137: Adopting Teledentistry Into Your Practice With Dr. Vilas Sastry

Just to give you an update of my practice right now, we initially did a gradual rollout, bringing in our team members back on piecemeal over a period of three weeks.  And now, we’re back full-time – basically, with a new way of doing business. Obviously, the downtime has given us some time to assess a few issues we have found pre-pandemic that need to be addressed.  In a clinic setting, patients can easily transfer diseases to the dental team and vice versa. This happens when you're handing stuff to and from patients (ex. paperwork, clipboards, ink, pens, insurance cards, credit cards, cash, etc.)  In this episode, I’m going to discuss a few things that we have done in our practice to reduce or eliminate person-to-person contact so we could mitigate the risk of any transfer of disease. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to implement the e-prescription system Things you can include in your online paperwork Handling payments (cards, check, and cash) Other safety practices you can do in your clinic   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ DoseSpot e-Prescribing and Integration Software: https://www.dosespot.com/  Formstack Online Form Builder: https://www.formstack.com/ OperaDDS: https://operadds.com/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

How are you going to approach things once your state allows you to reopen your office? Do you think you’re going back to where you were pre-pandemic?  There are a lot of questions that are yet to be answered because these are unprecedented times. But there will certainly be a huge paradigm shift both in your practice and in your patients.  It’s not going to be the same – it probably won’t ever be the same. What we do and how we do it are going to be different now.  Today, Dr. Victor Martel joins me as we talk about the possible changes and challenges that we, as dental care providers and business owners, need to consider as we’re preparing for the reopening of our offices.  Victor received his dental degree from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in New Jersey. He is a Fellow at the Academy of General Dentistry and the President of Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is a visiting faculty member at Baylor University and a former faculty member at the Dawson Academy. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Victor is limiting his practice to high-end prosthetics and prosthodontics. Victor is also the Founder of Martel Academy. In their mission to elevate the knowledge base of the dental community, they offer courses related to dental implants, esthetic dentistry, occlusion, and comprehensive treatment planning. In this episode, you’ll hear: Safety issues (aerosol, PPE, screening patients) Looking at lower patient volume and how to approach this How this crisis will impact the value of your office Thoughts on retirement, re-engaging, and reinventing The integrity issue   Connect with Dr. Victor Martel Dr. Victor Martel Dr. Victor Martel Practice Dr. Victor Martel FB Dr. Victor Martel IG Dr. Victor Martel Linkedin Martel Academy Email Victor   Connect with Dr. Russel Kirk Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

Practicing for 23 years now, Dr. Justin Moody is one of the most credentialed Implantologists in the U.S. He is the Founder and Director of Implant Pathway, a continuing education program that focuses on the surgical placement of dental implants. Dr. Moody is also an international speaker and he builds strong mentorships with doctors who take his courses through live surgical training at the end of their Implant Pathway continuum.  In today’s episode, we discuss different topics including what he’s been doing during this pandemic and his plans moving forward. We also talk about the Implant Pathway and how we can use this downtime to learn more about implants.  Justin specifically brings up the issue we’re facing right now where dentists are viewed as nonessential, and even “dangerous,” at this time of the pandemic – when we could have become force multipliers in the healthcare system. He makes a valid point about how dentists should really be regarded as specialists in our field in the same way that MDs are in their respective specialties.  In this episode, you’ll hear: ADA’s lack of support for dental care providers How to manage our practice from a business standpoint The hurdles and impediments to the dental implant industry  Realizations gleaned from this COVID-19 situation    Connect with Dr. Justin Moody: Dr. Justin Moody Dr. Justin Moody IG Dr. Justin Moody FB Dr. Justin Moody Twitter Dentists, Implants, and Worms Podcast Implant Pathway Implant Pathway FB Implant Pathway Youtube Channel Implant Pathway IG Voices of Dentistry   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

During this pandemic, our unemployment rate has swelled up to 30% and that may still end up in double digits. As a business owner, you have to make sure you’re prepared – and NOW is the perfect time to do that with our current downtime. It's not rocket science. It's just a matter of not taking it for granted.  In today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks about things related to the pandemic and how things are going to change going forward with our practices. Mark likes to call everything that’s happening right now as just a reset. Dr. Mark Costes is a keynote speaker, an author, an entrepreneur, and a multi-practice owner. During the course of his career, Mike had set up dental assisting school franchises and has acquired over a dozen successful dental practices.  He is the co-founder of Dental Success Network, a vibrant community of dentists around the world focused on helping dentists become better business owners, better clinicians, and better people. He is also the founder of the Dental Success Institute and the bestselling author of the book Pillars of Dental Success. His internet radio show, The Dentalpreneur Podcast now has listenership from over 150 countries worldwide.   In this episode, you’ll hear: Changes Mark is seeing during the pandemic and what he expects post-pandemic Where marketing should focus around and the 3 population segments you need to go after What could happen with the OSHA law Why it’s very important to be surrounded by people in your business community The kind of support and resources DSN provides to its members Four Futures Journal: what it could do for you and your business during this time   Connect with Dr. Mark Costes: Dr. Mark Costes Dental Success Institute Dentalpreneur Podcast Dental Success Institute IG  Dental Success Institute FB Dental Success TV Dental Success Network Book: Pillars of Dental Success Four Futures Journal: Email Dr. Mark Costes via [email protected] with the subject line: “Four Futures Journal” and get a link to the copy.    Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

With a lot of offices shut down during this pandemic, being able to continue our dental practice has become a real challenge.    Telemedicine has been around for a while, but not so much for dentistry. Part of it is that we all have this notion that we have to have face-to-face interaction to make it work. But we’re finding out in this COVID-19 pandemic that’s not necessarily the case. There are actually things we can handle remotely, especially with what our guest today has been doing in teledentistry for the last five years.    Today, I want to share with you something that you could adopt in your practice right now and even post-COVID. I’m bringing in Dr. Vilas Sastry of Teledentistry.com. Through their dental practice platform, we can use technology to perform teledentistry, which eliminates the need for patients to go to the emergency room.   Dr. Vilas Sastry obviously had not predicted that a pandemic like this could happen, not in a million years – but what he predicted was a technological revolution in dentistry… and so here we are now.   As Teledentistry.com is helping us pivot our practice during this insane time, they’re offering their dental practice software for free until June 30.   In this episode, you’ll hear: How teledentistry came about and how you can adopt it in your practice How it works HIPAA compliance and the ADA coding and billing guidelines (Find out what is not considered a consult!) How you can get involved with Teledentistry in the future   Resources mentioned: Teledentistry.com Dr. Vilas Sastry Teledentistry Insurance Partners ADA COVID-19 Coding and Billing Guidelines Email Dr. Vilas Sastry   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you an email that I got from Sally Hogshead.    Sally Hogshead is an author, a speaker, and the CEO of How to Fascinate. Now she has a website and business basically centered around how you can learn how to fascinate others with who you are.    She has shared 10 lessons from the recessions she experienced through the years – the 9/11 attack in 2001, the Great Recession in 2008… and now this COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.    This is worth sharing as there are really good points that you might find useful and beneficial as they did for me.    Let’s all uplift each other as there’s no better time than now!   In this episode, you’ll hear: The 10 lessons Sally Hogshead has learned to weather economic downturns What it means to be a silver lining How you can refuse to recede and find opportunity in chaos   Resources: How to Fascinate The Recession Playbook About Sally Hogshead Fascinate Test   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

After finishing this episode, we got the following notice from the SBA. I would continue to monitor their site just in case more money becomes available. Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding. EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about the relief options available for your business, click here.   We've been shut down for about three weeks now and I wanted to give you a quick SBA loan update.    Today, I’m going over some good, confirmed Small Business Administration (SBA) information that you can use today (something that I received in my inbox). This is a direct email, which is official documentation or correspondence from them.    At this point, I am optimistic that some of these programs will help us weather the storm here.    I have this healthy distrust of my government when it comes to these things. But it sounds like they're sorting it out. Our government is revamping a lot of things as they go along. They've been slower than I would like. But we all have to be patient, especially during this unprecedented time.   I haven’t received any funds yet. But there are people getting it finally… so I finally had the courage to stand here behind the mic and tell you that these things are working to some extent for some people.    In this episode, you’ll hear: An overview of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan information, who can apply, loan details and forgiveness How to use the SBA Local Assistance Tool to find lenders near you Available tools and resources (found below)   SBA General Information Copy of Small Business Administration Email Find SBA Local Assistance SBA COVID-19 Resources   Economic Injury Disaster Loan Loan Overview Apply Online Eligibility   Paycheck Protection Program Loan Information Who Can Apply Loan Details and Forgiveness Other Assistance Lender Forms and Guidance FAQ Find A Paycheck Protection Program Lender PPP Lender Form Lender Agreement SBA Standard Loan Note   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

In the face of this present pandemic, do you think dentistry is dead?   There are some posts going around on social media saying that dentistry is dead. And I fully understand how this pandemic may be causing a lot of mental turmoil because of the uncertainty it brings to our practice and our business – but nobody knows anything at this point.    Even our government is still trying to figure things out.   We can't just bash our profession. It's easy to digress to this negative mindset. But it won't play well for any of us.    It’s a matter of choosing what kind of mindset we’re going to have at this point in time.   We don't know if things are going back to the way we were before and this is something we don’t have control over. But what we can control, however, is our mindset.    We all have to intentionally come from a mindset of abundance, not scarcity.    You have to plan accordingly and ramp up your game. How are you going to approach this to be prepared to kick the doors back open and go after this and get back to where you were at, pre-pandemic?   So instead of spending some of your downtime consuming negative things, let's go get ready and prioritize ahead. So we can make sure our business is stronger than what they were pre-pandemic. In this episode, you’ll hear: The right mindset in the face of this pandemic Things to think about while we’re preparing for when things begin to kick-off Basic prioritization and goal settings Possible changes to expect in the future   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Email Russell Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

The coronavirus situation has been so dynamic and changes quickly. There has been a lot of information and misinformation. I've seen people approaching it very level-headedly, people in near panic mode, and people who seem to be taking this way too lightly. And I’ve been trying to stay in the middle of the road, trying not to be too quick to react or make any knee-jerk decisions that I might pay for later. But I also didn't want to move too slowly and fail to protect my surgical team, my patients, myself and my family.   This week, I’m just going to share with you what's going on, what I've seen on our side of things, and how I’m currently weathering the storm. I know that each of you is dealing with this in your own individual ways. You're not alone. It's not easy. It's challenging. There's going to be opportunities for us, opportunities to learn. We're going to fail. In some respects, we're not going to be able to answer all the questions correctly as we navigate this. And that's okay. We all just have to hang in there and roll with the punches.   In this episode, you’ll hear: The struggles of decision-making with my family and employees in mind Why I decided to lay off my team Short-term options for your business and your team The importance of getting support from your colleagues   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Stoicism has opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. I have been able to apply Stoic principles in my practice and my personal life. For those not familiar with Stoicism, it is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. Dr. Matthew Standridge is the person who introduced me to this philosophy. And this week, he is my guest!  Dr. Matthew Standridge is a dentist and host of the podcast, Ketodontist. Through his work, he explores the worlds of low carb and ketogenic diets, primal and paleo lifestyles, and oral and whole-body health. In this episode, we discuss Stoicism, including how to get started, books to read, and how we both apply Stoic principles and techniques in our everyday lives. Stoicism has made a significant impact on my life. I hope you find today’s episode insightful and impactful too.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Stoicism is an actionable philosophy The practical uses of Stoicism including some applications in the dental office setting Personal mantras can help to snap yourself out of the current situation  Some resources and books for those interested in the practice of Stoicism We ponder the question, “Why do we worry about our legacy?”   Connect with Dr. Matthew Standridge: Dr. Matthew Standridge Practice Dr. Standridge’s Practice Blog Ketodontist Podcast Ketodontist Ketodontist Facebook Ketodontist Youtube Ketodontist Twitter Ketodontist IG The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey    Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com