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.