Are You Prepared for Success?

You’ve just completed a complex, comprehensive case and it turned out great. The patient is delighted with their new smile, and you’re especially proud of the work you’ve done.

This is exactly the kind of case you want to document; it’s the kind of case that really showcases what you can do. And just as you’re about to take the stunning “after” photos, you realize that you never took the “before” pictures. Without that comparison shot, the pictures you’re going to take now just won’t have the same impact.

The best way to keep this from happening is to make it a habit to prepare for success. It should become part of your routine as soon as you’ve gained acceptance for a significant case. You should begin by getting photographic documentation of the starting point. It’s important to take these photos for every patient, for every significant case, every time. Maybe this patient won’t end up being a case study that you put in your “portfolio,” but you’re ready if they are.

This concept is more than just about photos. As part of your new patient experience, you should be providing a tour of your office, including the success stories on your “wall of fame.” You should also have a team member walk through the necessary medical history and insurance forms with patients. The time to ask patients to sign a HIPAA release form for photos and information is while the display of success stories is still fresh in their minds and they’re excited about the possibility of one day becoming one of those “showcase” stories.

If your patients agree early on, you don’t have to interrupt the celebration at the end of treatment to get their authorization on legal paperwork; it will all have been taken care of long ago. When the crowning moment of success arrives, you’ll be ready.