VIPS Dental
VIPS Dental Annual Meeting 2016 is Going to be Awesome!
August 3, 2016
A scene from a past Annual Meeting at the Ranch
Being a part of an organization like VIPS Dental has many advantages, one in particular is the opportunity for dental continuing education that meets the needs of dentists who own and operate a mobile surgical practice.
Annual Meeting 2016
Each year, VIPS Dental organizes and hosts a multi-day Annual Meeting exclusively for VIPS doctors. The meeting is designed to advance and uphold our high standards for patient safety, clinical excellence and responsible business ownership. This year, we will hold the Annual Meeting at the beautiful Cooper Hotel & Spa.
Safety First- Dental Continuing Education
The prevailing topic of Annual Meeting 2016 is “Safety”. When you think about safety, the first thought that comes to mind is patient safety, and that is as it should be. Patient safety should always be priority one in any dental practice, and is of special consideration for a practice which provides moderate IV sedation.
VIPS training programs provide one-on-one access to some of the best minds in dental anesthesia, thanks to our small class-size. This year’s Annual Meeting will provide expert instruction with individual access to national leaders in dental anesthesia and dental implants.
Other safety topics planned for Annual Meeting 2016 include Employee Safety and Compliance Initiatives specifically developed for the VIPS Dental practice model, and protecting the safety and health of your business.
Focus on the Patient- Leave the Management to Us
Hundreds of dentists across the country practice, at least part time, as a single provider in a traveling or mobile surgery model. Many find the challenges of running such a practice to be overwhelming and time consuming to manage. Outside of world-class dental continuing education, VIPS Dental practice owners find immense value in the support, expertise and training that comes with being a part of this organization. The practice management and support available through VIPS Dental affords our dentists to keep their focus where it needs to be- on the patient.
For more information about VIPS Dental and starting your own mobile surgical, periodontal or endodontic practice, contact us.
SMART Goal Setting for Productive Practices
June 30, 2016
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” -Greg S. Reid
In 1979, a study was conducted at Harvard University among graduate students enrolled in the MBA program. The students were asked, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future? If so, how do you plan to accomplish them?” Only 3% had written goals with action plans, 13% had goals in mind but did not write them down, and the other 84% had no specific goals at all.
Ten years later, the same group of individuals was interviewed again. The 13% who had goals in mind, but did not write them down, were earning twice as much as the 84% who had no goals at all. More notably, the 3% who had written goals with action plans were earning an average of 10 times more than the other 97% combined.
Many practices go only as far as comparing their numbers with last year, industry “standards,” or what they heard their colleagues have accomplished. This is called managing by hindsight, which leads to reactive decisions that do not ensure continued growth and progress. If a dentist and team are going to pro-actively monitor progress and design future success, a key ingredient in their game plan must be SMART goal setting.
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
- Specific: First and foremost, for goal setting to be effective, any goals that are forecasted for the practice must be specific. That means generalities will never do when setting goals. Goals such as “we want to be more productive,” “collect more” or “we should attract more new patients” will get you nowhere.
- Measurable: What tools will you use to measure how successful or unsuccessful your goal is? Can you track the progress of the outcome?
- Attainable: Be sure your goal is realistic, yet not below standard performance.
- Relevant: Will your goal meet your personal needs and/or the needs of your business? Is this goal relevant to your other goals?
- Timely: Establishing a time line to complete your goal will force you to address it. Try to be as specific as possible. By when should your goal be completed?
If you don’t have goals set, it’s not too late to start! Decide now how your practice will grow over the next five years.
HOW CAN VIPS HELP?
VIPS provides a tried and true, better alternative for increasing practice revenue. With our system, you get improved practice profits and increased personal freedom. Why refer out when your patients prefer to be referred in? Increase your profitability and keep your patients happy!
The VIPS mobile dentistry model, together with our professional team, is designed to support your practice growth with proven methods and systems that come together to help you achieve great success. Growing a dental practice is always a challenge, but with the help and support of our team, you can accomplish your goals faster and more efficiently. Our team has paved the way with more than 25 years of proven success.
For more information on becoming a VIPS Hosting Office, click here!
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Mobile Dentist to Offer Periodontal Services in Charleston, South Carolina
June 2, 2016
Charleston Periodontal Services
Welcome to VIPS Dental, Dr. Stephanie Trahan! We are proud and excited to announce that Dr. Trahan will be opening her mobile periodontal and surgery practice in South Carolina this summer. Dr. Trahan will be providing in-house periodontal, surgical, implant and IV sedation services to general dentists in the Charleston area. General dental practices in and around Charleston, SC will be able to expand the services offered in their practices by utilizing Dr. Trahan as an as-needed virtual associate.
About Dr. Stephanie Trahan
Dr. Stephanie Trahan
Dr. Stephanie L. Trahan is a general dentist with 5 years of experience providing periodontal and oral surgical treatment utilizing intravenous conscious sedation. She has a military clinical training background, extensive international volunteer experience, and presented numerous continuing education courses.
Dr. Trahan is originally from Vermont and graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science, and Boston University Medical School with a Masters in Medical Sciences. She attended Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine with a full scholarship from the United States Air Force; she also served as class president all 4 years. Upon graduation in 2011 she was accepted into a competitive surgical program at Lackland, AFB in conjunction with the University of Texas, Health Science Center San Antonio. Dr. Trahan was then assigned to Robins AFB, GA where she performed periodontal and oral surgery, IV conscious sedation, and general dentistry for the active duty population. Dr. Trahan has taught several continuing education courses on surgical techniques and has won several awards for her presentations.
Dr. Trahan spends much of her spare time coaching Special Olympics sailing and was named the GA state coach of the year in 2015. Dr. Trahan is also an active member in the volunteer group Dentistry for All, Guatemala and volunteers yearly to perform dentistry in disadvantaged communities. She has been recognized by the American Dental Association for her meritorious service to the people of Guatemala and is also a student mentor for Boston University’s international externship program.
Dr. Trahan recently completed her Air Force active duty service commitment as a Major, and settled in beautiful Charleston, SC to enjoy the sailing, history, gardening, and friendly people.
To learn more about keeping more treatment in-house and offering expanded services in your Charleston general dental practice, contact us.
Learn to Love Being a Dentist… Again
April 25, 2016
Dentists with strong surgical and sedation skills are finding that our non-traditional practice model restores their passion, improves their lifestyle, and increases profitability.
Being a dentist can be really stressful, especially when you spend more time managing employees, dealing with dental insurance, working on accounting and juggling all the non-dental duties that go along with owning and running a successful dental practice.
The average dentist spends only about 60% of their time performing dentistry, while the other 40% is spent on managerial and administrative tasks. (Dental Economics; vol. 95, issue 6; “Production Increase”).
It is no wonder so many dentists feel stressed out, burned out and (gasp!) even tired of being a dentist.
The Problems With Wisdom Teeth
April 14, 2016
When your dentist recommends wisdom teeth removal, it is important to understand why this treatment has been recommended for you. Understanding your condition, options and risks are an important part of the decision making process. In this handout, we will explore some of the most common reasons for removing wisdom teeth.