The end of the year is a time for predictions of what the next year holds. Since this is a blog about technology in dentistry, it implies that I should put on my prophet’s hat and venture out with my expectations for 2013.
I feel totally inadequate to make such a leap, so let me stand on the shoulders of others who are more informed or at least don’t have my reluctance to appear foolish a year from now.
Gartner is a technology research company that I respect and rely on for future insights and here is a link to their top technology trends for 2013.
I’ve selected four of those trends that I feel will impact dentistry and offer them with my comments.
If you’ve been following my three part series on implementing technology change in the dental practice, you will have read about the three areas that need success for an over-all implementation win – people, technology and process. In this third installment I will speak to the process component.
I characterized the “people” area as being the most complex and the “technology” area as being the most intimidating. The “process” area is the most neglected.
How will the new change fit within the workflow of your practice? Am I simply replacing an existing process with a new, faster, cheaper process? Am I changing the workflow in a particular area completely?
These are questions you should ask and acknowledge the risk inherent in the associated answers.
In last week’s post I wrote about the “people” area of introducing technology change to the dental practice.
“People” is one of three broad areas in which you need to succeed to successfully introduce new technology. The other two are the technology itself and the processes or workflow.
I will address the technology component in this week’s offering.
I have been involved in introducing technology changes within organizations for over thirty years (yes, they had technology 30 years ago) and have seen my share of successes and failures.
The outcome generally depends on succeeding within three broad areas: the technology, the processes and the people. I’d like to talk about these three areas over the next three posts and I’ll start with the most complex – the people.
Surprised that I would consider people the most complex? That has been my experience. Let me explain.
Are you concerned about websites where people can post reviews of healthcare providers? Many of these sites exist and some consumers will not make a move without consulting one.
Angie’s List has an entire section titled “Health” where reviews are offered on physicians, psychiatrists, ophthalmologists and yes, dentists. Positive reviews on one of these sites can be a welcome source of new patients.
However, a negative review can have the opposite effect.
In 2012, Section 179 tax deduction has been a big benefit to the dental community. It has allowed dentists to add new dental equipment, dental technology and practice management software to their offices and write off up to $139,000 in one year with accelerated depreciation.
Section 179 also had a bonus depreciation provision which allows dentists to write off an additional 50% of all qualifying dental purchases up to $500,000.
This will disappear in 2013.
Last week we took a short tour of some of the tools used to connect computers ending up with describing a WAN (Wide Area Network). Since we are considering how we connect dental practices in different locations, WAN’s will be our starting point this week.
With the smaller networks we were able to physically connect the computers using wires that we could string ourselves or more likely employ an electrician to string for us. Or we used radio waves that could reach devices within a short range, say from one end of our office to the other.
Let me start by offering a definition of the term CCO. This is from the State of Oregon’s website.
A Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) is a network of all types of health care providers who have agreed to work together in their local communities for people who receive health care coverage under the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid).
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