Ringing in the new year often means making resolutions to organize your dental front office, which is great! You should always strive to maximize efficiency and time management in your dental practice.
Now is the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start.
You’ve probably searched what seems like the entire internet for dental office organization ideas, and the process can seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be! Starting out with the basics can mean the difference between getting organized and staying organized. Shall we get started?
Make Room for the New
If practice growth is one of your goals this year, purging old files to make way for the new ones is the ideal place to start. Remove the files of lapsed patients from filing cabinets and store them in banker’s boxes for storage. Banker’s boxes with locking lids are ideal for old files and charts that are set to be discarded in the next few years. Storage drawers and boxes with drop-front lids are the best choice for storing dental records you may still need to occasionally access.
Everything Labeled and In Its Place
Labels are one of the ‘pantry staples’ of any office. You should always have them on hand because you’ll be using them often. Laminated and long-lasting, alpha and numeric labels are a must for filing away or retrieving patient charts. Dental chart labels are another necessity for alerting staff about important issues such as latex or drug allergies and medical health or insurance information, just to name a few.
File Under ‘E’ for Efficiency
You can’t get started on your organization project if you don’t have the proper file folders – and we have a huge selection of folder options! Need standard file folders for small files or uncomplicated charts? Maybe your dental practice is more established with long-time, loyal patients: you’ll need folders that can hold a lot of paperwork and records.
We can even work with you to create custom folders in a variety of colors and tab, divider and fastener positions to meet your practice needs. Just let us know what you need and we’ll create it for you.
Office Essentials
There are many other dental office supplies that are key to front office efficiency. In a recent post, we talked about how important office aesthetics are to first impressions.
Whether new or established, patients will associate your level of organization with your ability to provide quality dental care.
Some items that will give patients a positive impression are:
- Name Tags: Along with crisp, clean scrubs, name tags complete the look of knowledgeable and professional dental care providers. Plus, patients will be more at ease when they can comfortably address you on a first name basis.
- Business Cards: Essential for passing along to prospects and colleagues, business cards can also double as appointment cards. Patients will have the necessary details of their next appointment (reducing no-shows!) and your contact information right at their fingertips. Talk about getting more bang for your buck!
- Pens & Pencils: Not only do colorful, personalized pens and pencils make fantastic patient giveaways, it’s always handy to have a surplus stashed in the office. Display them in a clear glass on the reception desk for an eye-catching piece of art!
Saving time during the workday and saving money on everyday essentials like dental front office supplies means more for your bottom line. Now that’s a smart practice! Visit us at smartpractice.com to see how much you can save on your office supplies today.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
