The Huddle is Worthless Unless It's In Your Head

Docs: Prep for Your Day

The point of a morning huddle is to help the team prepare for your day, but for many practices they have become an empty routine. 

Dr. MacInnis makes it clear here that there is no way for a dentist or hygienist to prosper without solid preparation, a mental mise en place in the mind of the individual producer first thing in the day.

Orient yourself within the schedule looking for weak links in booking. Get a feel for the timing. Where can you best fit in your hygiene checks, emergencies, etc?

Your team will follow your lead and you will do it all with less wasted buffer time.

Control your schedule for the good of the patients, the team, and the bottom line. start by making your morning preparation a personal responsibility.

How Assistants and Front Desk Prepare

The support team, the assistants and front desk, have their own preparations to make. It's important for the support team to take some time at the beginning of the shift to understand the who, when, and where of each day.

They must prepare: 

Financial arrangements

Treatment pending   

Insurance particulars

Personal note cards for each patient (for the doctor to read before each check)   

Understand which rooms are available and when, based on the on the whole office’s schedule throughout the shift