As an example, I was working with a new dentist last spring that was looking to open her own office. She had found a small office space that had previously been a dental office prior to the dentist’s passing.  We met at the space for a walk-thru and then sat and discussed her wish list items for branding the space to reflect the type of dental practice she wanted to have.  Her budget was small, as is the case with many dentists just starting out, and unfortunately, just making the changes that were necessary to bring the space up to code for a 21^st century dental practice completely consumed her build-out budget, leaving nothing to rebrand the office.  In the end I advised her, that while the rent appeared to be attractive to keep looking for something different.  The space she ultimately found suited her needs much better, having been designed as a dental office in only the last 10 years rather than over 30 years ago.

Every time I complete a dental office project I encourage my client to hold an open house to show off their new office or newly remodeled one.  I believe that these events are so important that I typically even share the expense of this party with them. This
is a great way to connect with clients in a more social gathering, plus it helps them to see that the practice is doing well.  As one of the important health care providers in clients’ lives, it is important to them that their dentist do well.  They like to know that their dentist is keeping abreast of all of the latest in technology and practice trends. This spills over in how the dental office itself is designed, organized, and operated.

Beyond just having a party when one opens a new office, there are many other times when one can throw a celebration.  Perhaps a member of your staff reaching a milestone in employment like 10 years with the practice or passing a certification exam for new industry knowledge or adding the 1500^th patient.  These opportunities may just be mini celebrations held in the staff lounge, but they build teamwork, reduce stress, and keep the practice focused on the positive rather than the daily grind.

I’m off to another celebration this evening of a new office opening.  In spite of an already full schedule I’m looking forward to another chance to share in the success of my friends, colleagues, and peers.

My favorite contractor actually builds into their pricing to hire a professional cleaning crew to come in and do a thorough scrubbing of the project site prior to turnover.  While this may raise their pricing some, it leaves such an incredibly positive impression with the client that both the contractor and I come off looking much better – which, incidentally, increases the number of referrals.  With all of the other concerns surrounding a remodel or move of a dental office, the last thing my clients need to worry about is making sure their newly updated office space is clean.

Part of the problem with this hospital could very well be that its purpose has changed three times during the five years that it was under construction.  The facility started its life being planned as purely a suburban outpatient hospital. Then it was upgraded to be a full-service, 300 bed hospital.  With all of the turmoil in the economy and uncertainty in healthcare, the current mission for the facility is one of a limited, service 100 bed facility.  My suspicion is that during all of these changes, the design staff was not given proper direction or authorization to make all of the design changes that would be necessary to fully incorporate the changing mission into the design.  The end results are rooms that are not truly designed to reflect their intended purpose and thus are merely aggravating to everyone trying to use them.

General purpose design can work okay in offices but rarely works well in dental or other healthcare related facilities.  The
needs of operatories, labs, sterilization rooms and the like are so specialized that the facility needs to be designed with the interactions between staff, equipment, and patients in mind.  This is the only way to make certain that things work together seamlessly and efficiently.  Additionally, due to the demands of regulations such as ADA, HIPAAA, and OSHA, dental and other
healthcare design must be especially mindful that these regulations are incorporated into the design to assist in compliance.

Another “mistake” that I see made in existing facilities is changing the role of rooms to reflect changing needs in the healthcare practice without consulting a design expert.  The repurposed room often fails to meet regulations, provides poor lighting, or creates awkward traffic flow that reduces productivity.  While bringing one’s designer in to consult on “little moves” may increase the cost of the project slightly, it will be more than made up for in improved productivity and efficiencies after the change.

While I’m generally opposed to playing gum disease videos in one’s dental office’s Reception Area and think they should be reserved for Consultation Rooms, this one is certainly not going to gross anyone out.

ToothyGrinsStore

We are now forming a new dental peer group in your area and invite you to join us to learn more about how you can be part of this exclusive group.  This will be a small, intimate group of dental professionals from non-competing markets that will gather four times per
year to share their experiences and seek advice from one another as they collectively work toward building better dental businesses.

The quarterly, full-day sessions will be facilitated by James Kuester, who has 20+ years of experience growing small businesses.
During each sessions members will present their financials, current challenges, offer advice, and hold one another accountable to their stated goals and objectives for their practices.

To learn more about joining the Midwest Dental Peer Group, please join us for an informational breakfast on Friday, 14 October from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Indiana Design Center, 200 S Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN.  Please RSVP to Laurel at 866.904.6631 ext 5
or by email to james@kusterdental.com.

If you are interest in learning more about the dental peer group in your region, please contact us.  Each group is limited to six, non-competing dentist and the space will fill fast.

The past ten years have brought many changes, not only to the country, the world, but for me personally. At the time of the attack in New York ten years ago the plans for the sale of my company were well underway.  While the attack delayed the closing by a few days, I was already on track to change my life from the manufacturing side of the table to move around to the design side.  The recession that
hit Midwest manufacturing in the summer of 1999 had taken a toll on me. I no longer found the challenges of running my fabricating business interesting or fun.  I dreaded getting out of bed each morning.  In January of 2001 I took a good friend’s advice that, “It’s a business not a baby.  You can sell your business, you can’t sell your baby,” and put the company up for sale.

Since closing on the sale of the company I have started two new businesses, selling one of those.  I have had my designs accepted into juried shows in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and North Carolina.  I have been invited to design spaces for the Saint Margaret’s Guild Decorators Show House.  I planned a relocation of my design firm to Palm Springs, sold my house, and aborted that move.  I have discovered a passion for dental office, as well as wine cellar design, and refocused the firm to specialize in this area.

I can say I am fortunate ten years later to continue to be surrounded by dear friends, family that loves me, wonderful clients that have
become great friends, and to be able to engage each day in a vocation that I truly love and never tire of.  As I reflect on the past ten years and look forward to the future, I my wish for everyone the same happiness that I have found and the promise of a bright and exciting adventure ahead.

In creating a positive client experience for your dental office, one of the key factors is to make things as pleasant for the client as possible.  This means making things convenient, too.  With a little more thought in restroom design, the towel dispenser, trash receptacle, and sink can all be within easy reach of one another.  This is also one of the basic tenants of handicap accessibility in design.  If someone is in a wheel chair, having to maneuver all over the restroom to wash one’s hands is not only inconvenient it is downright aggravating.

Too often things like soap and towel dispensers and the location of the trash bin become second thoughts or are only considered the first time someone actually goes to use the new restroom.

Trash Cutouts in Counter and Receptacles

Vibrant red Bernhardt sofa

While I generally stay clear of red in dental office design as to not remind people of blood, this piece is so full of energy and style that it just draws people to it.  I may have to reconsider my avoidance of red.

To go along with the excitement of the Bernhardt piece is this very stylized wing-back chair that gives a new twist on traditional design.

21st Century Wing Back

The oversized back definitely affords privacy and would allow a visitor to any dental office reception area a quiet respite from the world while awaiting their examination or for their compatriots to finish theirs.

The next two finds are a bit more spa-like in their tone and presentation, but they still present a very sophisticated, professional image that would work well in most any 21^stcentury dental office design.

Sophisticated Comfort

Spa-like comfort

Any patient walking into an office with these numbers would immediately know that the dentist was state-of-the-art.

When was the last time you took a serious look at the furnishing in your reception area?  What message are they sending to your patients about you and the state of your dental office?

At the BBQ

Last evening I attended the President’s reception which was a great outdoor barbeque with a live band.  Everyone was relaxed, catching up with old friends, making new ones, and really having a good time – in spite of it being a rather warm and muggy evening.

View of the French Lick Springs Hotel patio at the BBQ

Compared to similar events held at previous Sessions this was a refreshing change and much more effective as a celebration of the dental industry.

There are two hotels and a casino as part of the French Lick Springs Resort.  Both are historic properties that were built in the late 19^th and early 20^th century that have been beautifully resorted by Cook Group.  I stayed at the West Baden Springs Hotel and had a wonderful atrium view from my sixth floor balcony.

View from my hotel room at the West Baden Springs Hotel

Until the Astrodome was built, this was the largest free spanning dome in the world.

This morning I got to swim my laps in the beautiful lap pool attached to the spa.

The pool at the Spa at West Baden

I work diligently coaching
my clients that one of the best ways to improve their client experience is to create a more spa-like atmosphere in their dental office design.

Reception at the Spa at West Baden

What patient wouldn’t feel relaxed and ready for treatment when walking into a dental office with this kind of reception area design?  Or this one?

Pool reception at the Spa at West Baden