Dental service organization (DSO) leaders face a variety of business challenges, ranging from maximizing chair time to case acceptance, practice efficiency, procurement management and more.
One proven solution is finding a partner that focuses on practice care, so that DSO dental professionals can focus on patient care.
During an executive roundtable sponsored by Brasseler USA at the Becker's Dental & DSO Conference, four industry experts discussed how Henry Schein is transforming DSO operations through innovation:
• Hunter Alford, Health First
• Adam Hobbs, Henry Schein Dental
• Jim Nau, BioHorizons
• Matt Woodend, Brasseler USA
Six key takeaways were:
1. Henry Schein integrates, generates and elevates the DSO experience. Henry Schein is more than a supply company. Schein's portfolio of companies integrates DSO operations with seamless digital workflows, generates case acceptance and same-store growth and elevates the business through improved operations. "We proactively help DSOs alleviate issues that may arise," Mr. Hobbs said.
2. Formulary consolidation reduces supply costs. Leading DSOs consolidate their implant brands, as well as the biologics that they use. "Most implant companies also sell biologics," Mr. Nau said. "BioHorizons generates cross walks where we take your information and show whether you are buying the same product from multiple vendors at different price points. This enables DSOs to quickly consolidate and start making better revenue decisions."
3. Training leads to increased same-store growth. BioHorizons' DSO Implant Academy and DSO Implant Masters training teach general dentists how to place implants successfully at a higher rate. Live patient training is the key to transforming general dentists into implantologists. BioHorizons' DSO Associate Leadership program also provides business and leadership training that's not part of the curriculum at dental schools. "This virtual course focuses on the soft skills of running a practice in the right way so you can reduce staff turnover," Mr. Nau said.
4. Digitally based implant systems reduce inventory and increase DSO productivity. BioHorizons' new Tapered Pro Conical implant system is designed for both single units and full arches. The SmartShapeTM anatomically shaped healing abutments with scannable technology can be used to make a provisional or a final abutment. The digital workflow is simple and seamless.
5. Compliance activity can be standardized and consolidated with smart automation. Health First is a single supplier for compliance solutions. The OnTraq compliance portal enables DSOs to track where every affiliate location stands on training and education, spore testing, sharps and medical waste and other activities. "The corporate dashboard rates individual locations with a red, yellow, or green light status for different areas of compliance and users can drill into details," Mr. Alford said.
6. Anatomically centered endodontics simplifies clinician workflows. Brasseler's approach to root canal procedures increases production, saves time and materials and improves the patient experience. "We've streamlined processes, shaving chair times and reducing the number of SKUs needed," Mr. Woodend said. "By combining cleaning, shaping, irrigation and alteration, dentists can use one file instead of four."