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NERNESS ENDODONTICS NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2024 EDITION
02 “Four Cornerstones to Strengthen Teamwork”
Transformative methods and insights for creating healthy team cultures to improve performance, foster trust, and deliver exceptional service. By Judy Kay
03 “Upcoming Event”
David Schwab, Ph.D., will present “What to Say and How to Say It: 101 Best Verbal Skills for the Dental Team” at our all-day event on April 17th. By The Nerness Endodontics Team
04 “Clinical Distinction” Have you questioned what sets Nerness Endodontics apart from the rest? Discover the difference. By The Nerness Endodontics Team
04 “Photo of the Month” Dr. Nerness’ latest snapshot. By Dr. Andrew Nerness
“ELEVATING THE ENDODONTIC EXPERIENCE”
GUEST WRITER
FOUR CORNERSTONES TO STRENGTHEN TEAMWORK!
CORE VALUES Healthy team cultures rely on clear and consistent core values. They will help guide the team’s attitude, behavior, and communication. It’s very difficult to get others to follow our lead if we don’t even know who we are and what we stand for. Owner doctors, what four adjectives in order of priority describe your core values? Email JudyKay@PracticeSolutionsInc.net for a sample list. They are important for the entire team to know and understand as they will help guide making decisions. Defining the core values will help avoid the distractions of the daily mundane and other people’s shoulds. They will also establish a strategy for how to show up every day. Core values become a blueprint for teamwork expectations. Every action, attitude, or conversation is to be examined before proceeding. Does this action, attitude, or conversation support the core values? CLEAR COMMUNICATION Healthy team cultures are built on open and honest communication. Doctor to doctor, doctor to team, team to team, and team to doctor. Clear communication, conveyed through defined channels, is critical for teamwork. Larger and multi- location practices will benefit greatly by creating and following a clear and consistent communication flow chart. The flow chart will define who goes to whom, when, and how. Positive and honest feedback will build trust and create clarity. Encourage team members to ask questions, address concerns, and discuss processes and procedures. There are so many moving parts in a dental practice. Chaos and discord will arise without ongoing clear and compassionate communication.
To help individuals support the team and vice-versa, here are some tips to strengthen teamwork at your practice! TRUST Trust is a cornerstone of happy, healthy, and high performing teamwork! The dictionary defines trust as instinctive unquestioning belief in and reliance upon something. The trust I am suggesting is not one of blind faith but instead one of confidence! Confident trust is based on consistency! Consistency of good reasons to trust based on significant past evidence and experiences. Some examples of low trust: • Difficulty getting the team on board and willing to follow their lead • Not keeping the team in the loop with details that pertain to the patients, team, and practice • Adding rules or steps for everyone to compensate for the inadequacies of a few • Extra staff to cover for lack of accountability with a specific team member • Redundant systems and processes Together as a team create your list of Trust Agreements: • Be transparent by keeping everyone in the loop • Be consistent with daily tasks • Address questions or concerns with only the source • Help when you see help is needed • Ask for help when help is needed • Do what you say you will do when you say you will • Don’t gossip and stop gossip • Tell the truth using compassionate words and tone • Don’t be late or absent for trivial reasons
Together as a team, create your list of Communication Agreements. CLEAR ROLES Everyone on the team needs to understand their role and responsibilities that contribute to the team’s success. It is important for every team member to become proficient at their role as well as cross-trained to help support their coworkers. Cross-training also helps create an awareness of their coworkers’ responsibilities and lessens judgment. Every team will experience ups and downs with staffing. Putting untrained or inexperienced people in roles will lead to frustration, stress, accidents, and mistakes. Sustaining successful teamwork requires a commitment to ongoing training. Establish clear training expectations for new hires that include specific weekly and monthly goals. There will be times when training will take a priority over productivity. Investing in training time on the front end will reap quicker quality results on the back end. Cultivate the four cornerstones of trust, core values, clear communication, clear roles, in your practice and you will harvest happy, healthy, and high-performing teamwork!
-Judy Kay
| 2 | NERNESSENDODONTICS.COM ○ 651-777-7744
Verbal Skill Mastery for the Dental Team Insurance, Fees, Scheduling, and More Please Join Us for T his Exclusive Event
EVENT DETAILS:
Speaker: Location:
Dr. David Schwab – Renowned Expert in Verbal Communication Skills Keller Golf Course – 2168 Maplewood Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109
Date: April 17 th , 2024 Networking: 7:30 a . m . – 8:00 a . m . Presentation: 8:00 a . m . – 2:00 p . m .
Cost: As a valued referring practice, no cost to you for the event, breakfast & lunch included. Secure Your Spot Now! coordinator@nernessendo.com or 651-777-7744
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Fee and Insurance Conversations: • Address fee and out-of-network concerns confidently • Communicate treatment value eectively • Follow up with patients for recommended treatment • Verbiage to refer to an out-of-network specialist • Transition smoothly from insurance to fee-for-service General Communication: • Learn best words and phrases for everyday situations • Respond politely to scheduling concerns • Ask the right questions • Communicate eectively in writing • Improve active listening skills • Diuse dicult situations
Bonus Content: • Improve team communication skills • Examples of outstanding customer service • Stress reduction tips • Strategies to boost production
651-777-7744 ○ NERNESSENDODONTICS.COM | 3 |
WHY YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR PATIENTS TO U S !
You have options when referring patients for endodontic treatment, but we want to be your first choice. Here’s why Nerness Endodontics is the best place for your patients! • We reserve time for emergencies every day. • Our next available appointments are only 1–3 days out. • Our availability has increased thanks to our shift away from insurance. • We offer single-visit treatment, allowing patients to return to your office as soon as possible. • Your patients deserve swift solutions, and we deliver! Do you have patients enrolled in your in-house membership plan? Just mention it on the referral slip, and we will honor your restorative discount! WE HONOR MEMBERSHIP PLAN DISCOUNTS!
Picture taken by Dr. Nerness at Casey Lake Park in North Saint Paul, MN
NERNESSENDODONTICS.COM ○ 651-777-7744 2945 HAZELWOOD ST. STE. 330, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109
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