Do's and don'ts for patient interaction

When you first started your practice, you may have thought that dealing with patients would be easy. And why not? They're people too, right? Well, of course they are, but it's not that simple. Dealing with patients on a personal level takes the same amount of thought, time, and patience that you put into providing your clinical care.

Think of moving a patient through your practice as a ballet. Every step is well prepared and leads to the next step. Whether it is a new patient starting with his or her first phone call or a current patient coming in for a new procedure, having each step lead to and support the next step will create a highly efficient and smooth-running practice.

Don't forget to let the patient do the talking. When you interrupt someone, it creates a negative feeling. If a patient is explaining something to you simply smile, nod, and listen until it is your turn to respond.

Dr. Roger P. Levin is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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