Four signs it may be time to switch plan provider

>

Jayne Gibson shares four key questions to ask yourself whether your plan provider is right for you or if it’s time to move on...

When you’ve been working with your plan provider for a while, it can be easy not to notice that you may not be getting the best service.

Like in any relationship, complacency can creep in and when you’re busy running a dental practice, it can go unnoticed or simply become one of those things that you never seem to have time to address.

While that’s understandable, having the right plan provider can help to make your life easier and support your business to thrive, whether that’s through cost savings, building your brand or additional training.

If you’ve had a niggle that something may not be quite right, below are four things to consider whether now might be the right time to make the move to another provider.

Are you receiving pro-active support?

As a practice owner or manager, you’re probably always looking out for new ways to reach new patients or build relationships with your existing ones. But is your plan provider taking the same approach? Do they regularly come to you with fresh ideas or tips on how to boost plan numbers?

You could be missing out on support that will not only help with your bottom line, but also on simply making running the practice less hectic.

Dentistry is an ever-changing profession when it comes to guidance, not just operational but also things like the employment status of associates, and the various amendments to regulation caused by Brexit such as Medical Device Regulation and the processes for the recognition of overseas qualifications, to name but two. Having someone in your corner who is able to support you with their knowledge and expertise, plus access to industry experts, can help to relieve some of the admin and stress that often comes with these issues.

Are they on track with your goals?

It’s not just the profession that’s ever changing; over time, your goals as a business can shift as your practice evolves. You may be looking to build up a specific service area or want to focus on growing your own brand to enhance patient loyalty to your practice.

If you start to feel that your plan provider no longer understands where you’re heading as a business or hasn’t adapted their services to help you get there, it can be a sign to look elsewhere.

To achieve your goals, you need all your team pulling in the same direction, and that includes your plan provider. They need to be aligned to what you want for your business’ future and be committed to supporting you to get there, not focused on promoting their own brand.

Do you feel like a small fish in a big pond?

Working in dentistry, you understand how important relationships are to building loyalty with your patients. The same applies to you and your plan provider.

If you don’t feel as if they have time for you, that you don’t get enough one-to-one support, or that they aren’t there for you and your team when you need them, it could be time to review your options.

Relationships are all about give-and-take, make sure you’re getting what you want out of yours and that it’s not all just one-way.

Can you build long-term relationships?

Being able to build a long-term relationship with one representative gives peace of mind that you’re working with someone who understands your team, your goals and your challenges.

If it seems as if there’s a revolving door of new faces at your plan provider, it can be harder to feel that sense of consistency and continuous support.

Having regular support from the same person helps to build trust and means that you can be reassured they know not only where you’re going as a practice but also where you’ve come from and the journey you’ve had both personally and professionally.

If you’ve asked yourself these questions and found your plan provider wanting, it might be time to look elsewhere. Talk to the Practice Plan team about how they could support you to build your business now and in the future, plus now switching to them has never been easier with their Easy Switch bulk transfer process, call: 01691 684165 or visit: practiceplan.co.uk/switch