service

How Well Do You Serve?

July 12th, 2017

I FIRST LEARNED customer service as a child working as salesgirl on my grandmother’s vegetable stand. My grandmother told me to look cute, smile, and make the customers happy. My goal was to make each person feel special by doing a little something extra just for them. So I smiled and delivered an extra cucumber especially for them. My grandmother valued and recognized customer service. And so my education in customer service began.

Exceptional Customer Service Goes A Long Way

As an orthodontic specialist for over twenty-seven years, I've heard some patients talk about their dentist with love, while others say they would never return to a dental office ever again. Yet there are dental patients who will drive hundreds of miles for outstanding customer service from a favorite dental professional.

Individual service and attention breeds dental patient loyalty and makes for a five-star patient experience. Outstanding dental teams know how to deliver at every touch point of the patient's office journey. Their actions attend to every detail of patient comfort and feeling of fulfillment. By doing so, they make the patient feel they are getting high value for their money not only in terms of their dental care, but also with respect to the overall patient experience.

Customer service leaders work well together, delighting patients while producing dental practice success. To some dental professionals, "soft skills" come naturally. For others, customer service tips need to be reviewed for best practices in order to acquire emotional intelligence and service acumen. To those who need to work on their customer service skills, the information in this book will help.

Recognizing Good Service Breeds More Good Service

When I was a student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, I had the opportunity to study at the Harvard School of Public Health in the Department of Health Management and Policy. There, I attended my first management lectures and started to understand the importance and broad-reaching effects of customer service within the healthcare service industry, including dentistry.

When I started teaching at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, we added a customer service lecture to the business management curriculum. We reviewed the impact of such terms as "my pleasure" versus "no problem." Aiming to remain relevant and memorable, we gave a Customer Service Award to the most service-oriented orthodontic resident. We also give an annual Customer Service Award at Gorczyca Orthodontics. You get what you reward. This is the highest award achievable in the dental office.

Social Media Makes Receiving Customer Feedback Easy!

In the past, dental offices often used questionnaires to obtain patient service metrics. In the age of social media, customer online reviews often take away this administrative task. Social media sites such as Yelp, Facebook, and Google give dentists immediate feedback regarding their service each day. Once service information is collected, compiled, and communicated, corrections can be made in management systems to improve customer service. This requires time, attention, and action by a devoted team working together to produce immediate customer service results.

Dentistry is, after all, a service industry. The definition of a "profession" is that we put others above ourselves. First, last, and always, we are here to serve our patients. This is why outstanding customer service is so central to a successful dental practice.

Five-star customer service is something each of us can deliver. Outstanding customer service is the end that we all wish to achieve, day after day, year after year. This book describes the means to this end.

To My Grandmother, Babcie, delighter of customers. Thank you for everything you taught me.

About the Author

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca speaks on practice management topics including marketing, teamwork, treatment coordination, customer service, management systems and human resource management. She was a speaker at the 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Sessions. She has received teaching awards from UCSF and University of the Pacific Dental Schools. She is author of the books, “It All Starts with Marketing-201 Marketing Tips for Growing a Dental Practice” and “Beyond the Morning Huddle-HR Management for a Successful Dental Practice” She is an orthodontist at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. This is her third book.

“I Love Getting to Know Patients and Being Part of a Team”- Gwen at Gorczyca Orthodontics

June 5th, 2017

“MY FRIENDS TOLD ME I would LOVE dental assisting. They were right, I do!”

“I enjoy the fast pace of the orthodontic office. As an orthodontic assistant at Gorczyca Orthodontics, I have my own chair, my own schedule, and ownership of my patient's experience.”

I Love Getting To Know Our Patients

“As I seat my orthodontic patient and get them prepared to see Dr. Gorczyca, my patient and I have the opportunity for small talk and getting to know each other on a personal level. After one to two years of bi-monthly visits, we usually know each other very well. We have built a relationship. Getting to know my patients and their families is my favorite part of my job.”

“Everyone on our team at Gorczyca Orthodontics is very welcoming. We are aligned to give the best patient experience possible. Patient happiness is what our orthodontic office is all about.

In Our Practice, We Work As A Team

“I also enjoy being part of the outstanding team of customer service leaders. Our team is very close. Every team member helps the others out. No one works alone or has an unfair work burden. We're a team working together.

“Clinical excellence, outstanding customer service, and a great patient experience are our individual and team core values. We use these to stay focused and always put the patient first in our daily clinical and office decisions.”

“Orthodontics is fascinating. We change lives by creating beautiful smiles. Our patients’ smiles and happiness truly are our inspiration.”

-Gwen at Gorczyca Orthodontics

Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, CA (925) 757-9000 www.clubbraces.com

"It is My Pleasure to Serve You!"—Roberta

April 12th, 2017

Roberta, Patient Coordinator at Gorczyca Orthodontics

"I am thrilled to be part of the customer service team at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Prior to dentistry, I worked as a customer service representative in the automotive industry for twenty-six years. What I love about working in dentistry is that I personally have the opportunity to see the happiness that a fantastic customer service experience brings to a new patient."

Beautiful Smiles Change Lives!

"The first time I saw young patients getting their braces, and their expression of excitement, joy, and happiness-I almost cried! It is very rewarding to be part of such a positive experience in a young person's life. Beautiful smiles truly change lives. The patient's new smile is my inspiration."

We're Caring Professionals, Serving Valued Patients

"As patient coordinator, my main job is to answer the phone and schedule appointments. I also take care of the patient's needs and ask 'How did we do today?' I schedule all of the patient's future appointments and referrals."

"I live the mission 'Caring professionals serving valued patients.' I am extremely reliable and a rock of trust that my team can always count on to get the job done. Dr. Gorczyca claims she hired me because I wrote on my resume "I am reliable!'"

"It is my pleasure to coordinate appointments and schedule wire removal for the patient's hygiene appointments. I am happy to serve the patient in any way that I can and provide them with the highest quality orthodontic care and personalized customer service."

Let Us Give You The Smile Of Your Dreams

"It would be my pleasure to personally service you and give you the smile of your dreams. Call me at (925) 757-9000 to schedule your complimentary consultation so that we can find the best orthodontic solution for your needs. I hope to see you soon!"

-Roberta
Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, CA www.clubbraces.com

More Topics
diplomate american board of orthodontics Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists advanced education in orthdontics
member american association of orthodontists seattle study club american dental association california dental association
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