|
"Building your million
dollar solo practice"
A Book by:
Dr. Edward L. Silker, D.D.S.
Reviewed by: Dr. Abdul Hamid A. Rahmatulla, M.D.S.
SDS Department, College of Dentistry,King Saud
University, Riyadh, K.S.A
This book on practice
management has a self explanatory title "Building Your Million Dollar Solo
Practice". It means that by following the Golden Rules presented in the book,
one would be able to set up a million dollar practice. The book has 31 chapters
and 416 pages, presenting the essence of the observations and experiences of Dr.
Silker. He emphasized that in private practice, 90% success is dependent upon business
social skills, efficiency, flexibility and communication, with perhaps, only 10%
attributable to clinical skills.
Dr. Silker
has presented the information necessary for rapid start-up of a new practice or
vigorous stimulation of an existing practice in an orderly manner from the site
selection to achieving high efficiency, flexibility and effectiveness and all the
steps in between. It is true that a patient would like to visit a dental clinic where he/she is received with love and
affection, treated with respect and concern and where the attitude of the doctor
is one which is responsible, caring and understanding.
The book is strongly recommended to be included in the academic
curriculum of dental schools, whose undergraduate as well as post graduate students
can imbibe the skillful techniques oozing from each page to enrich their knowledge
and information as well as enable them to earn the "Million Dollars."
"Details of the Million Dollars Practice"
This book is the second on practice management by Dr. Edward
L Silker. In fact, it is a continuation of Dr. Silker's first book "Building
your million dollar solo practice." Due to the tremendous success of his first
book, Dr. Silker was encouraged to come out with this second book "Details
of the million dollar practice." The author presents the jewels of success
in Practice in 36 chapters spread over 416 pages, explaining the basis for success
in establishing a 2 Million Dollar practice. He discusses a system where the patient's
care is supreme and that the patient must be well received and provided with the
sincere quality care rightly deserved. He stated that it is important to make the
patient feel special and to give him a "favored patient" status making
him/her respond in a favorable manner. A satisfied patient would disseminate the
good standing of one's practice by "word of mouth" which is a powerful
and effective means that soon would add so many new patients to the practice that
one would be astonished.
To expedite and develop efficiency in clinical procedures,
the author suggests that the entire office personnel (dental surgeon, receptionist,
auxiliaries, assistants, technicians, etc.) function as a single coherent unit.
He stresses the importance of delegating and expanding the dental assistant's participation
in the routine aspects of practice as per the jurisdiction of the country. For example,
Dr. Silker has trained his dental auxiliaries to register jaw relationships which
he finally checks and approves.
Dr. Silker has evolved a system of six handed dentistry
which is efficient and comfortable to both doctor and patient. Prior to the entry
of the dentist in the operatory, an assistant (chairside) prepares the patient and
is ready for the aspiration job while the second assistant (veteran) is standing
by to prepare all the required instruments and materials for the procedures to be
performed. This system permits the dentist to perform maximum work in the shortest
time.
Throughout the book, Dr. Silker generously supplies useful,
informative, instructive and educative hints for a successful practice management.
Furthermore, he especially stresses the value of maintaining good and cordial relationships
with patients including emergency services as it, too, can help promote one's private
practice.
|