I offered quality 5 star service- if my patients wanted to reach me anytime, I gave them my cell number. I gave them personalised care and tried to remember at least one thing about each patient- I built my name with time and I still domake time for patients no matter how busy I am. I will always make time to chat with patients. I learn about their lives and cultivate that relationship.
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If I wanted to open a clinic today- what factors should I consider?
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1) Location, location, location- Where you open the clinic matters. Go out and talk to the local dentists and find out how many practioners are in that area. Are they several access points? Is there plenty of parking available? Is the location of the clinic safe?. For example for my clinic- its around alot of high schools therefore for most students, its just a walk away.
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2) Getting good staff- this is often the hardest part- you can offer a 5-star service but if your staff doesn't know the basic things like how to pick up the phone, how to dress for work- your service would be diluted. I still invest in my staff and send them for training yearly.
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3) Be sensible - whatever you do make sure you are filling a need.
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4) Providing personal care and I also invested in courses to learn how to offer a five star service.
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When you first opened your clinic, how did you get word out there that you were ready for business?
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At that time, we weren't allowed to advertise therefore sent out letters introducing myself to dentists and indicated that I am open for referrals . I used this to send out letters explaining to them what my qualifications are and started out by getting their referrals.
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So you started off with a clinic that had one chair and you have now built up to a clinic that has 5, did you buy an exisiting practice for that?
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No I started everything from the ground up. Someone told me that just because you buy an existing practice, you cant force the clients to stay with you. So I decided to open my own practice.
Yes but isnt it easier in terms of infastructure and the fact that all the chairs are already set up for you to buy over an existing one?
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People give the impression that starting a practice and tasks like installing plumbing for the chairs and laying the infastructure is difficult. Thats not true at all. I wanted to design my own practice from the ground up. I wanted to
have the chairs facing a certain side. That is quite difficult with an already established clinic.
Often in dental school, we aren't taught how to handle the business side of dentistry. What are your tips on it?
Funnily enough, I actually worked in banking for a year so I am quite familiar with finance. Having said that, you genuinely do not need a business degree. This is about common sense. Dont spend more than you have and just live within your means. Don't take out loans unnecessarily.
Just because you have opened a clinic, it doesnt mean you will get patients. Everything takes time- I used to be in a position where I had one patient a month! I preservered through this period because my expectations were sober.
Soon after word got out, the numbers improved. It took be 6 months to be okay and about 1-2 years to reach profit. Everything I had was put back into the clinic.My overheads were lower than average and my prices already reflected that.
There must have been moments of doubt, uncertainty How did you stick it out and belief in yourself. Dentistry has the highest rate of suicide, why do you think that?
This is because I believe that this is the profession that was my calling- one that I loved. Dentistry is quite an isolating career and if you dont love it, its alot of time to sacrifice for something that you are not meant to do.
According to your expertise, would a BDS degree be satisfactory in the world of today?
Dentistry today in Trinidad is greatly saturated. Even with the UK , if one dental school on average is producing 80 students. Thats alot of dentists. Having said, that we do need general dentists and cant do without them. Specialisation is not for everyone so if you do choose a field ensure that you truly love that field because you would be spending the rest of your life in it.
Did you ever feel like a relentless timeline was following you. Being a woman, its often hard to find that line between the career that you have so meticulously worked for and having a family ?
Look for me, the most important thing is finding the right someone to have kids with.
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Currently, due to COVID- alot of dental students are facing quite alot of free time. Do you have any suggestions on things to do during this time?
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You could try and apply for different classes. From what you have told me, you are interested in the business runnings of a clinic so you could look for courses that teach you how to manage practices.
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Finally, do you have any future plans for your practice- Do you plan on opening more?
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People have asked and I said listen, I don't ever want to get to the point where I don't have balance and right now I need to finish what I'm doing and after this diploma and written all my research papers I will consider. Im not saying no to anything at the moment.