When it comes to events that can completely disrupt your practice, you should hope for the best and plan for the worst. Whether that disruptive event is a flood or fire, extended power outage, or doctor incapacitation, bad things can happen to good practices. Like buying insurance, the time and effort you invest in recovery planning may seem wasted if disaster doesn't strike, but with so much at stake, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Think through each scenario and draw up detailed plans. Review a series of "what ifs," and figure out practical responses. Line up needed resources in advance, write out step-by-step procedures (including who's responsible for each step), and store backups of the plan in various places.
Don't think it can't happen to you. Landlocked practices have flooded when a water main broke. Busy practices have been stopped cold by a total computer meltdown. Dentists have been laid up with a severe injury or illness. Years of success could be completely undermined by an unplanned-for disaster, so having recovery plans makes sense.
Dr. Roger P. Levin is CEO of Levin Group, a leading practice management and marketing consulting firm. To contact him or to join the 40,000 dental professionals who receive his Practice Production Tip of the Day, visit LevinGroup.com or email [email protected].
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