NMDA Journal Fall 2018

26 New Mexico Dental Journal, Fall 2018 comprehensive online certificate program in disciplines crucial to practice success. Courses include: • Legal and Ethical Issues in Dental Practice • Negotiation and Conflict Management • Understanding Leadership • Business Strategy and Systems • Dental Team Management • Financial Management For those who wish to serve their profession by helping to lead the ADA itself or a related society, the Center links to the ADA Leadership Institute’s library of online leadership education—an expanding resource designed to serve dentists who volunteer as leaders with the local, state, or national levels of the ADA. The library includes a variety of articles that compliment videos available to watch on ADA CE Online. The videos cover a variety of topics such as legal issues for volunteer leaders, basic principles of strategic planning, financial best practices, using goals to achieve results, and effective board governance. Many of the videos are enhanced by the availability of supplemental materials, including documents and toolkits that cover strategic planning, board policy, risk management, event planning, and finance. The Center also hosts a copy of “Hit the Ground Running—The President’s First 100 Days”; a helpful book created to help incoming officers start their leadership year with traction. Some dental professionals make the decision to obtain another graduate degree. Popular second degrees include Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Masters of Health Administration (MHA), and Doctorate of Jurisprudence (JD). The Center has posted links to a variety of resources for those who choose this path. 4. WELLNESS The Wellness section at the Center for Professional Success offers resources developed by dentists, physical therapists and social workers to assist with the health and work/life balance challenges faced by dentists. Attaining work-life balance is an ongoing challenge, and professional training may instill values and behaviors antithetical to self-care. Driven professionals often focus on career goals from an early age, potentially jeopardizing development of crucial emotional and relationship skills. Isolation and access to controlled substances may encourage development of substance abuse issues. In some practice settings, the authority position held by a dentist may make it difficult for staff to assist or intervene. The pressures of running a business, addressing the clinical needs of patients, and balancing family life can be overwhelming. As such, even the best dentists may find themselves impaired at some point. A good overview of the current challenges faced by can be gained by reading the results of the most recent ADA Wellness Survey, available for downloading on the Center. Dentist well-being programs and other professional assistance and advocacy efforts operate on the belief and experience that, in the majority of cases, practice impairment comes as the result of an illness that can be treated. Dental societies are in an ideal position to facilitate much-needed confidential support to dentists with personal problems, and in fact, many have been doing so for years. The Center for Professional Success provides testimonials from dentists in recovery, includes links to a variety of internal and external resources, as well as the Dental Well Being Handbook, which addresses assistance programs, privacy and confidentiality, and risk management. The practice of dentistry also often involves maintaining uncomfortable postures and performing repetitive hand motions for long periods of time. Studies suggest that 40 to 60% of dental professionals suffer from work-related musculoskeletal issues. A good, ergonomically designed work setting, along with daily stretching and exercise, can help dental practitioners and their staff enjoy long, healthy careers. The Center offers a popular series of short videos that offer simple stretches that can be performed in the office to address issues such as neck, arm, back, and lower extremity pain. In addition, the Center offers written resources to help dentists understand and address issues such as hand and neck pain. 5. DENTAL BENEFITS After fully reading and understanding a contract and its effect on your practice dynamics, you may decide to participate in a payer’s network. The Dental Benefits section assists with information on working with dental benefit plans, coding, and third-party payers to process claims accurately and efficiently. Making your way through the various dental plans and their restrictions, maximum allowable charges, and other limitations, can make even the most benefit-savvy dentist raise their hands in frustration. Successfully navigating third-party payers also requires a strong team with an office manager who understands coding and dental benefits issues. Many of the tools in the Dental Benefits section of the Center can be particularly useful when training new staff members. continued from page 25 ADA Center for Professional Success answers your practice questions