaching. Dr. Chuck Parker, who was also a hit with his virtual classroom information, will be presenting on Tuesday, June 5. His topic will be creating virtual groups, electronic newsletters, and how to consult without traveling. We invite all seasoned and new speakers and consultants to attend next June.

On Wednesday and Thursday, June 6 & 7, 2001, Dr. Paul Homoly will hold his Business of Speaking, two-day workshop for SCN members or anyone in the dental industry who wishes to hone their skills as a speaker.

We are presently working on the Holiday Dental Conference Total Team Concept for December 2000, and the Hinman, March 2001, who is hosting me for two morning sessions and our team of consultants for two half-day breakouts of hands-on practice management.

For more information on the services we provide, look us up at www.DentalManagementU.com

Please keep in mind this newsletter is being offered complimentary in response to the many requests to stay in touch with our clients and followers. If you wish to unsubscribe to Dynamic Data please send an email message to LLMiles@ix.netcom.com to let us know.

Miles & Associates corporate headquarters may be reached at 1-800-922-0866 or 757-498-0014. FAX us at 757-498-0290. On the web at www.DentalManagementU.com, or via email at LLMiles@ix.netcom.com

Miles & Associates - August 2000