This month, we introduce you to the “Patient Portal,” and how it will help you and your clients be on the same page about their care before their course of treatment begin.

What is predetermination?

In dentistry, the term “predetermination” encompasses two things that are of utmost importance when treating patients. The first branch of predetermination is the discussion you have with the patient when deciding what treatment or procedure will be performed and what exactly that encompasses. Essentially it is about consent and all parties being on the same page when it comes to a treatment plan. This is beneficial for both the patient, they will know exactly what to expect and will have the chance to consent to or refuse suggested procedures, and the dental practitioner––avoiding lawsuits or potentially losing a customer if they are unsatisfied by their treatment.

The other branch of predetermination relates to cost. Along with the procedures that will be performed, you and your patient need to be on the same page cost-wise. No patient likes to be surprised with a bill amount they weren’t expecting and you, as the practitioner, do not want to be accused of being dishonest with pricing. Agreeing on a set price for the procedure, or series of procedures, before performing them is greatly important. In fact, cost and not knowing what type of treatment they are receiving is the number one complaint dental regulatory bodies receive from the public.

How can DenTyme’s Patient Portal help?

Patients tend to be more comfortable leaving feedback or criticism about a service discreetly or confidentially, so the Patient Portal allows for an easy way for your clients to do this. Set up a tablet at the entrance of your office with the DenTyme app open––on their way out, clients can fill out a quick customized questionnaire in the Patient Portal that will give you insight on what they think about the quality of care, costs, attitude and behaviours of staff, and more.

Even with solid predetermination in place and you and the patient coming to an agreement on the treatment and procedures, dissatisfaction or other issues may still arise. The Dental Portal creates a space for patients to air these dissatisfactions before escalating the issues and reaching out to regulatory bodies.

All in all, this is beneficial for all parties involved and will lead to healthier relationships between you and your patients and ensure your reputation stays positive in the eyes of the regulatory bodies, greater dental world, and the general public.

For more about DenTyme and how it can help you scale up your dental business, buy our new book Scaling Up: The Business of Dentistry.