5294 Smiling Fall 10.indd
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5294 Smiling Fall 10.indd
A Look Back at Lynn Ramer’s Term as President of the ADHA A Winning Opportunity Heartland’s Recruiting Team Provides a Win-Win Solution for Today’s Dentist Dr. Marvin Berlin of McKinneyDentist.com shares how his successful practice became even better after he and his partners joined Heartland Dental Care L to R: Marvin Berlin, DDS – Matthew Markham, DDS – Britt Bostick, DDS – Jeff Lynch, DDS O u r Vision To be a world-class company and the leader in dentistry. O u r M ission To significantly improve the dental health in the communities we serve by delivering the highest quality dental care and experience, while providing great careers for all of our team members and adding substantial value to our stakeholders. · FALL 10 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT The Power of Sharing Goals Smiling Magazine Fall, 2010 © Heartland Dental Care, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Executive Staff I h av e a lway s been a strong believer in goal setting. When my children were young, we would sit around our dinner table and share what we wanted to accomplish today, tomorrow and in the years to come. Of course, it took my kids some time to warm up to the idea of thinking about and sharing their goals, but when they did, my wife and I were amazed to hear what they aspired to. I find tremendous value in writing my goals down and communicating them with my loved ones — these acts provide accountability and help me set sharp, clearly defined objectives. At Heartland, we believe in a work environment where every team member is equally important in helping attain our accomplishment goals and then has the benefit of proportionally sharing in the rewards of success. That’s why at every training seminar and every team huddle, we communicate our vision and mission and our goals for making this vision a reality. Staying true to our promise to communicate our goals, I’d like to review some of Heartland’s goals for 2010. (And yes, they are written down!) To provide world-class customer service to our patients by improving patient satisfaction to the 85th percentile To complete the installation of Kodak’s digital x-ray technology across all Heartland practices by 12/31/2010 To continue to grow our company with 40 new affiliations and 10 de novos To provide IV Sedation certification training to our doctors to support their professional growth and their dedication to providing this needed service to the communities they serve In this issue, we have included the stories of the people of Heartland — the team members within our practices and our home office support team — who are at the heart of achieving these goals. We welcome you to take a look and hope that you are inspired to strive for success, by setting your own personal and professional goals. HDC For more information about Heartland, visit our website at www.Heartland DentalCare.com or e-mail Smiling@ HeartlandDentalCare.com. Founder & Chief Executive Officer Rick Workman, DMD President & Chief Operations Officer Patrick C. Bauer Chief Financial Officer Lynn J. Lyall Chief Development Officer John Slack Chief Clinical Officer O. Craig Shanteau, DDS, FAGD Vice President of Administration Chad Thompson Vice Presidents of Operations Donna Weir DeAnn McClain Sabrina Sennett Vice President of Clinical Affairs Samson Liu, DDS, MAGD Vice President of Marketing Fred Lyons Editorial Staff Editor Kari Kabbes Art Design Andrea Wright Patrick C. Bauer, President and Chief Operations Officer Contributing Photographer Karla Swingler Heartland Dental Care, Inc. is one of the leading dental practice management groups in the United States with more than 260 dental practices located within 15 states. Based in Effingham, Illinois, Heartland provides its dentists and team members with continuing professional education and leadership training along with a variety of management services, which include staffing, human relations, purchasing, administration, financial, marketing and information technology support. For information on Heartland Dental Care career opportunities, call 888-372-9105. For information on joining Heartland Dental Care and practice affiliation, call 877-308-2802, or visit www.HeartlandDentalCare.com. 3 TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Table of Contents 14 26 4 · FALL 10 9 21 22 10 Cover Story Features Even The Best Get Better A Young Professional’s Story Personal Attention Weighing All the Options A Look Back at Lynn Ramer’s Term as President of the ADHA ............................10-13 Dr. Marvin Berlin of McKinneyDentist.com Shares How His Successful Practice Became Even Better After He and His Partners Joined Heartland Dental Care ............................14-18 Doctor Chooses to Begin Career at Heartland Dental Care .............9 An Affiliation Story New Beginnings Heartland Renews Doctor’s Love for Dentistry ........ 21 Departments A Winning Opportunity Heartland’s Recruiting Team Provides a Win-Win Solution for Today’s Dentist ................. 26-27 Rewards & Awards Professional Excellence President’s Club.....................28 G4 @ HDC in 2K10 Heartland Upgrades to Dentrix G4........................... 22-24 28 In Every Issue A Warm Welcome & A Glimpse of Heartland ..... 6-7 Smiles for Miles................ 30-31 5 N E W P R A C T I C E S & O F F I C E L O C AT I O N S A Warm Welcome We are proud to welcome into our Heartland Dental Care family the following practices and teams who have recently joined us! Affordable Dentistry Today Dunedin Dental Care Independence Dental Care Rockford, IL Dunedin, FL Virginia Beach, VA Northwest Kentucky Dental Centre Suncreek Family Dentistry Allen, TX Henderson, KY Ariana Dental Care Broken Arrow, OK Bartram Family Dental Care Jacksonville, FL Family Dental at Lakeside Village Indianapolis Dental Designs Lakeland, FL Indianapolis, IN Louisville, KY Deer Valley Family Dentistry Phoenix, AZ Feather Touch Dentistry Newport News, VA Henderson, NV Juels Dental Group St. Peters, MO Tomoka Family Dentistry Lakeview Family Dental Sand Lake Centre for Advanced Dentistry Gentle Dental Care Lake Havasu, AZ Orlando, FL Town Center Dental Anderson, IN Lemon Tree Dental Smiles on Ocotillo Las Vegas, NV San Antonio, TX Queen Creek, AZ My Port Orange Dentist Smiles on Southern Town Center Family Dental Mesa, AZ Cypress, TX South East Dental Village Crest Family Dental Granbury Dental Center San Antonio, TX Dental Care at Oyster Point Sunstone Dental Care Naples, FL Allen, TX Crescent Hill Dental Care Renaissance Aesthetic Dentistry Ormond Beach, FL Port Orange, FL Hazelwood Family Dentistry myontariodentist.com Stuart, FL Mansfield, OH Desert Smiles Dentistry Pataskala, OH Phoenix, AZ Hoff Woods Dental Care Kensington, MD Westerville, OH Norfolk Dental Care Smyrna, TN Suarez Dental mywhiteflintdentist.com Las Vegas, NV White Oak Dental Care Conroe, TX Norfolk, VA Join Our Family For career opportunities, call 888-372-9105. For practice affiliation information, call 877-308-2802. Or visit us on the web at www.HeartlandDentalCare.com. 6 · FALL 10 O F F I C E L O C A T I O N S (continued) A Glimpse of Heartland Heartland Dental Care has more than 260 dental practices located in 15 states. We are looking for dynamic individuals and practices throughout the country to join our family. A R I ZO N A ILLINOIS INDIANA M A RY L A N D OKL AHOMA Bullhead City Fountain Hills Glendale Lake Havasu Mesa Phoenix Queen Creek Alton Belleville Bloomington Bourbonnais Carbondale Carterville Champaign Charleston Columbia Danville DeKalb East Alton Edwardsville Effingham Fairview Heights Glen Carbon Joliet Lincoln Litchfield Macomb Maryville Mt. Vernon North Aurora O’Fallon Orland Park Peoria Rock Island Rockford Springfield St. Charles Sterling Sycamore Anderson Avon Bloomington Brownsburg Camby Clarksville Evansville Fishers Floyds Knobs Fort Wayne Franklin Greenfield Greenwood Griffith Indianapolis Kokomo Lafayette Logansport Marion Merrillville Muncie Noblesville Osceola Richmond South Bend Terre Haute Valparaiso Westfield Kensington Broken Bow MICHIGAN T E N N E SSE E Brownstown Ypsilanti Township Antioch Brentwood Clarksville Dickson Franklin Germantown Hendersonville Murfreesboro Nashville Smyrna Spring Hill FLO R I DA Altamonte Springs Bonita Springs Bradenton Brandon Brooksville Cape Coral Clearwater Dunedin Ft. Myers Gainesville Jacksonville Lake Mary Lakeland Largo Longwood Naples New Port Richey Ocala Ocoee Orange Park Orlando Ormond Beach Plant City Port Charlotte Port Orange Sarasota Spring Hill St. Augustine Stuart Tampa Venice Winter Garden I OWA Davenport KENTUCK Y Bowling Green Burlington Crescent Springs Georgetown Henderson Lexington Louisville M I SSO U R I Arnold Ballwin Chesterfield Columbia Festus Lee’s Summit Marshfield O’Fallon Springfield St. Charles St. Peters Sullivan N E VA DA Henderson Las Vegas TEX AS Allen Conroe Cypress Katy McKinney Missouri City Plano San Antonio OHIO Cincinnati Gahanna Lancaster Liberty Township Mansfield Pataskala Pickerington Springboro Westerville VIRGINIA Alexandria Dulles Lorton Manassas Newport News Norfolk Springfield Virginia Beach Williamsburg 7 · FALL 10 A Y O U N G P R O F E S S I O N A L’ S S T O R Y Weighing All the Options Doctor Chooses to Begin Career at Heartland Dental Care “I feel fortunate to be in a practice with a well-trained dental team and doctors to mentor and challenge me. I stay busy and am always continually learning and improving.” Gr aduating from dental school is a time to celebrate the completion of a hard-earned degree and the start of a career. But every recent dental graduate would probably agree that this time is not without apprehension as there are many career decisions to be made. “I couldn’t wait to begin my career, but I was also anxious about what path in dentistry I would follow,” said Dr. Jeff Whiteside, a 2009 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. “I explored all my options — from being a public aid dentist to serving in the military, to becoming an associate in a private practice. I wanted to consider all alternatives to see which option best suited my needs and career goals.” One evening after class, Dr. Whiteside attended a recruiting event sponsored by Heartland Dental Care. This sparked his interest in joining a dental practice management company — an option he had not considered. “I was so impressed with the organized and professional manner of the Heartland Recruiting Team. They were extremely informative and answered all my questions,” said Dr. Whiteside. “I added Heartland to my list of options and wanted to learn more.” Jeff Whiteside, DMD, is a new dentist at the Dental Group of Springfield in Springfield, Illinois. Staying true to his commitment to explore every opportunity, Dr. Whiteside ran the idea by his fellow classmates and faculty members and also had lunch with a member of the Heartland Recruiting Team. Then he narrowed his options down to one —Heartland Dental Care. “With Heartland, my questions were answered and my concerns were relieved. Heartland was the right fit for me — I didn’t have to start from scratch, I don’t have to focus on running a business and I can continue to improve my clinical and leadership skills.” Dr. Whiteside is happy he was able to return home after school and practice near his hometown of Roodhouse, Illinois. Heartland has career opportunities in cities across the country and works with each doctor to place them in their desired location. He also appreciates the network of seasoned doctors that he can turn to for advice. “I have two mentor doctors in my practice — Dr. Bloink and Dr. Adonis. They have taught me valuable lessons that have been crucial to my growth as a dentist. I can share difficult cases with them and ask them how they would handle the situation. Plus, there are other Heartland doctors willing to help — there is always someone to call. Having access to all of this knowledge is priceless.” Heartland offers continuing education to all doctors, practice team members and home office employees. “The hands-on element of the education courses has really helped me sharpen my skills. I can practice how to do a crown and bridge at class and then use these same techniques in my practice the very next day.” Dr. Whiteside weighed all the options, but in the end, Heartland Dental Care was the right path for him. He wasn’t the only 2009 graduate of SIU who chose Heartland. In fact, nine of his classmates also joined the Heartland family. HDC If you’re interested in learning more about career opportunities at Heartland, please contact Nancy Pals or Scott Wiedman at 888-372-9105 or send the team an e-mail to Recruiting@ HeartlandDentalCare.com 9 P E R S O N A L AT T E N T I O N A Look Back at Lynn Ramer’s Term as President of the ADHA Lynn Ramer is presented the gavel as she is installed as president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) by 2008-2009 ADHA President Diann Bomkamp. One of Heartland’s Own Leads the Dental Hygiene Community 10 · FALL 10 What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible. Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface; to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye. Ly n n R a m e r , de n ta l h ygi e n is t at Perfect Smiles Dental Care in Kokomo, Indiana, shared these inspirational words during her inaugural speech at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s (ADHA) annual session in Washington, DC, last summer. Lynn was inducted as president of the association at the conference. “When you look beneath the surface of the dental hygiene profession, you discover much more than a job,” said Lynn. “You see a rewarding career that provides many satisfying opportunities. Likewise, the ADHA is more than just an association. We are a home to all dental hygienists and work to empower, develop and support them in all they do.” Lynn earned her associate of science degree in dental hygiene in 1982 from Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne and has worked at Perfect Smiles Dental Care since 1997. Even as a student, Lynn was actively involved in the ADHA. “My program director instilled in me her passion for the profession. She fi rmly believed you should be involved in your professional organization to continually learn and develop yourself, and I took that to heart.” ” Ramer has served in a number of positions with the ADHA, including delegate and alternate delegate, District 5 trustee for four years, board advisor for both the Council on Public Relations and the Council on Education and vice president. Lynn served as president-elect for a year before her presidential installation in 2009. When asked about her responsibilities as president, Lynn reeled off a number of administrative duties and spoke about her lobbying efforts, keynote addresses, visits to dental hygiene schools and more. With healthcare reform being a hot topic in today’s news, the bulk of Lynn’s lobbying efforts have been focused on this issue. She has spoken with legislatures to promote the inclusion of oral health benefits and has worked to ensure hygienists are included as primary healthcare providers. Lynn also traveled across the country visiting dental hygiene programs and attending state student meetings to speak with dental hygiene students. Informing students of the different career opportunities available to them, updating them on health reform, the status of the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) and dental therapy models in Minnesota were main topics of discussion. Another common theme was the current dental hygiene job market and the techniques students can use to promote themselves in a job interview. Lynn feels the position of ADHA president was both challenging and rewarding. She says during her year as president, she had tough conversations and made difficult decisions, especially while working to carry out the association’s branding 11 C EORVSEO P R NSATLO A R TY T E N T I O N 12 · FALL 10 “Just like Heartland is doing the right thing for the right reason, so is the ADHA, and that message is coming across to our members and other dental hygiene professionals and students.” initiatives during a down economy. Lynn and the ADHA executive team were able to weather the storm extremely well and are proud to report their branding efforts have proven to be successful. “Just like Heartland is doing the right Thomas, who made that opportunity availthing for the right reason, so is the ADHA, able to me,” said Lynn. “I shared my biggest and that message is coming across to our ‘takeaways’ from the class with the ADHA’s members and other dental hygiene pro- board of trustees, which generated a healthy fessionals and students.” dialogue about communication and how it Lynn believes working for Heartland affects our association. This was extremely has helped her excel in her leadership helpful to us as a team.” role for the ADHA. “Heartland has been Lynn feels she has gotten more out of very supportive throughout this entire both her profession and her experience with experience. I knew this role would re- the ADHA than she could ever give back. quire a lot of time and travel, but Heart“Dental hygiene has been a wonderland encouraged me to go for it and I am ful career for me, and I feel fortunate to so happy I did!” have been given the opportunity to be “Heartland puts an emphasis on ex- involved in the leadership side of the proposing all team members to the business fession. I have grown as a leader, hygienof dentistry. All employees learn how to ist and overall person and I encourage all manage a budget, how to read the prac- current and future hygienists to see what tice’s profit and loss statement, etc. This, the ADHA has to offer — you’ll get more along with my past training, has been ex- out of it than you could ever imagine.” tremely beneficial to me as I dealt with Congratulations, Lynn, from all your the business of the ADHA.” friends and co-workers throughout the “I have even been able to participate Heartland family of practices. HDC in the Dr. Gerald Bell leadership training courses at Heartland, thanks to Julie We are proud of you! Lynn’s long-time colleagues, Julie Thomas, Director of Operations — Affiliation Integrations, and Lisa Kallis, Director of Hygiene at Heartland Dental Care, join her at the ADHA annual session in Washington, DC. COVER STORY 14 12 · FALL 10 “For many years my three partners and I spent an average of nearly two hours a day dealing with non-clinical issues such as ordering supplies, dealing with payroll and approving bills,” said Dr. Marvin Berlin, senior partner at McKinneyDentist.com, a Texas-based dental practice. “That’s not why I got into the profession. As a member of the Heartland Dental Care (HDC) team, those hassles are now gone, and I can spend more of my time treating my patients.” The HDC Experience “Our new facility is state-of-the-art, efficient and most of all, it incorporates the quality our community has come to expect,” Dr. Berlin continued. “The vision we had in 2008 for a new facility is now complete because of our affi liation with HDC. I do not believe this would have been accomplished on our own.” While HDC made money-saving and profit-boosting recommendations, some things stayed the same, like the culture of YES philosophy practiced at McKinSince McKinneyDentist.com joined HDC, neyDentist.com. many of these advantages have already “I strongly believe in the culture of YES,” come to fruition. Not only has patient care Dr. Berlin said. “It is our responsibility improved, but there have been tangible to meet our patients’ needs — by saying financial benefits as well. As an example, YES — rather than their needs adjusting the cost of supplies at the practice has de- to ours. That’s why we’re open on Saturcreased approximately 30%. days. We also provide our patients with “We thought we were functioning fine. same-day appointments for their conveHowever, Heartland’s wisdom and expe- nience. Our YES philosophy didn’t have rience in practice management has made to change when we joined HDC.” us better,” Dr. Berlin said. “Although we “Heartland Dental Care is so much had a terrific success story, the people at more than advertised,” said Dr. BerHeartland Dental Care were able to share lin. “I have been very pleased with the much insight into areas we were not aware overall experience. It is much more than of. Along the way, they also were able to I expected.” prevent us from making non-recoverable The results of the partnership between financial mistakes. They discussed the ben- McKinneyDentist.com and Heartland efits of combining our two locations into Dental Care speak for themselves. Deone. We were able to save tens of thousands spite the rocky and uncertain economy in of dollars by combining the practices!” 2009, the practice has continued to grow during the past year. HDC has provided McKinneyDentist.com the resources and Dr. Marvin Berlin received his dental degree time to practice leading-edge dentistry from Baylor College of Dentistry and has been practicing on behalf of its patients. dentistry for more than 17 years in McKinney, Texas. McKinneyDentist.com was already an extremely successful independent practice with 42 employees on staff, including four doctors, and an average of over 200 new patients per month. However, after talking with Rick Workman, DMD, founder and CEO of Heartland Dental Care, Dr. Berlin and his partners realized the advantages their practice could experience by becoming part of the HDC organization. “We thought we were functioning fine. However, Heartland’s wisdom and experience in practice management has made us better.” 15 COVER STORY • Even The Best Get Better · FALL 10 Alleviating Concerns Prior to joining HDC, Dr. Berlin and his partners were naturally a bit anxious about the transition process. Several questions kept running through their minds: • Would they have to change the way they practice? • Would they have to replace their team? • Would the whole transition process be a major pain? Fortunately, the McKinneyDentist.com doctors were relieved to fi nd that HDC had an entire Transition Team involved to assist and make sure things went smoothly. “We went into it with questions but also an open mind, which was key,” said Dr. Berlin. “HDC shared their experiences, expectations and communicated the process with clarity. We worked together in a collaborative effort to accomplish this in a matter of months.” Continuous Practice Improvement For practices like McKinneyDentist.com, HDC is an effective practice counselor and advisor that is available whenever needed at no cost to their practice. This helps Dr. Berlin’s practice in numerous ways, both on the clinical side and in regard to business aspects. “HDC wants us to continually improve ourselves and our practice,” said Dr. Berlin. “Because it’s home to some of the top dentistry minds in the country, HDC’s network is ideal for sharing success stories, new treatments and special cases.” “It is amazing to hear stories that are openly shared on the HDC intranet. Docs are supportive and open to questions,” Dr. Berlin commented. “HDC fosters the approach of positive interactions to continually improve patient care. They encourage Dr. Jeff Lynch and me to interact and share with other HDC dentists on a continual basis.” Dr. Berlin says HDC’s continuing education courses help McKinneyDentist.com stay on the cutting edge of dentistry. “We learn new techniques that we may not have been aware of otherwise,” said Dr. Berlin. “I fi rmly believe the care we provide our patients is much better after taking these courses.” With HDC’s encouragement, McKinneyDentist.com began marketing implant seminars to the local community and added technological advances such as E4D (same-day crowns), surgical suites and multimedia. Peace of Mind Not only does HDC ease many of the day-today concerns that face dentists when running independent practices; it also provides peace of mind. Dentists in all sizes and types of independent practices always have similar concerns: What do they do with the practice when they are ready to retire? Will they be able to sell it at a fair price? Will they have to practice longer than desired for fi nancial reasons? Will their team be taken care of when they are gone? Without a pool of potential buyers, the opportunity to sell a practice as retirement approaches is limited. A partnership with HDC eliminates this concern. “Selling the practice mid-career was probably the smartest thing I ever did,” said Dr. Berlin. “I know my retirement is completely set. I don’t have to worry about selling it at the right time to fi nance my retirement. Nor do I have to put money away every month for retirement. This decision defi nitely improved my quality of life.” 17 COVER STORY • Even The Best Get Better “We continue to be amazed at what HDC brings to the table. We know of no other organization that would have provided this opportunity. We’ve been able to take a hyper-successful practice to new heights! We’ve taken a good practice and made it great!” The McKinneyDentist.com doctors and team recently combined their two locations into one new building. From left: Dr. Marvin Berlin, Dr. Britt Bostick, Dr. Matthew Markham and Dr. Jeff Lynch. HDC for New Dental Graduates For new dental graduates, Heartland Dental Care is the perfect option to quickly establish a practice. In today’s dental environment, the average dental graduate faces close to $300,000 in student loans. Now, there is a way for them to become a solo practitioner without the additional investment of starting a new practice. Additional benefits for new graduates who join HDC include the continuing education and ongoing training opportunities provided by the company. “What would typically take a new graduate many years to learn on their own can be accomplished in a matter of months with HDC,” said Dr. Berlin. “Plus, the training and education provided by HDC helps prepare new graduates for clinical situations and patient interactions. The systems are all in place, and someone is always available to answer questions.” “HDC’s continuing education is top notch,” Dr. Berlin noted. “And the opportunity to share in this learning experience with our peers is invaluable.” 18 Anytime Dr. Berlin talks to new graduates, he tells them all the same thing. “I wish I would have joined Heartland Dental Care 10 years earlier,” he said. “I can’t think of a better win-win situation than being part of Heartland Dental Care. As we improve, the company improves. As the company improves, our practice improves. I can’t think of a better scenario.” The HDC Advantage For practices of all sizes, HDC provides training and ample incentives for team members, all while taking away the day-to-day stress of dealing with vendors, handling accounting and managing HR issues. “We continue to be amazed at what HDC brings to the table,” said Dr. Berlin. “We know of no other organization that would have provided this opportunity. We’ve been able to take a hyper-successful practice to new heights! We’ve taken a good practice and made it great!” HDC For more information on what HDC can do for you and your practice, please call our Affiliation Team at 877-308-2802. · FALL 10 A N A F F I L I AT I O N S T O R Y New Beginnings Heartland Renews Doctor’s Love for Dentistry Dr. Shelley Sigur is a passionate dental professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and go-getter attitude. Right out of dental school, she opened her own private practice in Nashville, Tennessee. Ten years later, she moved to Dickson, Tennessee, to open another successful practice. But, like so many private practitioners, Dr. Sigur’s love for dentistry was beginning to be squashed by the time consuming tasks of running a business. “I loved being a dentist and caring for my patients, but I was so overwhelmed with the business of dentistry,” said Dr. Sigur. From day one, she provided her team with full coverage insurance with a very small deductible. Over the years, as premiums skyrocketed, she went from paying 100% of the premium to 50% with a $2,000 deductible and no pharmacy coverage. These rising costs forced her to fi nally drop all coverage. “I wanted something more for my team and my practice and was determined to “Joining Heartland was the best thing I’ve ever done for my team and my career.” Shelley Sigur, DMD, of Dickson Dental in Dickson, Tennessee, joined Heartland Dental Care in 2009. find a solution,” said Dr. Sigur. “One day, I was going through my mail and came across a brochure from Heartland. I read what Heartland had to offer and thought, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ And [I] never looked back. Joining Heartland was the best thing I’ve ever done for my team and my career.” Dr. Sigur had heard horror stories about doctors selling their practices and not getting back what they had invested. She was relieved to fi nd the Heartland affi liation process to be simple, straightforward and extremely fair. “Over 17 years, I invested a lot of time and money into my practice. I never thought I’d be able to sell it for what it was worth to me, but Heartland recognized the true value of my practice and honored the hard work I had put into it. Sharon Fennell, Justin Wendling and the rest of the Affi liation Team really collaborated with me to ensure a smooth transition.” Dr. Sigur considers herself fortunate to have found a partner — in Heartland — that encourages her to continue practicing for as long as she wants. “I thought it would be like selling a house where you hand over the keys upon receiving a check. With Heartland, that wasn’t at all the case. I still have ownership and am still the leader of my practice.” Heartland provides administrative support in all aspects including accounting, human resources, marketing and more. “I have a network of great minds to go to for information. I have a team of people right here in my office, in the field and at the home office that believe in me and what I do.” Heartland has a strong commitment to continuing education for doctors and team members to enhance clinical, communication and leadership skills. “I thought I had mastered my practice’s operations, but then I went to Heartland’s training seminars and learned new ways to practice dentistry and communicate with my team. I feel like I’m in dental school again, but there’s no pressure — it’s fun!” Dr. Sigur is a firm believer in Heartland’s systems and fundamentals. In a matter of one year after joining Heartland, her practice’s collections increased from $840,000 to $1.3 million. “Heartland made me fall in love with dentistry all over again,” said Dr. Sigur when asked how Heartland has improved her quality of life. “I am more satisfied with my job and couldn’t be happier with my decision.” HDC If you’re looking for an opportunity to rejuvenate your passion for dentistry, contact our Affi liation Team at 877-308-2802. Justin Wendling, Roger Childerson or John Collier will show you the Heartland answer. 21 PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE G4 @ HDC in 2K10 Heartland Upgrades to Dentrix G4 OVER THE YEARS, we have seen new technological advancements revolutionize our world and the world of dentistry. Today’s dental professionals have access to a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips to help them not only diagnose better and faster, but provide their patients with valuable, real-time information. “From the administrators at the home office, to those in the field, we want to make sure everyone is well-trained and comfortable with the upgrade.” Veronica Chapman Director of Business Assistant Education 22 · FALL 10 “Upgrading to G4 will allow us to utilize new functions offered by Dentrix to bring better efficiency to the services we offer patients.” Chad Thompson, Vice President of Administration, directs the Information Technology Team and Heartland’s technological growth initiatives. Heartland recognizes the value of staying on the leading edge of technology and continues to invest in the latest and greatest for their 260+ offices. Next on Heartland’s technology agenda is upgrading to Dentrix G4, one of the latest versions of Henry Schein, Inc.’s dental management software. “Our goal is to get all Heartland offices on an upgraded platform,” said Chad Thompson, Vice President of Administration. “Upgrading to G4 will allow us to utilize new functions offered by Dentrix to bring better efficiency to the services we offer patients.” This upgrade means more Dentrix support for doctors and team members. By utilizing Dentrix tutorials and participating in online training sessions, administrators will be able to familiarize themselves with the software, learn the new functionality and build confidence in using the new system all in the comfort of their own dental office. G4 has been tested in four Midwest practices over the last two months and will be implemented in other Heartland offices across the country throughout the coming months. To support the practices and ensure a smooth upgrade, Heartland has formed a G4 Team made up of individuals from different departments at Heartland’s home office in Effi ngham, Illinois. 23 PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE “This upgrade represents our commitment to supporting the patients and team members within our practices.” Jayne Goldstein Director of Information Technology 24 “We want these departments to have a role in the training and testing so everyone is prepared to assist the offices as the new upgrade is rolled out,” said Veronica Chapman, Director of Business Assistant Education. Veronica and the Heartland Education Team are responsible for training doctors and team members on how to use the new system. “From the administrators at the home office, to those in the field and those in the practice who use the software on a daily basis, we want to make sure everyone is well-trained and comfortable with the upgrade,” said Veronica. “Change is not always easy, but we believe team members will fi nd the new version to have better functionality, as well as being user friendly and advanced.” Dentrix G4 includes more than 170 user-requested features to enhance patient education, file management, insurance claims and treatment planning. “One of the biggest enhancements I have seen in the new version is the tooth chart. The chart is now 3D and the images look more realistic and anatomically correct than ever before,” said Veronica. “Doctors can easily switch to a full-mouth view to show patients where a decayed tooth is in relation to other teeth, for example, and then present treatment options.” This new program will allow the offices to upgrade to newer versions of Dentrix in the future on a more frequent basis by downloading Productivity Packs, or bundles of new features, conveniently from the Internet. “This upgrade represents our commitment to supporting the patients and team members within our practices,” said Jayne Goldstein, Director of Information Technology. “We want to make sure they have all the tools they need to best utilize the data within their practice to allow them to deliver the highest standard of patient care and convenience.” HDC Stay tuned for Heartland’s next technological venture. P E R S O N A L AT T E N T I O N A Winning Opportunity Heartland’s Recruiting Team Provides a Win-Win Solution for Today’s Dentist The Recruiting Team Back row, left to right: Scott Wiedman, Nancy Pals and Cheri Starnes. Front row, left to right: Kay James and Wendy Christ. Not Pictured: Michelle Jansen, Susan BeckettYoung, Nicola Kopelow and Stacey Smith. About the Team The Recruiting Team is led by Chad Thompson, Vice President of Administration, and Nancy Pals, Corporate Recruiting Manager. Doctor Recruiters Scott Wiedman, Cheri Starnes and Michelle Jansen. Team Recruiters Kay James, Wendy Christ, Susan Beckett-Young, Nicola Kopelow and Stacey Smith. Heartland is celebrating two historical milestones that mark an impressive feat of growth and expansion. The Heartland family now consists of 260 practices and 2,600 employees… and counting. To meet the demands of this phenomenal and continuous growth, new doctors and team members are constantly needed. That’s where Heartland’s dedicated and experienced Recruiting Team comes in. “We are always on the lookout for passionate, talented doctors and team members to come on board and grow with us,” said Nancy Pals, Corporate Recruiting Manager. “Our goal is to 26 fi nd professionals who share Heartland’s commitment to providing the highest standard of patient care.” Nancy and the other Recruiting representatives are responsible for hiring and placing doctors and team members in Heartland’s established and new, de novo, practices. With a steady list of openings in all positions — dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, business assistants and administrators — this dynamic team is always seeking top talent. The team regularly visits dental schools and industry conventions to recruit prospective doctors. Whether the candidate is a private practitioner with 20 years of experience or a recent graduate just beginning their career, this team collaborates with the doctor and listens to his or her personal career goals and desires. “We want to make sure it’s a win-win for both the doctor and Heartland — that’s why we work closely with each candidate to match the doctor with the right practice and the right opportunity,” said Nancy. “If they are looking to move closer to home, we try to place them near or where they want to live. If a new graduate is looking to work with an experienced doctor, we try to place them in a practice that allows them to do so. That’s what is great about Heart- · FALL 10 land. We have an opportunity for every doctor in any given situation.” The team takes prospective candidates through the interview process by giving them a fi rsthand look of what it’s like to work for Heartland. “We encourage every candidate to network and visit with other Heartland doctors,” said Nancy. “These discussions allow them to ask questions and gain valuable insight about what our company is all about from someone who was once in their shoes.” Although the team looks at each opportunity individually, the most important characteristics they look for in a new dentist are coachability and the desire to be successful. The team strives to find doctors who are open to learning new clinical and communication techniques and are respected, supportive leaders. Joining Heartland is an attractive option for today’s dental graduate. The Recruiting Team travels to dental universities across the country giving upcoming graduates an opportunity to join a company that allows them to work in a state-of-the-art facility with no personal financial investment; establish mentoring relationships with experienced professionals; have autonomy in diagnosis and treatment planning; and continually improve their skills and learn the newest dental techniques the industry has to offer. “That’s what is great about Heartland. We have an opportunity for every doctor in any given situation.” Nancy Pals Corporate Recruiting Manager “I was looking for a solid career path — one that would allow me to continue to grow and learn,” said Dr. Matthew Milligan of University Place Dental in Carbondale, Illinois. “In less than a year, I have completed a handful of Heartland continuing education courses including doctor leadership classes, endodontics courses and also the Aesthetic Continuum. These experiences have allowed me to build my confidence and, most importantly, learn new techniques to help me better serve my patients.” Knowing Heartland has helped new doctors jump start their careers or seasoned doctors rejuvenate their passion for dentistry gives the Recruiting Team great satisfaction. In the end, it’s all about building trusting relationships and connecting the right professionals with the right opportunity. HDC If you’re interested in a career opportunity with Heartland, please contact any member of the Recruiting Team at 888-372-9105 or [email protected]. 27 R E WAR D S & AWAR D S Celebrating Success with a Jamaican Getaway H e a rt l a n d De n ta l C a r e ta k e s great pride in the professionalism and excellence our doctors exemplify on a day-to-day basis. To honor those who have gone above and beyond in representing the company’s long-standing maxim — “Personal Attention. Professional Excellence.” — Heartland welcomes them into the company’s esteemed President’s Club. President’s Club members share a common commitment to consistently deliver the highest standard of care to their patients and provide strong leadership for their teams. They also increase their own skills and knowledge through continuing education while supporting their peers. 28 Each year, Heartland hosts an all-inclusive President’s Club trip to honor the hard work and dedication of these outstanding individuals. This getaway is Heartland’s gift to the doctors for their achievements and contributions toward the company’s successes throughout the past year. In 2010, more than 85 President’s Club members, along with their special guests, traveled to the sun-filled, five-star Iberostar Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for the company’s fifth annual President’s Club trip. The trip gives doctors a unique opportunity to network and interact with fellow Heartland doctors and members of Heartland’s executive team — all in a laid-back atmosphere away from their daily routines. “It’s amazing what occurs when you bring together a diverse group of doctors with various experience levels and clinical fortes,” said Dr. Rick Workman, founder and CEO of Heartland Dental Care. “The relaxed venue allows practitioners to forge relationships and freely share their experiences with one another. The experience is unlike any other.” This year’s President’s Club members included doctors from 11 states, representing 80 different practices. “It feels great to be recognized by the company in this way. It was an incredible trip full of relaxation, camaraderie and celebration — I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip,” said Dr. John Hamblin of Sullivan Family Dentistry in Sullivan, Missouri. Dr. Hamblin was one of 25 fi rst-time President’s Club members who attended this year’s trip. Participation in the President’s Club has nearly quadrupled since its inception in 2005. “It’s always great to come together and enjoy this special trip,” said Dr. Workman. “But one thing I look forward to most is recognizing those members of the Heartland family who have had an outstanding and fruitful year. We believe it’s important to recognize great work and the President’s Club members are examples of hard work paying off in many ways.” HDC 29 COMMUNIT Y ACTIVITIES Smiles for Miles Heartland Joins the Global Effort to Help the Earthquake Victims in Haiti F ROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, to Alexandria, Virginia, Heartland team members across the nation are giving back to the communities they serve — not only through the lifetime dental care they provide, but also by volunteering their time, talents and resources in ways both big and small. “Our prayers and support go out to the people of Haiti.” Patrick C. Bauer President and Chief Operations Officer Heartland has extended this helping hand beyond our country’s borders to assist those affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti this past January. “My inbox became flooded with e-mails from team members across the country with ideas on how we, as a company, could help those impacted by this disaster,” said Patrick C. Bauer, President and Chief Operations Officer of Heartland Dental Care, Inc. “I am proud of our team members for their concerned response and giving spirit.” For every ViziLite® Oral Cancer Screening kit sold in our dental offices from January 18 through February 12, Heartland donated $10 to the American Red Cross Haitian Relief and Development Fund. Throughout the month, Heartland dental teams completed 4,050 ViziLite exams to raise a total of $40,500 for the earthquake victims. The American Red Cross partnered with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, to support those affected by the earthquake. Donations support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help the hundreds of thousands of residents affected by the crisis. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross includes deploying personnel, sending relief supplies and providing fi nancial resources. “Our prayers and support go out to the people of Haiti,” said Patrick. “We hope our contribution, along with those from other socially responsible corporations, helps bring some relief to those affected by this tragedy.” HDC Pictured left to right: Dr. Rick Workman, Founder and CEO of Heartland Dental Care; Lori Boyd, Effingham County Service Coordinator Health and Safety Instructor of the American Red Cross South Central chapter; and Patrick C. Bauer, President and COO of Heartland Dental Care. 30 · FALL 10 Dr. Vincent Monticciolo and team at Monticciolo Family and Sedation Dentistry provided more than $105,000 worth of free dentistry, including fillings, cleanings and extractions to approximately 500 people on February 5, in honor of Dentistry from the Heart. This program was founded by Dr. Monticciolo in 2001 to provide dental care to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance. Since January, Heartland doctors and team members have treated more than 1,637 people and have donated more than $390,710 worth of free dentistry during Dentistry from the Heart events nationwide. In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, three dental hygienists from Heritage Dental Group visited a local elementary school to present dental health information in a fun and entertaining manner to 80 second graders. Sheree Birkenmeyer, Brooke Baalman and Kelly Cossey explained the importance of brushing your teeth among other important dental health topics. Dr. Scott Ritchhart of Springfield Dental Care was recognized by the American Heart Association as a “Heart Hero” last year for his quick thinking and critical action that helped save the life of a referee who collapsed during a high school basketball game. Dr. Ritchhart and three other bystanders rushed to the referee’s side to begin CPR while 911 was called. Thanks to the group’s lifesaving actions, the referee proceeded to celebrate his 54th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary the very next month. 31 1200 Network Centre Drive Effi ngham, IL 62401 2 17 - 5 4 0 - 5 1 0 0 w ww.H e ar tl an d D e n t a lCa re.c om Heartland Dental Care 2010-2011 Doctor and Team Member Course Dates November Dental University: Mastery Doctor Leadership 4 — Oral Surgery Open to all practice team members. This two-day mastery class parallels the team member’s career role: business assistant, dental assistant, hygienist, home office support. Achieving mastery in individual career roles will be the focus. Education is intensified to advance the knowledge, understanding and performance level of the various tasks of each team member’s role. Speaker: Dr. Karl Koerner December Doctor Leadership 5 — Dental Pearls Speaker: Dr. Joe Blaes January Dental University: Communication Aesthetic Continuum Treatment Planning Speakers: Dr. Edward Lowe and Dr. Michael Koczarski Open to all practice team members. Learning how to communicate with patients and team members is the focus of this two-day course. Implementing communication skills is a vital part of practice and team member success. The whole team will reap the benefits of this course. Whole practice teams new to Heartland will be encouraged to attend together. April Dental University: Business of Dentistry March President’s Club Trip Riviera Maya, Mexico Aesthetic Continuum Prep Weekend Aesthetic Continuum Seat Weekend Open to all practice team members. Having mastered your career role and communication skills, you are ready to continue broadening your focus on the business of the dental practice. Modeled after our proven practice management concepts, this two-day course will add a new level of experience by utilizing various reports and trends to improve your practice, strengthen team building skills and developing SMART action plans to help take your practice to the next level. Doctor Leadership Enrollment: Heartland doctors may sign up via your online connection with HDC Events. Non-Heartland dentists may be able to attend if room is available. Call 888-372-9105 for class availability. Dental University classes are free for all Heartland team members. Find times and locations and sign up via your online HDC Events connection.