What Do Endodontists and Astronauts Have in Common?

What do endodontists and astronauts have in common? Surprisingly, a lot. You see, it occurred to me while watching one of my favorite films, Apollo 13, that astronauts and endodontists are quite similar.

In the movie, there are three strategies Tom Hanks uses to prepare his team for launch:

1) He and his team consistently practiced the procedures that would ensure a successful launch
2) He had his most valuable tools right at his fingertips
3) He stayed in constant communication with his team

The outcome? The astronauts were cleared for launch because they executed these vital methods each day, consistently.

Just like astronauts, you as an endodontist must implement procedures and strategies to ensure your practice’s successful growth. I call this process “frontloading”—the consistent execution of methods and strategies that position your practice for success.

Some of the 15-20 ways to frontload your practice are to:

• Institute a patient referral program
• Contact inactive patients and reschedule them
• Promote comprehensive endodontics to every patient
• Establish flexible payment options for patients
• Effectively communicate with your entire team about practice goals
• Maximize the one-appointment concept as a scheduling catch, as the two-appointment approach results in high levels of inefficiency and lower production

I talk a lot about frontloading in my seminars… click on the link below to attend one in 2009!

http://www.levingroupendo.com/endo_seminars.html