I wish I could have recorded the conversation I had with a patient’s husband yesterday.
Sometimes they leave. Sometimes they come back.
This was a new patient… sort of. She first came to me about 3 years ago. We did an initial exam and noted multiple (10 – 12) carious lesions. She saw my hygienist twice and then disappeared. Earlier this week, I got an email from her (through my website) saying that several teeth had broken and she’d like to come back. I promptly replied to her email and passed it on to my office manager who contacted her to make an appointment.
During her visit yesterday, we took a new FMX and did a comprehensive examination. Remarkably, her hygiene had improved quite a bit. All the decay was still there (go figure), and two teeth had progressed to the point of needing endo and crown restorations (or extractions).
This patient was pretty nervous, so she came in with her husband. It turns out she was nervous that I would be “judgmental” of her. I easily put that fear to rest. Her husband sat in the room with us as I reviewed my findings. We chatted a bit back and forth, and the discussion turned to costs. I mentioned that we have an in-house dental savings plan called Quality Dental Plan (QDP). Hubby says, “Yep… I already signed up with Jo-Ann (my office manager) while you were doing the exam.”
It IS better than dental “insurance!”
I extolled the virtues of QDP and how it’s better than so-called “dental insurance.” Hubby then informs me that he sells insurance! He went on to say, “Dental insurance plans are crap! I sell them. But, they are crap. People think they HAVE to have a dental plan, so I sell them.” He also mentioned that QDP is much better, as it cuts out the insurance company middle man and that the dentist and patient have total control. The savings are even better with QDP, and there’s no bullshit to deal with. Yep! I couldn’t have scripted it any better myself! Click on the QDP logo to learn more about implementing QDP in your practice. Tell’em I sent ya! (I have no vested interest.)
The patient made an appointment to get started on the first root canal on Monday. I’m confident she’ll show up. One of the great things about QDP is that it COMMITS the patient to your practice. They’re incentivized to “use” their “plan.” They have a plan! It’s a big psychological hurdle overcome.
An INSURANCE SALESMAN signed up for QDP. Think about that for a moment.
BOOYA!
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Cool. I am still watching QDP and how you are implementing it.
Mike, I’ve been on the fence with this myself, although I’m actually onboard totally with the concept. Please let me explain. My big question is; why QDP? Why not just create your own in office plan?
Ken
It’s a common / recurrent question from dentists, Ken.
Here’s why:
I don’t have the time nor the inclination to figure out the details and set it up myself. I don’t want to learn the hard way about any pitfalls. Why reinvent the wheel?
QDP provides the training, systems, marketing materials, support, branding, logos, etc. It’s a turn-key system.