Practice Management Insider: That 6 a.m. phone call; junk mail; and improving your team

Dear Practice Management Insider,

When your phone rings at 6 a.m., it's generally not good. What do you do when the call is from a key team member who is sick and won't be in the office that day? As Dr. Lisa Knowles writes, having a plan in place is crucial. She offers six ideas for how to handle these situations. Read her ideas here.

Also featured in the Practice Management Community, Scheduling Institute President Jay Geier asks, "What do you do with your junk mail?" If you are like most people, the marketing mail you receive at your office ends up immediately in the recycling bin. However, there might be a better way to look at that mail. Curious? Read more here.

Each dental practice is unique, with many variables involved -- from the practice owner's vision to patient demographics. For this reason, the best team members should be trained to meet the specific needs of your practice and patients, according to Dr. Roger P. Levin. The quality of the training has everything to do with your success as a business. Read more here.

Your team members crave feedback. Without feedback from you, the practice CEO, they don't have the direction they need to excel in their roles and ultimately help move the practice toward true success and profitability, writes practice management consultant Sally McKenzie. Read more here.

For thoughtful practice management insight such as these columns, visit DrBicuspid.com every day.