More Chairs, More Stress? Build a Smarter Orthodontic Practice

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00:00:15: Hello I'm Dr.

00:00:16: Martin Baxman.

00:00:17: Today let's talk about some of the most critical strategic decisions you'll face especially when setting a new practice.

00:00:21: You know many of us were taught that massive practice with tons chairs is ultimate sign of success.

00:00:25: But i am here.

00:00:26: tell ya That belief can be real trap.

00:00:28: Without a firm grasp of the numbers, A bigger office can very quickly generate far more stress than it does profit.

00:00:33: So... It really all boils down to this fundamental question Is your practice truly designed for profit?

00:00:37: Or is perhaps unintentionally designed for stress?

00:00:40: I had a colleague call me not long ago Genuinely worried because The competitor opened a ten-chair practice in his small town.

00:00:45: And i get it.

00:00:46: On surface that sounds incredibly intimidating right But reality has set up like that.

00:00:50: Well its often completely different story.

00:00:52: Lets just break down math For moment.

00:00:54: In highly efficient lean practice One chair might see patient every fifteen minutes Over an eight-hour day, that's thirty two patients.

00:00:59: Simple enough!

00:01:00: But for a ten chair practice to be full utilized you need to see over twelve hundred patients A WEEK...a week.

00:01:05: To sustain the kind of volume You need staggering five thousand active cases on books In a town with twenty thousand people?

00:01:11: That is just statistically improbable.

00:01:13: And here s the crucial point That Ten Chair Practice isn't just clinical challenge It's massive financial burden.

00:01:18: The overhead The staffing costs The marketing dollars required even attempt to fill those chairs are immense.

00:01:23: it perfectly illustrates this simple truth Bigger Isn t always better.

00:01:26: A lot of the time, it's just more expensive.

00:01:28: So let's dig into this myth of scale because it really is a case of more chairs and problems.

00:01:33: And these challenges go way beyond patient volume.

00:01:36: They create significant operational headaches particularly for you as doctor or your entire team.

00:01:40: First Let us talk about modern staffing crisis.

00:01:43: For single-doctor trying to run a ten chair operation is a recipe for burnout.

00:01:46: It's physical and mental marathon If spending one minute at each chair You're running.

00:01:51: There are no time for thoughtful treatment planning No meaningful patients consultations.

00:01:54: But honestly, the even bigger issue today is staffing.

00:01:57: Can you imagine trying to find twelve skilled loyal assistants in this market?

00:02:00: It's a monumental challenge!

00:02:02: Decades ago I could post an ad and get fifty applications.

00:02:04: Today we're actively recruiting on social media.

00:02:06: Your practice design has be manageable for team that can actually hire or retain.

00:02:09: This brings us one of most important decisions your make.

00:02:11: You are clinical layout.

00:02:13: Time to rethink space And put it into assembly line model.

00:02:15: I've seen so many practices built around large open bay concept but let me frank That model completely outdated.

00:02:21: When compare philosophies here The contrast just night & day.

00:02:24: The Open Bay is a relic of the nineteen eighties.

00:02:26: It's an assembly line built to meet the absolute lowest patient expectations, but our patients today are different.

00:02:30: they're informed their savvy and expect privacy and personal attention.

00:02:34: individual rooms while I do require more organization deliver far higher level service and satisfaction.

00:02:39: let me be clear this isn't just preference it competitive necessity.

00:02:42: This where you see clinical benefit.

00:02:43: when a patient in private quiet environment feel that have your undivided focus entire dynamic shifts They become more grateful for your care, and this is key – they become much more compliant with treatment protocols.

00:02:54: This not only improves their outcomes but it also makes our work fundamentally more fulfilling!

00:02:58: Okay so if we agree that individual rooms are the way to go how do make them truly efficient?

00:03:02: That's a big question isn't

00:03:03: it?!

00:03:04: The key is design each operatory completely self-sufficient.

00:03:07: The protocol actually pretty straightforward.

00:03:09: first you standardize every single room have to be mirror images stocked identically.

00:03:13: Your team should reach into any drawer literally without looking know exactly what they're grabbing.

00:03:17: This eliminates that unprofessional and time-wasting dance of running between rooms for a curing light or specific wire.

00:03:22: We also use internal chat systems and phones to connect every room to the front desk, so an assistant never has to leave a patient's side to handle an administrative task.

00:03:29: The goal here is simple but incredibly powerful – we want to eliminate the spaghetti of disorganized movement.

00:03:34: Just picture it!

00:03:34: The wasted steps…the chaotic energy of staff crisscrossing office all day.

00:03:38: A self sufficient operator replaces ALL OF THAT CHAOS with calm focused and highly efficient workflow.

00:03:43: Now clinical speed is only half the battle.

00:03:45: Your administrative and laboratory support systems have to be just as efficient, so let's talk about optimizing those with smart tech and strategic outsourcing.

00:03:52: Here are two simple upgrades that deliver major gains.

00:03:55: First for Administrative BottleMax put two monitors on every desk.

00:03:58: This is a game changer.

00:03:59: It allows staff to manage the calendar one screen while handling emails or software On The Other And it dramatically reduces mental fatigue of constant window switching.

00:04:06: Second you have to mitigate your in-house lab risk.

00:04:09: Most heavy lifting liners twin blocks You name it can out sourced more effectively and safely To specialized digital labs.

00:04:15: What you want to do is adopt a lean laboratory approach.

00:04:17: This means keeping small, agile in-house area for quick repairs and minor adjustments while outsourcing the bulk of your production.

00:04:23: this not only slashes overhead on expensive equipment but more critically it protects practice from crisis.

00:04:28: what happens if your only technician falls ill?

00:04:30: If you've outsourced ,you're covered!

00:04:31: It's key risk management strategy.

00:04:33: So when combine all these principles A manageable scale A patient centric design Self sufficient operatories And Lean support systems You start build foundation for a practice that can essentially run autopilot.

00:04:42: And if you're starting a new practice, this is your golden opportunity.

00:04:45: Use those initial less-booked months for intensive team training.

00:04:48: Get your scripts and manuals established immediately.

00:04:50: Conduct role playing For front desk and treatment coordinators So they are confident from day one.

00:04:54: By focusing on quality systems over patient quantity early On You build the culture of excellence that will sustain you for years to come.

00:05:00: This is ultimate goal.

00:05:02: The whole purpose Of these systems Is To Build A Practice That Runs Smoothly and Predictably Freeing From Constant Firefighting.

00:05:07: It allows you to finally step back from managing chaos and focus entirely on your core clinical expertise, which is where you provide the most value.

00:05:13: And frankly we'll find the most professional satisfaction.

00:05:16: so I'll leave with this question to reflect on looking at your own operations.

00:05:20: what Is the single biggest source of inefficiency?

00:05:22: The biggest piece of spaghetti in your practice today?

00:05:25: identifying it as the first real step toward building a leaner more profitable and much less stressful future?