661: 5 Quick and Easy Ways to End the Year Strong - Ariel Juday

661: 5 Quick and Easy Ways to End the Year Strong - Ariel Juday

Looking to ensure you finish the year strong and have a great December? We have the treatment plan for you! Find out how to wrap up 2023 and use this 5 step process well into 2024 too. Learn more in Episode 661 of The Best Practices Show!

Episode Resources:

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Links Mentioned in This Episode:

To the Top study club:  https://www.actdental.com/ttt

Main Takeaways:

Tip #1: Fill the schedule with patients who are already scheduled.

Tip #2: Remind patients to use their FSA or HSA and how they can use the funds. 

Tip #3: Think outside the box and be flexible as a team. 

Create a holiday call list. 

Tip #4: Take time to celebrate with your team. 

Tip #5: Take time to care for yourself and your health.

Quotes:

“I like to just say what are some quick easy ways that we can do…because we all know momentum is easier than motivation. So we if we can get the momentum going into the new year, the energy is even better and stronger when our team is excited.” - Ariel (1:50—2:10)

“#1…Fill [the schedule] with patients that are already scheduled. You have lots of opportunity in the schedule already. You just have to look for it. For example, how many hygiene patients are in the schedule that have unscheduled treatment? Can we go ahead and get them done on the same day? Or vice versa. Is there someone coming in for an emergency and they haven’t had a cleaning in a while? Is that something that we can go ahead and just utilize those patients that are already walking in the door.” - Ariel (3:15—3:46)

“Same day dentistry does not mean right now. So if they have a hygiene service and they need to go and do something for an hour, a lot of patients will come back…So don’t think it has to be done right now because you don’t ever want to hinder the schedule of currently scheduled patients, but there are lots of opportunities, you just have to be open to looking for it.” - Ariel (5:53—6:20)

“#2…We all know there are a lot of insurance and flexible spending accounts that at the end of the year, those funds expire…That is money your patients have put aside and put away for that they’re just going to lose, so we want to remind them. And sometimes they don’t even know they can use it at their office.” - Ariel (6:35—7:07)

“#3…The easiest way [to think outside the box and be flexible as a team] is just set the expectation. Tell the team ‘Hey, for this month we’re going to be a little flexible. We are going to think of solutions.’...You get that deadline of December 31st. You know that your office is closed that week. I hear a lot of admin team members answer the phone and say ‘Sorry. We’re booked.’ …These patients are currently motivated and they are wanting to come in, so at the very least can we put them on a short call list? A priority list? Is there a way utilize a different column or chair? How can we get them in while they are motivated to get their dental care done.” - Ariel (8:50—9:53)

“A team work column…you take the name -  teamwork - and you know that if a patient is in this column it's going to be…we don’t have a specific provider assigned to them and it’s going to take a team effort to get this patient taken care of.” - Ariel (10:16—10:31)

“It’s not an open [team work] column that we can just fill whomever in. It’s very strategic. A couple per day, maybe 2 in the morning. And everyone knows and the patient knows as well that we are working you in and it might take a little longer, but as long as you’re flexible with us we’ll go ahead and get you taken care of.” - Ariel (11:56—12:16)

“[A holiday call list] is very similar to a priority or an ASAP list or a cancellation list but this one is very specific to days in the calendar. So we know that the middle school in your area, you know what week they’re off. You know what breaks they have…even other industries have different days that they’re off. So if we know about those days…it’s the only time I’d say go away from your normal priority list - people who are just get in sooner - but use those patients’ motivation…and the chance is very likely that they’re going to rearrange their schedule because they don’t know if there is going to be another opening that comes up.” - Ariel (12:29—13:35)

“#4”..The end of the year can be chaotic and sometimes the last thing we think about is celebrating with our team and I hear a lot of people say because the end of the year is so chaotic they do their holiday party in january and that is fine, however there are plenty of opportunities to still celebrate and keep the energy high. Especially if we’re thinking outside the box…your team is working really hard that there is no reason we can’t have a random pot luck or lunch as a team. Just do things that are different. And the doctor isn’t the one who has to lead it and probably shouldn’t” - Ariel (14:40—15:29)

“The whole theme of this podcast is to finish the year strong. It isn’t always financial. Sometimes it’s emotional. Sometimes it’s the connectedness. Sometimes it’s just…I want to feel better this month. So it’s not all about money.” - Kirk (16:39—16:54)

“This is 100% all year round, however as we are talking about no letting life and things just happen, is you have to be intentional about taking care of your health…We all know we have higher energy and we feel better when we’re getting enough sleep, we are eating healthy, we are exercising right, we are moving our body. You are doing something to fill your cup, because if you’re just letting things happen and you’re…your energy is going to plummet. And your team’s energy is going to plummet. And your patients are going to feel it. So really an extra reminder to take care of yourself so that way you can take care of your team and your patients.” - Ariel (17:26—18:10)

“Because when you feel bad, you think bad, you perform bad” - Kirk (19:00—19:05)

“Remember that the end of the year is not the time to slow down. It’s really a time where we need to be taking care of ourselves, our team and our patients…Momentum is easier than motivation. So if we can end it and get on a roll going in the new year is going to be so much easier for yourself and your team members.” - Ariel (19:17—19:42)

“You have to get into this pattern of thinking next year is going to be better than this year. And when you start to do that it’s called a future pull. And it can be your behaviors, your thinking, it can be your team being engaged. Our goal with this podcast is just to give you a little bit of information…so that you can go back to your team to become a better leader and create a better practice and a better life.” - Kirk (20:18—20:43)

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

3:00 #1 

6:35 #2

8:34 #3

10:00 A teamwork column 

12:22 Making a holiday call list

14:33 #4

17:24 #5

19:10 Final Thoughts.

Ariel Juday Bio:

Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process! 

Send Ariel an email ariel@actdental.com

Follow Ariel on ACT’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actdental/