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8/4/2018 |
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Forming Relationships: The Single Most Important Thing One Can Do In A Lifetime |
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Forming Relationships: The Single Most Important Thing One Can Do In A Lifetime by Angela Grover, RDH Recently, my house was crazy; my graduation, a full-time faculty interview for a position in dental hygiene education, my son’s high school graduation, all in the midst of us moving from our house of ten years. Crazy, may not even touch it! Nevertheless, I was present in all aspects of each event, despite the chaos surrounding us. Being present manifested unexpected feelings, but one consistency was recognized throughout. Relationships were pivotal in all these events. You can catch me saying my coined quote, “Forming relationships is possibly the single most important thing you can do in a lifetime.” Let’s analyze various relationships we can face in our day to day comings and goings in dentistry. In dentistry, we are afforded the pleasure of developing all types of relationships with patients, referring doctors, labs, co-workers, and representatives that call on our offices. We have no choice but to form these ties, sometimes to our dismay. As I have been growing and changing these past two years, while investing in my personal and professional growth, I find myself speaking to various people about relationships. Am I an expert? I will never claim to be, but I do feel some light can be shed on relationships in dentistry. Patient Relationships Let’s start with patients, preferably new patients. First impressions will be key to forming a valued relationship with new patients. New patients can become the backbone of your practice; very quickly they are no longer new patients, thus becoming the backbone is inevitable. Courting new patients is highly valuable, as these patients, we hope, will sing your praises after their initial appointment, IF they feel as if they were important. How can we offer that feeling? It all begins with the initial phone conversation. If you are employing Witch Hazel to answer your phones or greet your patients, forget it! We all have met Witch Hazel; she hates her job, she couldn’t smile if she wanted, and she certainly doesn’t court patients time after time. Having a friendly voice and smile to greet your clientele can go a long way to garner trust. People need to sense a feeling of belonging. Read full article on Today's RDH.
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