Why Not Take Advantage of the Web?
Recognized as a leading authority on high-tech dentistry, Dr. Larry Emmott has over 30 years of experience as a practicing general dentist in Phoenix, AZ. A prolific author and lecturer who has spoken at every major dental meeting, Dr. Emmott’s mission is to help dentists make good technology choices. Here, he discusses some of the underutilized technologies and what’s ahead for dentistry.
What’s an underutilized technology today?
Electronic services such as electronic billing and online bill pay. It's amazing the number of dentists who don't have online bill pay. Why not? Online bill pay, electronic reminders, e-call cards— once you have a fully electronic digital record that allows all these tools to integrate, you can use the internet and these online e-services to perform tasks that you used to have to pay people in the office to do, and you can do it more effectively, with fewer errors, and with far less cost. I think those have been the things that dentists have underutilized.
Are dentists taking enough advantage of websites?
Most are using them only as a way to attract a new patient, but think about that. When I go to different companies’ websites as a customer, I go to buy stuff, but I also go there for customer service, to ask questions, get information. You want to have services that support your existing patients—not just new patients. If your website’s designed just for new patients, it's a once-in-a lifetime experience, because they're only a new patient once in their life, but they will always need to pay their bills, fill out forms, and make appointments, as well as other services. The webpage can be the hub for these electronic services so you can service your patients more efficiently.
Check out Dr. Emmott’s website at emmottontechnology.com.