Ask the Dentrix Expert: Eliminating paper and more to ease COVID-19 concerns

Editor's note: This is another installment in a yearlong series that is designed to help dentists and team members understand their practice management software better.

Today, we are providing you with another tip from Dayna Johnson, a certified Dentrix trainer and founder of Novonee.com. If you have a Dentrix question you would like Dayna to answer for an upcoming column, you can email her at [email protected].

Q: What are some ways we can eliminate passing paper, clipboards, and money back and forth over the front counter?

Dayna Johnson.

A: This is something that many practices are asking as they start to open the office to patients again. I have a few ideas for you on how to deal with this issue:

• Eliminate paper, clipboards, and dirty pens by implementing electronic forms. The Dentrix Questionnaires have been in place since version G3, and the functionality is better than ever. The other option I recommend is Enlive Dental forms. Either option fully integrates with your patient information, and the patients can fill out paperwork before they come into the office. Reach out to me directly so I can help you discover what option is best for your situation.
• Create a virtual check-in where you can two-way text with patients before they come into the office. With Dentrix Patient Engage and the new Patient Portal, you can send secure messages to patients, you can two-way text, and you can have patients fill out forms. It is like having a "virtual front desk."
• Stop passing money and credit cards over the counter by storing credit cards on file with the secure Dentrix Pay. With the release of version G7.3.1, you can now send the patient a true electronic statement where the patient can click on a Pay Now button to send a real-time payment to the office. The payment is downloaded into Dentrix and automatically posts to the patient ledger.

I hope these three options will help you and your team create a more "touchless" patient check-in and check-out. These simple measures will likely help provide peace of mind to your patients and your team.

Dayna Johnson is the founder of Novonee, a Dentrix online community. She can be reached via email at [email protected].

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.