836: 3 Reasons to Stop Adding Chairs – Christina Byrne

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

Growth can be exciting. But bigger isn't always better! To explain why you should think twice before adding more chairs, Kirk Behrendt brings back Christina Byrne, ACT’s director of operations, with advice for maximizing the chairs, patients, and time that you already have. Get better, not bigger! To learn the right questions to ask yourself before trying to expand, listen to Episode 836 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Christina:

• Send Christina an email: [e-mail]
• Send Gina an email: [e-mail]
• Email the ACT Team for their free resources: [e-mail]

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 836: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Download ACT’s GAPs At a Glace resource: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/47%20The%20Financial%20GAPs%20at%20a%20Glance%20-%2005.pdf
• Download ACT’s PPO Roadmap resource: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/ACT%20Dental%20PPO%20Roadmap.pdf

Main Takeaways:

• Bigger isn't necessarily better for your practice.
• Understand and correct your practice’s inefficiencies.
• Start by maximizing the use of chairs you already have.
• Stick to your blocked schedule to keep your hours profitable.
• Reactivating existing patients is easier than attracting new ones.
• Put a system in place to increase your date-of-service collections.
• Be clear about why you want to expand. What are your motivations?
• Avoid unnecessary overhead expenses. What is the cost of expansion?

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

0:41 Why this is an important topic.

7:38 Maximize the utilization of chairs you have.

10:07 Honor your blocked scheduling.

10:43 Figure out how to reactivate patients.

11:35 Have everyone be accountable to their schedules.

13:35 Track hygiene reappointment percentage.

14:58 Know exactly what you're writing off.

17:13 Collect at least 99% of net production.

19:32 Give people grace when changing your systems.

20:24 Avoid unnecessary overhead expenses.

22:32 Expand for the right reasons.

22:56 Think about the tangible and intangible costs of expansion.

26:34 Final takeaways.

Christina Byrne Bio:

Christina Byrne has been involved in dentistry since 1985. Over the years, she has held many positions on the dental team, including dental assistant, business office, and dental hygienist. Christina’s extensive knowledge of the front office and clinical procedures is a great asset, and she loves to impart her knowledge to guide dental teams do the best they can to achieve a Better Practice, Better Life!