Benefits of Office Manager Training

An office manager is crucial to any office setting — that includes dental practices. However, comprehensive office manager training is required to reap all the benefits of this role, from streamlined communications between hygienists and dentists to improved patient care and satisfaction. That is why dental consultants so often recommend proper training for this role. In this article, we will dive into how office manager training can benefit a dental office and its patients.

Improved efficiency and productivity

First and foremost, a dental office manager oversees the practice's day-to-day operations, including marketing and communications, staff training, and more. In addition, they receive specialized training on how to streamline each of these areas.

Streamlining staff training can help improve a practice's efficiency. This applies to both new staff onboarding and continuing training for existing staff. The dental office manager will schedule this training, help ensure each session is engaging, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Strong communication throughout the office

An office manager completes training on improving communication channels throughout the office. This may mean developing and keeping an efficient system for internal staff memos and patient requests. It also involves scheduling appointments, fielding patient questions, and caring for other patient-facing duties so dentists and hygienists can dedicate their full attention to the patients.

Keep up with regulations

The dental industry is always changing, as are regulations. The office manager will ensure that regulations, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, are being followed to ensure staff and patient safety. They will also order any personal protective equipment (PPE) before it runs out.

Better patient care

While office managers can greatly improve the workplace for employees, they can also improve patient care. After all, the point of a dental practice is to help patients maintain good oral health. A dental office manager receives training to uphold this mission in several ways:

Strengthening patient-provider communication

The dental office manager is the point of contact for patient and employee relations. Proper training ensures an office manager answers the patient's questions or takes notes for the dentist to answer at the appointment. In this way, they also help facilitate patient education.

Office managers are not medical professionals who cannot give medical advice. They can, however, help answer questions regarding appointments and office policies (such as the cancellation policy). They can also advise patients on preparing for an appointment (what to bring and whether it is necessary to have someone pick the patient up afterward).

Staying on top of insurance

Submitting insurance claims also falls under the office manager's responsibilities. A trained manager will make sure to fill out and submit these claims on time, helping patients get reimbursed by their insurance providers faster. They can also answer patients' questions regarding insurance coverage and benefits.

Maintaining patient records

The upkeep of patient records is integral to any dental practice. Without it, important patient information could be inaccurate or lost. Poor record retention could also result in professional risks, such as a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A well-trained office manager will maintain patient records in line with state requirements, HIPAA, and industry regulations.

Call for more information

Office managers improve the efficiency of a dental practice, from internal communications to patient care. However, no one is born knowing how to run an office; training is required. To learn more about how office manager training can improve a dental practice, give our dental consultant a call today.

Request an appointment here: https://nickersonconsulting.com or call Nickerson Consulting at (818) 483-9061 for an appointment in our Palm Desert office.

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