March 6, 2004 to April 7, 2004

Hello!

It's time again to update you on all the cool things happening on Club Lighthouse! This newsletter represents a summary of the best of what's going on at the web site.

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In This Issue
New Articles
New or updated downloads
Interesting posts
Seminar schedule


New Articles
Lighthouse Simple Treatment Plan Tracking System
Once you have your marketing plan in place and the new patients are busting your door down (and yes, it is okay to celebrate!) then you need to shift your focus to "the morning after". The majority of these new (and recall patients) presenting will have further treatment needs. This information is made known to the clinical staff during that brief time the exam is performed and HOPEFULLY is captured in a treatment plan in the computer (and if not, there are OTHER issues we need to discuss, PRONTO!). The proper care and follow-up with these current patients of record on recently proposed treatment can make a world of difference to your practice sucess. This article and the associated download will describe the Lighthouse Simple Treatment Plan Tracking System that will allow your computer to "remind" patients on a progressive basis about the need to schedule recommended treatment.

 

Referral Thank You Tracking

Internal marketing is one of the most powerful forms of marketing in a dental office today. It practically gives you the rare opportunity to choose the quality of your new patients. When your favorite patients visit, you should remind them how great they are and that you wish ALL your patients were just like them. You should also remind them that your office welcomes new patients. Once they refer their friends, you should show them your appreciation which will obviously make them feel great and want to refer another friend and then another and then another.....

 

New or updated downloads
The following is a list of recent additions to the Club Lighthouse download area. It is important to remember that most downloads have a corresponding article or forum post associated with them. If they do, please read the article or post first before downloading the file. Also, for complete instructions on how download and install the files listed here, be sure to read the article on Installing from an Exchange Pack

The Cell Farm
Version: 3-29-2004
An Analysis Expert that's just a bunch of cell definitions, for you to copy into your own Analysis Experts and use (with the [Copy from other spreadsheet] function of the Analysis Expert). This allows you to create Analysis Experts without knowing how to write PracticeScript. A special forum in the Forums section has been set up for details on using the Cell Farm. Instructions about using the Cell Farm are posted there. You can also make requests for new cells to be added by posting a topic. Click here to go to the Cell Farm Forum now.

LH Simple Recall System
Version: 11-26-2003
A Contact Expert, documents and "smart" AutoLinks that make it simple to send a series of recall reminder cards, and to do it once a week. See the Article "A Simple Recall System" for all the details. There are two versions of the Contact Expert - one to use if you don't do any calling of patients for recall, and another if you do want to call patients (in addition to sending the e-mails, postcards and letters). There are also some other "specific-use" Recall Contact Experts, including one just for kids, to be used when you're coming up on a school break.

The Rx Farm
Version: 4-4-2004
A collection of Rx's that aren't in the PW Plus Pack. These simply add to your list of Rx's when you write a new one. (We've also updated the PW Plus Pack Rx's to add the "Phoned in" option that's on all the LH Rx's. To download them, click here.) See the article that describes how to install and use them.

Medical / dental history
Version: 02-23-04
All the components needed to gather, store, update and review patients' medical and dental history. This is the download companion to the Going Chartless article on collecting Medical/Dental History.

UPDATED 01-20-04 to add a version of the Patient Info Update document that will print correctly from the patient Clipboard. Also added a few more of the fields from the Medical / Personal History Form to the Patient Info Update document, so patients have even less to hand write on an update. FIXED 1-23-04: One of the document merge variables couldn't be edited by users. Fixed. UPDATED 2-3-2004: Added a checkbox "Review this Form when writing Rx's" to the Medical/Personal History Form. Allows you to "integrate" with the Rx System (pop up this Form every time you look at a patient's Rx History, from the [Rx History] button in Charting). UPDATED: 2-23-2004: The "Last " merge variables at the bottom of the Patient Info Update documents now look at the "Outside x-rays received" Form, in addition to the ledger, to get the most accurate information.

Ptns with a certain ADA code in a ZIP code
Version: 01-11-2004
A Contact Expert that prompts for a date range, up to 6 ADA codes, and a ZIP code (optional). Created for Don Frederick. MODIFIED 3/25/2004: Added a column that shows WHICH of the ADA codes each patient had in the time period.

PW Plus Pack Updated Rxs
Version: 02-22-2004
All the Rx's in the PW Plus Pack that ships w/ PW, updated as follows: -Added "Phoned in" question -Added "Pharmacy name and number" question -Reorganized them so they're simple to install. -Made AutoLink that prints the document not print if the "Phoned in" checkbox is checked NOTE: These AutoLinks to DO NOT overwrite the existing AutoLinks, so if you're re-installing any of these Rx's, you'll end up with TWO AutoLinks. To delete the one you don't want: 1. Edit the Rx Form (Experts _ Automation Expert _ Responses _ Forms). 2. Click the [AutoLinks] button. 3. If there are two, remove the first one. If there is only one, do nothing. 4. Do this for each Rx that you install from this Exchange Pack. If you don't, the Rx document will print even if you check the "Phoned in" checkbox.

LH Treatment Tracking System
Version: 1.0
PLEASE READ the associated article prior to downloading and installing. This system will find all patients that have recently been seen, with an active treatment plan, and do not have a non-recall appointment. It will age and escalate their contact through a series of emails, postcards, and letters, resulting in a final CALL list for staff to contact.

Patient list export
Version: 3-10-2004
An AutoLink on the Person Pick List [Actions] button that generates a field export file of patient information, on all patients seen in the last 24 months. To run it, start with the Person Pick List [Actions] button. Select "All displayed records" when prompted. Select this "Document" (it's called Patient Information (field export) ). The fields that are exported, and their sequence in the file, are: 1. Lastname, Firstname, MidInitial (Smith, Brian A) 2. First visit date 3. Date of birth 4. Last visit date 5. Last recall date 6. Next appt. date 7. Next appt. time 8 Home phone 9. Work phone 10. Total A/R balance 11. A/R aging (age of the oldest part of the balance) See this post for more details on how to get this file out of PW and into your PDA.

Referral Thank You Gift Tracking System
Version: 03/24/04
This system includes a Form for tracking which letters or gifts you have sent to your referral sources, a User Defined Contact Expert to show all the referral sources since a specified date and a document which will print to remind you that you need to send a letter or a gift (and will describe which one is appropriate to send). Click HERE to read the article associated with this download.

Form for tracking study models
Version: 03/24/04
Form to track Study Models (box numbers etc.) Linked to Actions button on clipboard. If it exists, it will pop up upon viewing the clipboard until the "Models thrown away" checkbox is checked.

Chart audit worksheet
Version: 3-26-2004
A worksheet you can use to complete your chart audit, as described in the Chart Audit article. This one is has a lot of items already on it. Be sure to get the other one, too - the blank one - so you have plenty of room to add your own items.

Chart audit worksheet blank
Version: 3-26-2004
A worksheet you can use to complete your chart audit, as described in the Chart Audit article. This one is blank. Be sure to get the other one, too - the one that has a lot of items already on it - just to save you some time.

Contact Expert sorted by e-mail address
Version: 03/29/04
A simple contact expert of all active patients sorted initially by e-mail address.



Interesting posts

The following list represents topics on the Club site that either have had a lot of posts made, or have been read by a large number of Club members.

PracticeWorks

General discussion (PracticeWorks)

Expert Creation Requests

Automation and PracticeScript

Analysis Expert Cell Farm

The Business side of things (not PracticeWorks related)

General discussion (Office Admin)

Hot Deals!

Computers and Technology

The Clinical side of things (not PracticeWorks related)

General discussion (Clinical)

Clinical technologies

Going chartless

Club Lighthouse

General discussion (Lighthouse)



Seminar schedule

New Seminar - Paperless Charting

At Club Lighthouse, we are all about maximizing the efficiency of your computer system. There is no better way to do that than to rid your office of the most significant time drag most of you still have: your paper charts.

Learn to rid your office of paper charts once and for all. Click here for more information, as well as dates and locations.

On-line seminar registration now available

Turbo charging your practice with PracticeWorks
Six new dates added!

Back by popular demand, this two day seminar is sure to improve your understanding of PracticeWorks, as well as give you a better understanding of what we are trying to accomplish here on Club Lighthouse. Don't forget: Club members get a 10% discount off of the registration fee!

To see dates and locations, or to register on-line, click here.


We hope you found this newsletter informative and helpful. Remember, its our job to make your job easier! If you have ANY question, be sure to either post a question on the Club, or if you are uncomfortable posting your question in public, please feel free to contact one of us directly using email.

Thanks again, and see you on the Club!

Allen Jorgensen: allen@lighthouse-pmg.com
Brian Smith: brian@lighthouse-pmg.com
Joel Kozikowski: joel@lighthouse-pmg.com
Lisa Doiron: lisa@lighthouse-pmg.com

© 2003, 2004 Lighthouse Practice Management Group
"PracticeWorks" is a registered trademark of PracticeWorks, Inc.
Lighthouse Practice Management Group and its principals are not affiliated with PracticeWorks, Inc. in any way