Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

W ord of mouth has for- ever changed. It used to be that a friend would recommend your prac- tice to another friend, and you’d likely receive a new patient re- ferral. Today, with the internet at our fingertips, potential pa- tients have evolved to become voracious researchers. This ap- petite for volumes of informa- tion before making purchase decisions has made it more important than ever for you to change the way you’ve market- ed—both on and offline. Patients researching a den- tist will not only expect you to have a website, they will also want to see what other infor- mation is available about you. In fact, they may even want to know what their friends, and the friends of their friends, also think of you. Consider for a mo- ment how important ratings and details have become in the book and travel markets. Peo- ple not only want to see photos of the hotel they are consider- ing, they may also want to see video, comments from recent travellers, and they may search out several other sites to com- pare information. This high level of research is not only being done by those “seeking out the best deal”, MarketTools recently revealed a study indicating affluent visi- tors (with annual incomes of more than $75K) are most like- ly to research products online before buying (43 per cent). While the power of person- al testimonials and word of mouth will live on, consumers now want to view as much in- formation as possible before making decisions about buying everything from hotel rooms to healthcare. Now is an ideal time to con- sider whether your website needs remodelling. Does your website represent your prac- tice and your brand? Does your website appear properly on mobile devices? In a recent study by Tecmark, almost 15 per cent of UK web traffic is of mobile origin. Mobile internet usage continues to skyrocket. It’s vital your website be po- sitioned well for this grow- ing market. Imagine someone referring their friend to your practice during a conversation at a coffee shop. Their friend pulls out their smart phone to Google you on the spot... If your website isn’t findable, functional or viewable, your inability to be researched may hurt your chances of gaining a new patient. Remember that upon refer- ral, potential new patients want to be able to find you easily. They may also want to know what to expect when they see you, sit in your dental chair, receive treatment, or settle their bill. With that said, it is important for you to have a good website, plenty of photos, and video with tours of what to expect in your practice ... In addition, Make or break social marketing Rita Zamora explains how to thrive in a digital ‘word of mouth’ world ‘Patients research- ing a dentist will not only expect you to have a website, they will also want to see what other in- formation is avail- able about you’ www.thedbg.co.uk For more information and a quote contact the DBG on 0845 00 66 112 Please Note: Errors and omissions excluded. Any prices quoted are subject to VAT. The DBG reserves the right to alter or withdraw any of their services at any time without prior notice. Are you waiting to find out when the Care Quality Commission* inspect your practice? Your compliance with Clinical Governance and Patient Outcomes will be questioned with the introduction of the Care Quality Commission*, HTM 01-05 and the increase in PCT practice inspections. Would you like to know how you would fare when your practice is inspected and have the opportunity to take corrective action? The DBG Clinical Governance Assessment is the all important experience of a practice audit visit rather than the reliance on a self audit which can lead to a false sense of compliance. The assessment is designed to give you reassurance that you have fulfilled your obligations and highlight any potential problems. We will provide help and advice on the latest guidance throughout the visit. • Your premises including access, facilities, security, fire precautions, third parties and business continuity plans. • Information governance including Freedom of Information Act, manual and computerised records, Data Protection and security. • Training, documentation and certificates. • Radiography including IRR99 and IR(ME)R2000 compliance. • Cross infection and decontamination including HTM 01-05 compliance and surgery audits. • Medical emergencies including resuscitation, drugs, equipments and protocols. • Training, documentation and certificates. • Waste disposal and documentation and storage. • Practice policies and written procedures. • Clinical audit and patient outcomes including quality measures. The assessment will take approximately four hours of your Practice Manager’s time depending on the number of surgeries and we will require access to all areas of your practice. A report will be despatched to you confirming the results of our assessment. If you have an inspection imminent then we suggest that you arrange your DBG assessment at least one month before the inspection to allow you time to carry out any recommendations if required. Following the assessment you may wish to have access to the DBG Clinical Governance Package with on-line compliance manuals. The areas the DBG assesses are: Clinical Governance including Patient Quality Measures - Is your practice compliant? Have you addressed all 28 CQC outcomes? ? *England only. 20YEARSYEARS 20 9361 DBG ClinicalGov The probe 338x244.qxd:Layout 1 1/7/10 13:39 Page 1 June 6-12, 201114 Social Media United Kingdom Edition14