Why dental office managers deserve appreciation
Dental office managers are vital to every practice. They possess a vast array of knowledge, and their skills ensure the office operates smoothly, team members are supported, and patients get the best care and service during each visit.
September is Office Manager Appreciation Month, which means it’s time to recognize the importance of this position in every dental practice! Here’s why dental office managers deserve appreciation not just this month — but year-round.
They juggle numerous tasks.
A dental office manager is incredibly versatile. While dentists, hygienists, and assistants primarily focus on patient care, an office manager keeps other aspects of the practice up and running. From creating the patient and staff schedules to managing and organizing patient files, working with insurance companies, and recruiting new staff members — their to-do lists are seemingly never-ending. And they still take on every day and greet every patient with a smile!
They represent your practice.
In many ways, a dental office manager is the face of your practice. They’re usually the person a patient talks to when they call to schedule an appointment, the first person the patient sees when they walk through the door, and the last person the patient sees when the appointment is over. In other words, the office manager is a patient’s first and last impression of your dental practice.
When you get a new patient, you want to keep them for years to come. While the whole staff impacts retention, the office manager plays a pivotal part in keeping patients coming back every six months. Not only do they build relationships with patients at the beginning and end of visits, but they also schedule follow-up appointments and send text, email, and phone reminders.
They ensure finances are in order.
At the end of the day, your practice needs to make money. A dental office manager helps ensure the practice is profitable and that financial reports are in order. Among other tasks, they may be responsible for managing expenses, billing patients, establishing relationships with insurance carriers and credit bureaus, filing insurance claims, collecting insurance payments, and managing staff payroll. Plus, they need to communicate all of this information effectively to the practice owner.
Financial reporting is no easy task, but dental office managers are well trained to handle this complex aspect of running a practice.
They support everyone in the office.
A dental office manager is a pillar of support in the dental office. Because they work with everyone in the office, they have detailed knowledge of the different personalities, what goes into each role, and how they can help every team member be their best individually and collectively.
This can go beyond their scheduling, financial reporting, and marketing skills. Dental office managers are often responsible for human resources, meaning they’re trained to manage interpersonal conflicts among staff members, set up a performance review system, organize team meetings, conduct staff training, and manage salaries and benefits.
Ultimately, a dental office manager is a trusted resource everyone on the team can turn to — from assistants to the doctor.