Australasian Dentist Issue 89

Category 128 AustrAlAsiAn Dentist O ne thing that we pride ourselves on at the independent Dentist network is being able to help practices differentiate themselves from their corporate and health fund competitors. We provide assistance and the means to enable practices to convey to patients the benefits and differences that help the making of informed decisions about which practice they should be visiting. Are you looking to differentiate your independent practice? Below we have highlighted five ways that the independent network can help you do this. Inform your patient base in most cases, patients don’t understand what it means to be a completely independent practice, nor do they understand how some health fund and corporate practices run cost reduction focus as a major objective and over service their patients. the best thing you can do as an independent practice is to inform your patient base with pamphlets, social media posts, conversations all of which highlight the points of difference and why it is so important to support independent dentists. this way you have given your patients all they need to make an informed decision based on benefits and personal care as to which practice, they would like to visit for their next dentist appointment. Present them with options When you are informing your patients on the benefits of independent practices it is important to present them with options to demonstrate to them that you have their best interest in mind. that’s why we have an arrangement with Fair Health Care Australia who well help your patients find the best health fund fit for them from a menu of non-preferred provider funds. With this arrangement in place, your patients will appreciate the options that have been offered to them and in a lot of cases improve their claims benefits. Highlight the difference between independent and corporate practices By differentiating your practice, your patients will be able to clearly identify the difference between independent and corporate practices. it is with this information that you can highlight that an independent dentist offers patients the freedom of choice, there is no restriction in treatment, placing patient’s best interests over profit, and the many other benefits of visiting an independent practice. When you highlight the differences in practices, and benefits to patients it is this information that reinforces their commitment to your practice. to do this, you need to be constant in your messaging effort. We want Australians to realise that independent practices are the way to go and are the dentists that you want to trust with your oral health. The Importance of independent dental practices independent dental practices are a major player in the dental industry. With the rise of health fund and corporate practices we need to stick together to create a group committed to hold up the integrity of dentistry. Being 100% independent means that you are no way affiliated with health fund or corporate entities, you are 100% independent and free to make your own decisions. How the IDN can help you differentiate your practice We can help you differentiate your practice by offering you a co- brand that is promoted Australia wide. When you join the iDn you will be joining a national marketing campaign that will highlight the importance of your practice. We also offer services for you to continually learn and grow within your practice such as business, marketing, it and repair, or training and staff services. All of these are readily available to members to help grow and run their practices successfully. When it comes to differentiating your dental practice, the independent Dentist network is the platform you are looking for. One of our aims is to help a group of like-minded dentists to be able to compete on equal terms as the health funds and corporate entities and to keep members informed, educated, to the changing nature of dentistry. u To find out more about the IDN head to www.independentdentist.com.au If you have any questions about the IDN email headoffice@independentdentist.com.au Berris Saultry How to differentiate your practice By Berris Saultry ColuMnIsts