Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Stone (00:00):
Are we ready
to talk about treatment?
(00:02):
Presentation?
We are ready.
Alright, here we go, ladies.
In 3, 2, 1.
Jennifer Steadman (00:09):
Back in 10 is a
podcast for dental leaders who do it
all and need 10 minutes to themselves.
Savanah Carlson (00:15):
It's about real
conversations, not curated ones, the
kind that happen off the clock behindclosed doors, and between the chaos of
running a practice and running life.
Jennifer Steadman (00:24):
Hosted by Savannah
Carlson and Jen Stedman, two women who've
led, learned, and laughed through it all.
Savanah Carlson (00:31):
This show brings
honest stories, leadership truths, and
the occasional sassy take on what itreally means to lead in dentistry today,
Jennifer Steadman (00:39):
because sometimes
the best leadership happens when
you step away for 10 minutes.
Savanah Carlson (00:44):
This is back in 10.
Hello everyone.
Welcome to back in 10.
I'm Savannah.
Jennifer Steadman (00:56):
And I'm Jen.
Savanah Carlson (00:58):
And on today's episode,
we are going to discuss treatment
presentation that converts, and thecommunication strategies that help
to build trust with those patients.
But before we begin, Jen,how are you doing today?
Jennifer Steadman (01:16):
Oh,
just ducky, my dear.
Just ducky, I think it'sjust one of those days, huh?
Yeah, it's like a smileand manage type of day.
It's okay to have an off day,but we are managing sometimes.
We all just do it.
And we're here.
Ta we're here.
Yeah, we're we're, I'm actually excitedto talk about this topic because
(01:38):
Me too, I will say as a clinician.
It's a clinician's job and a provider'sjob to make sure that they get
diagnosis right and that they educatethe patient so that they understand
that they need the treatment.
But then the role of someone on the adminteam, whatever their job description,
(02:00):
whatever their title is, I'll say.
It's their job to make sure that thatpatient has the, has a way to pay, right?
Has a way to get that care.
So whether it's financing or,you know, payment plans, do not
recommend in-house payment plans.
Um, no, you're not a bank.
Don't act like a bank.
(02:20):
You're not the bank, not worth, worth it.
Um, so there's so many different companiesthat can help to support you with that.
But having that conversationis really important.
And you need to know as a clinicianthat when that patient goes up to
the front or goes to the admin area,that handoff is gonna be good one,
that patient's gonna come back to seeyou so that they can get healthier.
Savanah Carlson (02:43):
And I wanna, I wanna
go back to something that you said
about the discussion of treatment needsand that being done by the clinicians.
And while it is done, obviously by theclinicians, 'cause they are the experts
in this, the ones doing the exam andthe treatment it is really important
for our clinicians to use everydaylanguage when discussing treatment
(03:06):
and not clinical jargon patients.
Wanna feel like you're talkingwith them, not at them.
And sometimes clinical jargon canhonestly feel belittling, like,
I don't know what you're saying.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so relating to your patientsin that regard, because patients
they don't buy dentistry really.
They buy trust.
(03:28):
They buy your trust.
And the way that you're, the waythat you frame your treatment
is as much treatment in itself.
Oh yeah.
So you have to apply a treatment toyour communication style to sell your
Jennifer Steadman (03:43):
treatment, right?
Yeah, absolutely.
And even as a hygienist, you know, whenwe're, say when we're taught in school,
everything is scaling and root planning.
You get out to the real world.
No one knows what the heckscaling and root planning is.
No, come on.
No one knows that.
But you think when you graduatethat everyone knows that because
that's what they teach you.
(04:03):
Well, they also teach you todo a prophy in four hours.
So that's not real life either.
But just under the terms and whatpeople understand, um, right, you
have an active infection, you haveperiodontal disease, and this is how
we're going to treat it instead of.
You need to come back infor scaling route planning.
I have no clue what you're talking about.
(04:25):
So really just, and making sure that, youknow, you talk about that jargon, everyone
on your team needs to use succinct.
Yeah.
Yep.
Savanah Carlson (04:32):
Right.
Everyone needs to be calibrated.
I'm not a fan of scripting.
However, I think that.
A foundation in language, let'ssay, rather than true scripting.
'cause I don't want you to memorizeit and then it to sound robotic.
I want you to look at a framework,internalize it and make it your own too.
(04:53):
Mm-hmm.
Like you said, like you havelocalized periodontitis and
you need scaling or cleaning.
I, I mean mm-hmm.
Yeah.
No one's gonna buy that.
No.
Look, you, you have an infection.
If we don't treat itnow, it's gonna spread.
And it can cause food loss.
So let's handle this nowbefore it gets worse.
(05:13):
Right.
And the best, it's thebest way to stop it.
To keep you healthy.
Jennifer Steadman (05:18):
Yeah.
Like even a prophylaxis.
What?
Right?
Like it's your wellness visit come in.
Yeah.
Your hygiene appointment.
It's your, we're gonna check oneverything, see how everything's going.
And that's, you know, you arepreventing disease at that point, right?
It's your preventive appointment versusyour, therapy appointment because
(05:40):
you need to have periodontal therapy.
Right.
But there's so many differentthings like that too.
And even just understanding like,well, why do I need a crown?
I don't wanna have a crown.
It's a helmet
Savanah Carlson (05:52):
for your
Jennifer Steadman (05:52):
tooth.
Savanah Carlson (05:54):
It keeps
it strong and protected.
Yeah.
Honestly, honestly,
Jennifer Steadman (05:58):
don't
look like helmets though.
Can you imagine?
I
Savanah Carlson (06:00):
know.
Hand to God, I hand to God.
I've, I've said that to a patientbecause I always feel that
the treatment needs need to bediscussed in the treatment room.
When they get to me in the consultroom to discuss their appointments
and to discuss financials, I. It'smy hope that by the time they sit
(06:21):
down, they don't have any otherquestions about the treatment at all.
But I have said this crown is a helmet.
It keeps it
Jennifer Steadman (06:30):
strong
but it makes sense, right?
And I don't have long sleeves ontoday, but like even when I used to do.
You know, your periodontalevaluation, first of all, you
don't say probe because people arelike, you're gonna do what to me?
No thank you.
No one wants to be probed.
But like showing themwhat it means, right?
Like, use your finger.
(06:51):
So I'm gonna use my sleeve justbecause I don't have long sleeves.
And just show them like,this is the pocket, right?
And you go around.
I used to do that with likemy scrub jacket, right?
'cause it's always tight,tight sleeves for hygiene.
But there's so many different thingsthat you can do to help them understand.
But as an admin team member,you need to know that those
conversations have already happened.
Yeah.
And that's why it's important thatthe team is calibrated on the same
(07:12):
language that they're using, notthe script that they're using.
Right, because then you're right, it doessound fake and robotic, the same language.
So what do you call things, right?
We call it this, not that we talkedbefore in a previous episode too.
Like don't call it the waitingroom because then people
think that they're gonna wait.
Right?
It's the reception area.
It's our welcoming area.
So just what are you goingto call it as a team?
(07:35):
And then just make sure that everyone'sdoing the same thing, but when that
patient comes out to the front, itshould not be the first time that
they're hearing about that treatment.
Savanah Carlson (07:43):
No.
No, absolutely not.
And treatment, treatment really is,it's about preventing pain not being a
bandaid for when it, for when it breaks.
Which having that foundational languagewill only help to keep patients as
healthy as possible from the get go.
(08:05):
From the get go.
What are.
What are common barriers thatyou faced when you were managing
gen when it came to treatment?
Like normalizing concerns.
Creating buy-in from the patient.
Yeah.
When
Jennifer Steadman (08:21):
finances Yeah.
Like handling the patient's objections.
Right.
And you, that's when education ofyour team really comes into play.
Savanah Carlson (08:29):
Yeah.
And the
Jennifer Steadman (08:29):
biggest
thing is always finances.
So you need to remove that barrier.
So you need to make sure that you have.
Multiple payment solutionsfor them, not just one.
You have to have multiple becausethey might not be approved on one,
but they be approved on another.
Right.
There's so many differentthings out there.
But you need to remove the barriers, and Ithink that is, that's the biggest one, is
(08:54):
it's always finances, so you need to makesure that your office has the resources
for your team to understand, but also foryour patients, so that way they can do it.
And even.
And the, the comfort of their own home.
Like they can scan and applyor pre be a pre-approved and
different things like that too.
There's so many differentresources out there now.
Savanah Carlson (09:15):
And a couple of things
that you can say to a patient who has
concerns about financing, you know, um.
I want you to feel comfortablewith the treatment plan that the
doctor discussed with you, andI want you to feel comfortable
both clinically and financially.
(09:36):
So let's go over together, what insurancegoing to cover, and then what your
investments going to be and what flexibleoptions that we can offer for you and.
It's most important that you arecared for, and if it helps, we,
let's talk about phasing treatments.
You don't feel overwhelmed there.
I mean, there are ways to just, it's notnever just a one and done with a patient.
(10:00):
You always have to look at the optionsbecause the number one goal for any dental
practice, this is why we're in business,is to keep people as healthy as possible.
Jennifer Steadman (10:09):
Yeah.
And I would say too, don't judge a bookby its cover per se, because I've had
patients that have come in before andjust maybe buy their clothes or the
way that they're dressed or anything.
Some of the team members might think thatthey can't afford it or vice versa, or
that they could afford it and they can't.
Right.
(10:30):
So every person, put everyperson as an equal and just
say, ask them the question like.
I exactly what you said, right?
I want this to be comfortable for you.
Yeah.
Clinically and and to your wallet.
And financially, don't expectthat someone can pay $500 a
month, $300 a month, $200 a month.
So you need to make sure that you arevery flexible in what you can offer
(10:54):
them That is not you or the bank, right?
It needs the source.
Savanah Carlson (10:59):
Yeah.
Our job isn't to pressurethe patient, it's to mm-hmm.
It's to give them the best informationavailable so that they can make
the best decision that feels rightfor them and their dental health.
Correct.
Love it.
Love it.
The strongest phrase I would, Iwould always say, and I, it's, I
don't know if it's like cliche,if that's even the right word, but
like, if you were my family member.
(11:22):
This is exactly what Iwould say for you to do too.
That can go leaps and bounds too.
But you can't just come out ofthe gate saying that, be like,
Hey, you're like my ma. Mm-hmm.
You need to do this treatment.
You, you gotta get their buyin before you can do that.
Jennifer Steadman (11:38):
Absolutely.
If you were my friends or family, thisis the, I would offer them the same
exact thing that I'm offering you.
Yeah.
It's really important that you have alsothat just level of rapport with them.
Savanah Carlson (11:49):
Yeah.
It's
Jennifer Steadman (11:49):
really important.
Yeah.
And last thing before we clock out,the doctor or hygienist needs to set
you up for success and pass that batonin the handoff and say, you know, I.
Susie, this is the treatment that Dr.
Smith reviewed with you today, andwe talked about the importance of it.
(12:13):
Savannah, we really need toget her in within the next
week, two weeks at the most.
I'm gonna leave you with Savannah.
You were in great hands with her.
She's gonna make sure that we canget you in in the next week or
two and that you're taken care of.
Done.
I love that.
It's, it's really passing that offbecause they might not know you like
(12:36):
they know the doctor or the hygienist.
It's really important that they dothat, because if they're not gonna set
you up for success, you're not settingthe patient up for success either.
Savanah Carlson (12:44):
Mm-hmm.
It also, it encourages like aculture of, of listening too.
Right?
It's the patient listeningto the doctor, the, the.
Admin team listening to the clinicians onwalkout and then everyone listening to the
patient right before the patient says yes.
(13:06):
Exactly.
Exactly.
Jennifer Steadman (13:08):
Mm-hmm.
So there we go.
So on that note, there we go.
Savanah Carlson (13:12):
Yeah, and you know what?
Celebrate that caseacceptance, win as a team.
Yes.
You have great
Jennifer Steadman:
communication strategies. (13:19):
undefined
Yes.
Well, we are gonna clock out for rightnow, but thank you everyone for joining
us today, and we'll see you real soon.
Savanah Carlson (13:29):
Communicate effectively.
Bye!,
Jennifer Steadman (13:32):
Thanks for spending
a few minutes with us on back in 10.
If something made you laugh, nod or feel alittle more human, share it with a friend
and make sure that you're subscribed.
You can also follow us on Instagramat Back in 10 Pod for more behind
the scenes updates and probably
a little chaos.
We're not here to have it all figured out.
We are just here to tell you the thingsthat we wish someone had told us.
Savanah Carlson (13:56):
And remind
you that leadership doesn't
have to be perfect, just real.
We'll be back in 10 in.