December 6, 2003 to December 31, 2003

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.

To properly use this newsletter, you should first log into the Club web site directly from this newsletter. Once you are logged in, you can click on any of the links in this newsletter to jump directly to the article or download of interest. To start your web browser now and log into Club Lighthouse, click here! That will open up a browser window on your computer. You can then Alt-Tab back to this e-mail and select any link in this email. Clicking on the link in this email will cause that article or forum post to appear in the browser window (you will have to Alt-Tab BACK to that browser window to see it).

If you forgot your user name and/or password, send an email to joel@lighthouse-pmg.com



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


New Articles
Lighthouse New Patient Tracking System
Are you getting the most out of your marketing by getting the most out of your new patients? Valuable time and money could be wasted if your office isn’t retaining new patients.

Every new patient should have:

  • A treatment plan.
  • A "next appointment" for either recall or for treatment with the doctor. (Ideally, a new patient, or any patient for that matter, should never leave your office without another appointment.)
  • A "referral source" indicated on Page 2 of the Clipboard. (This is critical for your internal marketing system as well as tracking any external marketing.)

The Lighthouse New Patient Tracking System will not only show you how your office is currently handling these matters, but it will also be used to make sure that all the appropriate steps are being taken to retain new patients.

 

Lab Case Management in a Chartless Environment
Several versions ago, PracticeWorks® added a feature for alerting you if an appointment is coming up soon with an outstanding lab case. When properly set-up, this feature works very well. But that's all it does - alerts you to pending problems. The Lighthouse Lab Case Tracking System can be used in conjunction with, or instead of, the built in system. It will create all written correspondence to the Lab (i.e., generate the actual Lab Slip), while permanently noting in the chart all details concerning the case. It can be used for fixed and removable restorations. This article will describe each component and explain how to install and use the system.

 

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

Various Analysis Experts
Version: 9-4-2003
A collection of Analysis Experts for all kinds of things. Download the whole file and install just the ones you want. The current list is:

  • -Collections for a month, by day of month
  • -Production for a month, by day of month
  • -Appointment time analysis, for hygiene and doctor appointments
  • UPDATED on 6-17-2003: 12 Months Monitors
  • ADDED on 6-27-2003: Referral Report
  • ADDED on 8-8-2003: Insured Party count by Ins Co.
  • UPDATED on 8-18-2003: Split "Checks" column into "Ptn checks" and "Ins checks" on Deposits by Day of Month
  • ADDED on 9-4-2003: Patient Turnover Analysis

    Appointment confirmation tools
    Version: 12-13-2003
    Several Contact Experts to help you confirm appointments: -Appt reminders for 1 week (to send postcards to) -Two CE's, each for confirming 1/2 the alphabet, so two people can confirm simultaneously. -A CE showing all hygiene appointments for one day, showing last BWX, last pan/FMX, last prophy, last periodic exam, last comprehensive exam. To help prepare for the day. -A CE listing all appointments for one day, w/ home and work #'s. To print and take home, to confirm at night.

    New Patient Tracking CE
    Version: 12-09-2003
    A Contact Expert of all new patients in a date range, showing the type of the first appointment, the last recall date (if any), the patient's next appointment (if any), and whether or not the patient has a treatment plan. Click here to read the article that describes this system in detail.

    Appts w/ XXXX scheduled
    Version: 12-12-2003
    A Contact Expert of all future appointments with the code XXXX scheduled. XXXX can be an ADA code number (3 or 4 digits) or an abbreviation, such as PFMCRN. It finds ALL future appointments for any patient who has ANY appointment with XXXX scheduled - no way around that. So if Joe Schmoe has two future appointments, and one of them contains XXXX, you'll see both appointments, and you'll have to determine which one has XXXX.

    Study model box tracking system
    Version: 12-13-2003
    A Form for recording the box number of a patient's study models, an AutoLink on the Clipboard [Actions] button to access the Form, and two Contact Experts: one to see the box number for all patients on a given day, the other to see what box numbers are currently available.

    Recall Analysis Expert
    Version: 12-16-2003
    An Analysis Expert that shows a lot of information about the hygiene department. Modified on 12/16/2003 to allow you to run it for only one hygienist.

    Lab Case Tracking System
    Version: 1.0
    PracticeWorks® has a system for knowing when an appointment has a Lab Case necessary to make the appointment possible. This feature was enabled many versions back, and with appropriate set-up it can greatly assist the office by providing the necessary notification of upcoming appointments with no lab case present in the building. The Lighthouse Lab Case Tracking System can be used in conjuction with this built in funtion or used instead of the out of the box feature. It will create all written correspondence to the Lab (generate the actual Lab Slip) while permanently noting in the chart all issues concerning the case. LH Lab Case Tracking can be used for Fixed and Removeable restorations. This article will describe each component and how to use the overall system in your practice.



    • 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

    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)

    Going chartless

    Club Lighthouse

    General discussion (Lighthouse)

    The Suggestion Box



    Seminar schedule

    We are pleased to announce the next two dates in the Lighthouse "Illumination Seminar Series." This very popular 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!

    • Costa Mesa, CA - January 30 - 31 (Facilities / Disneyland!)
    • Tampa, FL - February 27 - 28 (Facilities)

    For more information, download the seminar brochure in PDF format by clicking 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 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