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CAD0111

14 I I practice management _ paperless practice CAD/CAM 1_2011 _There is no doubt that the modern dental practice has changed rapidly over the past fif- teen years. Dentists have come to realise that with new technology, they can create a practice that is more efficient, costs less to run, and allows for decentralisation of the front office. Records that were primarily paper- and film- based are being replaced by digital radiography, electronic records, and there is a move towards a paperless, or at the very least, chartless prac- tice.Mostofficesrealisethattherewillalwaysbe paper in a dental practice. Whether it is walkout statements, insurance forms or printed copies of images, paper will forever be part of the dental practice. That being said, there are a number of practices that have truly eliminated their paper charts. While the process is easier for a start-up practice, with proper planning, existing prac- tices can achieve this goal as well. Many dentists are probably aware that the Federal Government is mandating that all pa- tient records be paperless by the end of the year 2014. The challenge for most practices is evalu- ating their current and future purchases to en- sure that all the systems will integrate properly together. While many dentists are visually ori- ented and thus tend to focus on the criteria that they can actually see and touch, some of the most important decisions are related to more abstract standards. I have therefore developed a six-point checklist that I feel is mandatory for any dentist adding new technologies to his or her practice, and I recommend that each step be completed in order. _I Practice management software It all starts with the administrative software that is running the practice. To develop a chart- less practice, this software must be capable of some very basic functions. For practices that wish to eliminate paper, dentists need to con- sider every paper component of the dental chart and try to find a digital alternative. For example, entering charting, treatment plans, handling insurance estimation and processing through e-claims, ongoing patient retention and recall Six steps to a chartless practice Author_ Dr Lorne Lavine, USA