How to succeed with implementation of dental practice management software [VIDEO]

I recently did a podcast with Dayna Johnson, a practice management consultant and dental software implementation and training expert with Rae Dental Management. In the podcast, we discussed best practices and how to succeed with a dental software implementation.

A few weeks later, I was delighted when I ran across Dayna at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC) in Bellevue, Wash. We decided it would be fun and informative to do a short video interview as a follow-up to our podcast.

Fortunately, Kevin Henry, group editorial director for Advanstar Dental Media, was roaming around with his trusty iPad and for the cost of a cheap lunch (best deal I had that day) offered to be our director and videographer.

Click below to watch our recent chat…

As many of us who have been doing this for years know, you can purchase the best dental software, but unless you follow proven processes and procedures for implementation and training, success might be a little hard to come by. Dayna and I have been through enough implementations to see what leads to implementations that meet expectations and, conversely, what can potentially lead to failure.

In our brief video interview, we discuss critical issues such as how to obtain buy off from dental team members regarding the implementation process, challenges that face the dental team during implementation and training, and how the clinical and administrative staff can come together in this very critical time.

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One very key element in the success of dental software implementation training is obviously involvement from the whole dental team … and this doesn't just mean sitting in on a meeting once in a while.

This means that each member of the implementation and training team actually sets aside time during the process to do their individual tasks. It can be difficult and challenging making the time to do this, especially considering that most of the staff has to still deal with patients, practice issues, and other items related to keeping the practice running smoothly. However, unless part of their week is set aside also to complete whatever tasks are assigned to them on the implementation project plan, the implementation process can become overwhelming very quickly.

Additionally, many practices don't realize that, during the implementation, you are in complete partnership with your chosen dental software vendor. This means that constant communication between the dental team and the vendor project team is the key thing for the whole project and lack of timely or quality communication can lead to misunderstanding and expectations not being met.

In both our podcast and video interview, Dayna discusses the importance of understanding the pain points individuals have when they adopt new dental software, especially electronic health records (EHRs), which introduce clinical functionality that clinical staff has not had to address in the past.

I hope you will take to heart some of the tips and recommendations we discuss in both the video interview as well as our original podcast.

If you follow an organized step-by-step implementation process, then you will be successful.