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The voice of the Washington State Dental Association
news
BEHIND THE SCENES THE WDIA TEAM HAS MORE TALENT THAN YOU IMAGINED Also in this issue: SERVING NATIONALLY: WSDA MEMBERS MAKE th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org · 1 THEIR MARK
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C O N S TA N T I N E B U I L D E R S . C O M 2 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org
Hail, Hail, the gang’s (almost) all here. WDIA staffers smile for the camera. Left to right: Paddy Moran, Dru Romero, Matt French, Megan French, Kristin Cappellano, Kerri Seims, and Melissa Castle
WSDA news Cover story by Rob Bahnsen Cover photo by Jordan Stead
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editorial
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guest editorial
6-7
regulatory news
8-9
dental action day news
10-17
cover story
18-19
pndc news
20-21, 26-27
member news
28-29
ce news
issue 3 · january 2017
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nordic news
33
clinical corner
36-37
endorsed company news
38 newsflash 38
letters to the editor
39, 41, 43, 45 40, 42 46
classifieds in memoriam first person: dr. stephen lee
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateDentalAssociation WSDA News Editor Dr. Mar y Jennings
Dr. Ashley L. Ulmer Dr. Amy M. Winston
Continuing Education and Events Coordinator Sarah Quigley
Editorial Advisor y Board Dr. Brittany Dean Dr. John Evans Dr. Julie Kellogg Dr. Stephen Lee Dr. Joseph Vaughn
WSDA Staff:
Membership Ser vices Coordinator Rachel Gunderson
Washington State Dental Association Dr. Bernard J. Larson, President Dr. Cynthia R. Pauley, President-elect Dr. Nathan G. Russell, Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Bryan C. Edgar, Immediate Past President Board of Directors Dr. Theodore M. Baer Dr. Marissa N. Bender Dr. Dennis L. Bradshaw Dr. Christopher R. Delecki Dr. Linda J. Edgar Dr. Todd R. Irwin Dr. Christine L. Kirchner Dr. Eric J. Kvinsland Dr. Randall H. Ogata Dr. James W. Reid
Executive Director Bracken Killpack Assistant Executive Director Kainoa Trot ter Controller Peter Aaron Director of Government Affairs Mellani McAleenan Director of Operations Brenda Berlin
Membership and Communications Coordinator Emma Brown Bookkeeper Joline Hartman Administration and Financial Coordinator Tom Harshbarger Association Of fice: (206) 448 -1914 Fax: (206) 443 -9266 Toll Free Number: (800) 448 - 3368 E- mail/web: info@ wsda.org/wsda.org
Ar t Director/Managing Editor Robert Bahnsen Director of Continuing Education and Events Emily Rademacher, CMP Government Affairs Associate Emily Lovell
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In the event of a natural disaster that takes down the WSDA web site and email accounts, the WSDA has established a separate email address. Should an emergency occur, members can contact washstatedental@gmail.com. The WSDA N ews is pub lishe d 8 time s ye arl y by t he Washington State Dental Association. Copyright © 2017 by the Washington State Dental Association, all rights reser ved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not express the opinions of the WSDA, unless the Association has adopted such statements or opinions. Subscription price is $65 plus sales tax per year for 8 issues of the News. Foreign rate is $97.92 per year. Advertising is published as a service to readers; the editor reserves the right to accept, reject, discontinue or edit any advertising offered for publication. Publication of advertising materials is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either the advertiser or product. Communications intended for publication, business matters and advertising should be sent to the WSDA Office, 126 NW Canal Street, Seattle, Wash. 98107. ISSN 1064-0835 Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors. Winner: 2016: Platinum Pencil Award, 2015: Platinum Pencil Award Honorable Mention, 2014: ADA Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Diversit y and Inclusion, 2013: Journalism Award, Platinum Pencil, 2012: Journalism Award, Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2012: Platinum Pencil Award Honorable Mention (2), 2008: Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2007 Platinum Pen Award, 2006 Honorable Mention, 2005 Platinum Pencil Award, 2005 Publication Award; International College of Dentists
table of contents issue 3, januar y 2017
a day in the life
editorial dr. brittany dean
State needs to improve access to adult dental care
Dr. Brittany Dean WSDA Editorial Board
“During my years of work in a community health center, our Medicaid patients had to wait three to six months for an exam and often months between treatment appointments. This effectively encourages these patients to ignore their preventive care needs.”
Dr. Mary Jennings, WSDA News editor, welcomes comments and letters from readers. Contact her at her email address:mjenningsdds@gmail.com.
For four days last October, Seattle’s Key Arena was transformed into a massive dental clinic. Volunteers from across the state - dentists, hygienists, and other skilled practitioners - took over a floor usually reserved for rock bands or basketball teams to provide dental care for more than 3,000 low-income patients. These committed dental professionals provided patients with everything from so-called routine services like cleanings and fillings to more complex procedures, such as extractions, root canals, and crowns. As a dentist, I can say this event was both professionally and personally rewarding. Nearly all the patients we treated were adults, and many had not visited a dentist in years. The state of Washington has done an admirable job in adequately covering pediatric dental services through Apple Health, the state’s Medicaid system. As a result, children from low-income families are more likely to receive the oral care they need for healthy growth and development. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for adults. Despite critical expansion of services covered by adult dental Medicaid, Washington’s reimbursement rates are so low that often they don’t even cover the overhead costs for a dentist to see a patient. As a result, patients with Medicaid coverage continue to have difficulty finding providers who will take their insurance. During my years of work in a community health center, our Medicaid patients had to wait three to six months for an exam, and often months between treatment appointments. This effectively encourages these patients to ignore their preventive care needs and instead only seek treatment when serious - and expensive - conditions arise. The same can be said for many adults who aren’t low income, but for various reasons either don’t have dental benefits or what they have offers little coverage for even preventive care visits. From a medical perspective, this is a troubling trend. Routine dental care is about more than just avoiding painful oral health problems. As with children, there’s a strong correlation between oral health and overall health among adults. A patient’s mouth can provide early indicators of serious problems, such as blood or eating disorders. Study after study has found that major chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease share common risk factors with oral diseases. In other words, providing better coverage for oral health services is a smart investment that not only helps patients today, but also can help identify and head off more serious problems down the road. Across our state, in community clinics and in their own offices, dentists routinely work with patients to ensure that a lack of funds or dental insurance does not prevent them from receiving the care they need. So dentists end up providing millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of hours of uncompensated and discounted care to low-income individuals. Dentists see this as part of their professional commitment to maintaining and enhancing the overall health of the patients and communities they serve. However, expecting the burden to be shouldered by the charitable efforts of any one profession alone is not a responsible way for the state to provide dental services for its residents. In order to ensure that there are dental resources for all citizens, the state needs to step up and reformadult oral health care coverage for low-income adults the same way it has for children. There may always be a need for events like the one at KeyArena to help care for our low-income neighbors, and Washington’s dentists are committed to doing their part to make events like that a success. But wouldn’t it be better if the state provided solutions to get more Medicaid patients connected with ongoing dental services, supporting a transition to ongoing health, rather than having patients wait for a once-a-year event to see a dentist? Dr. Brittany Dean is a dentist from Edmonds. She served as one of the dental coordinators for the Seattle/King County Clinic held in October at Key Arena.
The views expressed in all WSDA publications are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of the WSDA.
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It’s an honor to write to the members of the Washington State Dental Association as president of the Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency (WDIA). In this issue of the WSDA News, you will get to know some of our WDIA staff and read insights into many of the lines of insurance that WDIA offers to dentists and their staff. It’s important to note that the relationship between WDIA and WSDA is one that benefits our association, its’ members, and our profession in many ways. In any business, you have three major considerations: people, process, and product. At WDIA, we strive for excellence in all three areas, and the WDIA Board prides itself on ensuring WDIA is providing excellent service to our clients. It has been a pleasure to serve on the WDIA Board of Directors for the last six years, and work with dental leaders from across the state. Your WDIA Board of Directors wants to hear about your experiences with WDIA, and what we can do to be of even better service to you. The current WDIA directors, in addition to myself, are Drs. Amir Ganji from Spokane, Mark Johnson from Vancouver, Eric Kvinsland from Gig Harbor, Nathan Russell from Bainbridge Island, and Doug Walsh from Seattle, as well as WSDA Executive Director Bracken Killpack. WDIA was not created to be a profit center, but rather a member service. WDIA’s staff is paid to do what’s best for our membership, not its bottom line. There’s a big difference between WDIA and outside brokers. Matt French and Kerri Seims have strong connections within the dental community and are here to find insurance solutions that are right for you. They are not here to pressure you into a product with the highest commission. If you have questions regarding your insurance benefits and policies, or whether your current coverage is at an appropriate level, talk with them, ask them questions, and, if necessary, schedule an appointment to chat with them face to face. The products WDIA offers are extensive. WDIA can meet all your insurance needs from professional to personal coverage, aside from home and auto insurance. I like to say “we’ve got you covered.” WDIA provides disability coverage (personal, business overhead, and business loan protection), life insurance, medical insurance (group, individual, and Medicare), long-term care, and professional liability and business owners policies. We work with a variety of insurance carriers, including Guardian, Principal, Banner, Prudential, Regence, Group Health, Premera, and NORDIC. Our team regularly reviews the insurance products that WDIA offers to ensure they meet the needs and demands of dentists. WSDA owns 100 percent of Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency. As the for-profit arm of the WSDA, WDIA provides a stabilized income stream to WSDA and many other dental organizations. WDIA is regularly a major sponsor of dental activities, including the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference, WSDA House of Delegates, Dental Action Day, component society foundation fundraisers, and component society continuing education events. WDIA also regularly supports the University of Washington School of Dentistry and its students, the Washington Academy of General Dentistry, and dental publications throughout the state. Additionally, WDIA is the majority owner of 126 Canal Centre, the Association’s headquarters in Seattle. WDIA regularly and significantly supports the activities and interests of the dental profession in our state. The WDIA staff and Board of Directors are continually working to improve how we serve our clients and the dental profession. Thank you for supporting WDIA and helping WDIA support organized dentistry.
Dr. Princy Rekhi President, WDIA Board
“WDIA was not created to be a profit center but rather a member service. WDIA’s staff is paid to do what’s best for our membership, not its bottom line.”
The views expressed in all WSDA publications are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of the WSDA.
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guest editorial wdia president dr. princy rekhi
The important relationship between WDIA and WSDA
regulator y news in-office dental wellness plans get the green light
Advocacy news
GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT: WSDA’S ADVOCACY TEAM WORKS WITH THE OIC TO CREATE A PATH FOR WELLNESS PLANS 66 ·· th thee wsda wsda ne new wss ·· issue issue 3, 3, januar januaryy ·· 2017 2017 ·· www.wsda.org www.wsda.org
dental care and also prioritize prevention. WSDA sought to find a path forward for dental wellness plans that complied with all OIC regulations. Yen, a WSDA member who has spent considerable time creating dental wellness plans, worked with WSDA leaders and staff to develop a new way that did not include prepayment or any sort of membership fee.
The OIC’s concerns with some dental wellness plans
As expected, Yen did not disappoint. WSDA worked with Yen and Pauley to provide advance materials and prepare for a meeting to discuss the matter. At the December meeting with OIC, the team outlined the goal of providing an alternative consumer choice for dental care in today’s consumer-driven healthcare marketplace and establishing guidelines for prevention-based dental care programs. Experience has shown that in-office discounts and treatment credits incentivize use of prevention-based programs by patients by enhancing the sense of belonging to a dental home and encouraging return visits. The model that was proposed to OIC called for the use of inoffice vouchers or certificates that can be given to patients after their first annual visit to a dental office. These certificates can be customized for preventive care, restorative care, or other services, and include “percentage off” discounts for treatment or a credit for a specific dollar amount. The certificates can also include specific expiration dates, and the same voucher system can be re-created in future years. After deliberating upon the materials presented at the meeting, OIC sent official word to WSDA that the proposed payment model did not raise any regulatory concerns and had the green light to proceed. Thanks to the hard work and creativity of Yen and other WSDA advocates, modified wellness plans will remain a viable alternative to traditional dental benefits, and an option to attract and retain patients. Look for more information about dental wellness plans from WSDA in the months ahead. Questions can be directed to bracken@wsda.org.
In recent months, WSDA learned that the OIC had been investigating discount dental wellness plans that some dentists offer to their patients. The OIC investigations are generally complaintdriven, and when the office finds a program out of compliance with state law, it normally sends a cease-and-desist letter to the provider. WSDA’s advocacy team reached out to the OIC’s Legislative Director and Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs to learn more about the OIC’s concerns, and how dentists might restructure their programs to address them. While OIC understands and appreciates the goal dentists have to provide access to affordable care, it believes that some wellness plans do not comply with state law. Current law states that a provider (medical, dental, chiropractic, etc.) cannot offer discounts for a membership fee. Those arrangements are considered “discount plans,” which must follow specific laws and require registration and licensure as a “discount plan organization.” OIC believes that providers cannot offer a subscription type of program because it is considered to be prepayment for medical services, and prepaid medical services are considered insurance that would be subject to the same regulation as insurance companies. There is a very limited circumstance in which this is allowed for medical care. WSDA strongly believes that patients should benefit from a robust, diverse dental benefits market where patients can choose the type of dental benefit that is right for their situation. Dental wellness plans can provide a venue for patients to obtain necessary
The new way
WELLNESS PLAN FAQs · BY DR. GREG YEN Q. What is an in-office annual dental wellness plan?
A. It is a self-administered program that any dental office can directly offer to the uninsured public.
Q. What format is allowed?
A. The OIC has strongly prohibited any pre-payment format (i.e., prepay X amount for X number of annual services) or pay-for-your-discount format (i.e., pay X amount for X percent discount off all practice services). The easiest way to think about it is a “ buy one, get one at X percent off ” format (i.e., buy your PEX at full price and get a free voucher for your sixmonth PE at X percent off, expiring in six months). Include a free X percent off voucher for all other dental services, a free $ X in-office treatment gift card, and any other incentive vouchers your office can create. All expire in 12 months.
Q. Why make the vouchers expire in 12 months?
A. You want the patient to think of your program in annual terms. We suggest your brochures and website read accordingly. You can also incentivize them to renew (i.e., after three consecutive years, get a free X ). Remember, you’re trying to build loyalty to your practice exclusively.
Q. What about “Most Favored Nation” clauses in PPO arrangements? A. Some PPO contracts have something called a “Most Favored Nation” clause, which prohibits offering a discount greater than the PPO. You would need to decide if that PPO or your autonomy is more valuable to your future.
Q. Anything else?
A. We suggest making the vouchers/certificates virtual (your front office keeps track), as keeping track of little pieces of paper and authenticating such paper is cumbersome. Most importantly of all, keep your program as simple as possible for you, your staff, and your patient’s sakes. Editor’s note: You can learn more about wellness plans from Dr. Yen at this year’s PNDC, where he will be speaking on Thursday.
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regulator y news in-office dental wellness plans get the green light
WSDA representatives met with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) in early December with one objective in mind: Come up with a plan to replace the “wellness plans” the OIC had determined were not consistent with Washington state insurance law. Grassroots advocates Drs. Greg Yen and Cindy Pauley (WSDA’s president-elect) worked with WSDA staff and contract lobbyists to build consensus for a path forward.
dental action day save the date · februar y 1
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W E D N E S D AY E B R UA RY 1 D E N TA L F REGISTER TODAY: ACTION
D A Y
wsdasource.org/events/dentalactionday
LEGISLATOR MEET & GREET Tuesday, January 31 · Waterstreet Cafe, Olympia
Everyone is welcome, come meet your legislators!
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PART GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, PART SOCIAL MEETING, ALL FUN. LEARN WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THIS YEAR Dental Action Day (DAD) is one of the WSDA’s biggest events of the year, a day for members to meet face-to-face with key legislators as constituents, flex their grassroots advocacy “muscles,” and speak from the heart about what is important to them, organized dentistry, and their patients. With issues like dental practice ownership and dental benefit reforms, face time has never been more important. This year, the event will take place at 8:30 a.m., Feb. 1 in the big white tent on the capitol lawn in Olympia. Additionally, there will be a legislator meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 at Waterstreet Café, located across from Heritage Park and Capitol Lake. For more information, visit wsdasource.org/events/dentalactionday.
Become a grassroots advocate
Of course, the real goal is to get dentists involved in advocacy year-round, since meeting legislators in their district is even more compelling than meeting them while they’re in session. Dr. Amy Winston, a regular DAD-attendee, said, “Dental Action Day is important because it provides valuable time between WSDA members and their elected officials. We want the legislators to know who we are, and why our legislative agenda is so critical to the wellbeing of our patients. Creating a personal connection between a dentist and a legislator is perhaps the most effective way to promote understanding and support of our issues. It would be so fantastic if every legislator had a constituent dentist that he or she sought for advice as dental bills come up. Dental Action Day lays a foundation for that type of relationship.” For those of you who haven’t attended, we get it, it can seem daunting. Meeting legislators in the hallowed halls of the state capitol for the first time can make even the most articulate person a little nervous. The good news is, you’re in a group and there will always be a seasoned dentist in attendance, so you’ll be free to talk or simply listen in. Dr. Stephen Lee understands the reticence to get involved, saying, “Every dentist should go at least once, even if you’d rather let the other dentists do the talking. It’s a great lesson in civics.” Second-year UWSoD student Julian Nguyen encourages all of his classmates to attend, saying, “When I went for the first time last year, I wasn’t sure what to expect, other than a fun field trip. But when I got to Olympia, I realized the impact of the day. Legislators were sincerely interested in what students had to say. We went armed with an agenda of issues to discuss, and they seemed ready to listen to our perspective. It was a great experience.”
Social fun, too
But Dental Action Day holds wide appeal and isn’t just for political wonks. There’s an important social aspect to attending, and the mix of seasoned dentists and dental students creates a synergy that both groups enjoy. Said Lee, “While meetings with legisla-
tors are the primary reason for Dental Action Day, the morning seminar is a great update on the political landscape in Olympia, and the time between meetings offers a chance to socialize with colleagues from your area that you might not have met before. On top of that, the UW dental students bring a burst of energy to the day. I always leave feeling more informed and more hopeful about the future of dentistry.” Kathie Wang, a third-year dental student at the USWSoD, said, “What students might not initially see is that DAD is a great social event. Everyone at DAD is easygoing, having a good time, and getting to know each other. We get to work as a group to communicate our passion for dentistry to legislators. It’s a powerful feeling when students and dentists both share an equal voice and a common goal.” WSDA Board of Directors member Dr. Linda Edgar agrees. Edgar is a seasoned advocacy pro, often meeting with legislators when they’re not in session, but she likes the social aspects of the day, saying, “Dental Action Day is also very fun! We meet in a large heated tent and have scarves we wear that show our solidarity while we walk to legislators’ offices. You have a chance to connect with dentists who come from all across the state. Dental students and Dean Berg often come in mass. We are fed a wonderful breakfast and lunch. We are provided information to hand out to offices we visit. The staff works very hard to prepare us, and we go in groups to legislators’ offices. Staff sets up the appointments. If you are new to the process, it is easy to shadow someone.” Winston, too, appreciates the camaraderie of the day, saying, “I especially enjoy connecting with fellow WSDA members throughout the state. Other than PNDC and the HOD, there are not many opportunities to catch up with our friends from all over Washington. Dental Action Day serves as a great reminder that we all face similar issues in our practices, and decisions in Olympia affect our entire membership. I love the feeling of unification that Dental Action Day brings.”
Just attend!
Whether you come for the social aspects of the day, the chance to speak directly with legislators from your district, or a combination of both, it’s an event that you’ll enjoy. The WSDA staff works tirelessly to make the day easy, productive, and fun. If you live in the Olympia area, or plan to be in the area early, don’t forget about the meet-and-greet the night before. Get information and register for both events today at wsdasource.org/events/dentalactionday.
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dental action day why you should attend
DENTAL ACTION DAY:
cover stor y the wdia team
BEHIND THE SCENES THE WDIA TEAM HAS MORE TALENT THAN YOU IMAGINE
Photo of Matt French and Kerri Seims by Jordan Stead
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cover stor y the wdia team The Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency was formed in 1990 to provide insurance services for dentists, their families, and their staff. In that time WDIA has become a highly respected specialty agency catering to the needs of dentists. And while the WSDA News often runs stories about WDIA and the products it sells, we don’t tell you enough about the dedicated staff working behind the scenes to ensure that all your policy needs are being met. In this issue, we’ll introduce you to: Matthew French, WDIA’s Director of Insurance; Kerri Seims, WDIA’s Assistant Director of Insurance; and the agency’s two Medical Specialists, Padraic “Paddy” Moran and Drucille Romero. They, and the remaining WDIA staffers (whom you’ll meet in another issue of the News), are a convivial, tight group. Moran will often whip up breakfast or a snack to share with his cohorts, and you’d be hard pressed to find a day when the group isn’t laughing together while working. It’s important because, believe it or not, insurance can be a very stressful, personalitydriven business. WDIA is lucky to have such a focused, friendly, and loyal group working on its behalf. But just as importantly, as you’ll see here, each person has something personally satisfying that they do outside of work, something you might find completely surprising.
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cover stor y the wdia team
The rocker within
Padraic “Paddy” Moran has been with WDIA for almost two years. Warm and articulate, he’s also the lead singer/guitarist/drummer in an edgy band that played 35 shows last year. When asked to describe their style, he said, “We’re loud, but we all like different types of music. We’re consistently intense, and we like to experiment with different styles in our songs. We have dance songs, surf punk songs and punk songs, but we try to vary it as much as we can.” His band is called Actionesse (“a mash-up of action and finesse,” says Moran), and it’s a name chosen on the fly. “We had our first show, and they asked what we were called and we didn’t have a name. That began the process of going through tons and tons of terrible names until somebody came up with a name we can’t print, but it had ‘action’ in it, so someone said, ‘What about Action…ness?’” he explains. “There’s no relation to the band, it’s really random. There were so many other bad names.” Moran and his bandmates all play multiple instruments, and most sing, so the band is constantly mixing things up. Everyone writes songs for the group, although one member handles the lion’s share. Moran oversees the business side, including the management and bookings for the band. “It feels really good to line up a good offer,” he says. “It’s that same feeling people get when they succeed at their job, especially if I’ve had to work to put everything together.” But it makes you wonder. Here’s this young guy, living the dream. Mondays have got to be the worst, right? Incredibly, no. Moran enjoys the intensity and moving parts of insurance, too. Maybe it’s because, in some ways, his day job parallels the intensity of his music.
Stimulating work
At WDIA, Moran is a main point of contact for medical insurance sales, serves as a liaison between clients and their medical carriers, keeps clients updated on their policies, processes paperwork, and interprets forms. It’s not a slow-paced job. “A typical day goes by very fast. I’m stimulated by the work I’m doing with my clients, as well as by the interactions I have with coworkers,” he says. For Moran, that’s the best part of the job. He explains, “The association and the agency have great staff. They’re all fun and respectful, and that’s extremely important to me. I feel really comfortable, and I have a good, friendly relationship with upper management.” Like many of us, Moran has worked at places where the leadership isn’t really interested in leading or getting to know their staff, but he says WDIA is different. Recently, his work at WDIA was central to a series of conversations he was having with his fiancée. He explains, “She and I have talked a lot lately about whether we’d rather live to work or work to live. I’m in a point of transition right now because I used to think that I wanted to live to work, and that work is music. And now I’m wondering if working to live isn’t a better choice. One thing about this job that I love is
that it is challenging and mentally stimulating, which are two things I require. I have a great schedule, work with good people, I understand the work that I do. It’s a good place to be so that I can pursue music outside of my time here. As far as where the band is headed, I have no idea what will happen because things happen randomly with the band. But it could well be an interesting year.” We wondered, are there any frustrations with his work at WDIA? Interestingly, they’re all external. “Sometimes working with the carriers can be frustrating because they hold us and our clients to extremely strict deadlines, and getting an extension can be impossible,” says Moran. “But the carriers aren’t held to the same standard, which can be frustrating.”
Good things come in small packages
At just over 5 feet tall, Kerri Seims packs a big punch. She has a wicked sense of humor and a big, genuine laugh that seems better suited to someone twice her size. Seims always seems to be poised on the edge of a smile, ready to recount a story and break out that trademark laugh. But be forewarned. If her beloved Sounders didn’t win the night before, watch out. She’ll still be professional, but it may take her a minute to warm up. Sounders losses are her kryptonite.
A busy child
As a kid, there were few sports Seims didn’t play. “My mother used to say I was a very ‘busy’ child, which was her code word for hyperactive,” Seims says, laughing. “My brother was very mellow, and I made up for all of that. I was in ballet and tap until I was 10, but switched to gymnastics because I couldn’t keep my shoulders down. I was in T-ball, then softball, played soccer at 5, skied, played tennis, and even skated.” Seims played soccer at Western Washington University, and continued to play indoor and outdoor soccer into her 30s, when she discovered that it hurt more when she fell down, and she’d rather watch than play. So while she still considers herself a “games person,” she’s content to see a live game or perch on her sofa with her longtime boyfriend. And yes, she’s a Seahawks fan, but there’s a more complicated narrative involving Brett Favre and Matt Ryan that, given the Hawks’ recent playoff loss to the Falcons, we won’t talk about. Like Moran, Seims never thought she’d be in the insurance business. As many WSDA News readers know, her father, Dr. Rich Seims, was a dentist, and Seims worked in his practice on and off for years to make extra money. “I tell people I’ve been around dentistry my whole life. I worked in my dad’s practice as a dental sterilization technician the summers before my sophomore and junior years of college, and I also worked as an assistant, back when assistants weren’t required to register,” she says. Rounding
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A product you can’t see
At first, Seims didn’t like the idea of selling insurance. “I used to hate the idea of selling a product that you’ll probably never use. Insurance is a product you can’t see, and yet, you need it. Growing up I hated car insurance and health insurance. But as I got older and realized that things do happen, I realized how important it is, but I never thought I would sell it,” she says. “What I love is that I still work in dentistry without working ‘in’ dentistry. I get to know people quite a bit more in this business than I did in transitions, because as the closer I typically worked with banks, accountants, and attorneys. I never got into the depths of dentist’s lives and families. I really enjoy talking with people and getting to know them, discovering where they’re from, what they want to do, what their plans are with their practice.” Because of her decade in transitions, Seims can tell dentists what to expect and advise them on the transition side of the process and the insurance aspects. “I know, for instance, that the insurance process can take six to eight weeks, and that it needs to be started early,” she says. “I used to give Dick Cavaliere, WDIA’s former Director of Insurance, a hard time and call him every day and say, ‘Is that policy ready? What’s the hold up with the policy?’ Then I started selling insurance. A month into my work with WDIA, I called Dick and apologized. I never realized how time-
consuming the business is. And now, transition companies call me wanting policies at the last minute, so I’ve seen it from all sides.”
Conversationalist
Seims says every day is different, but starts out the same. Like everyone at WDIA, she checks email and voice messages, assesses and prioritizes her workload, and gets down to business. Fortunately for her, she enjoys interacting. “I’ve always been chatty, but I also know when to listen, so it balances out. I’m a people pleaser,” Seims says. “I spend a lot of time on the phone, talking with clients, answering questions, reviewing their health history. On the other end, we have to deal with carriers, their questions, getting offers from carriers and discussing those with our clients, and, finally, delivering policies. At any given time, I’m working with 30 or 40 people in different stages.” With so many balls in the air at once, it helps that Seims is a self-professed Type A personality. “I like things to be just so, and I’m very orderly,” she says. “I think a lot of dentists are the same way, so we’re able to connect on that level, too.”
Small town girl
Medical Specialist Drucille “Dru” Romero recently celebrated her fiveyear anniversary with the agency. She grew up in a house in a pear orchard in tiny Cashmere, Wash. (population 3,100), where her dad worked in gold mining, and her mother was a schoolteacher. After earning her associate’s degree at Wenatchee Valley College, Romero made her way to Seattle, bringing her small-town, can-do work ethic with her. It’s part of the reason she fits in so well with the WDIA family. Before coming to WDIA, Romero held administrative positions with Trendwest Resorts and a MulvannG2 Architecture in Bellevue, roles she says helped prepare her for her current work. “The admin roles I had provided the building blocks for the kind of customer service I provide here. I like the work that I do on the medical side, and I’m good at it,” she says. Romero spends about 90 percent of her day on the phone, helping customers with questions about medical insurance needs or issues. She’s currently working on group renewals and prospects, open enrollment for individuals, and Medicare. For the most part, her role centers around work with group insurance policies. She recently began doing field work outside the office, and it’s opening up a whole new world for her. “I’m meeting with clients in their practice, which is so different than Photos, opposite page, top to bottom: Paddy Moran rocks out, one of Dru Romero’s shots. Photos this page, top to bottom, Matt and Megan French with their son, Liam, Kerri Seims with her father, Dr. Rich Seims
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out her experience, Seims also covered the front office, confirming appointments. Her dad retired from dentistry and went on to become a leader in the transition business with his own company, Seims and Associates. At the same time, Seims was studying speech pathology and audiology at Western, and dreamed of one day teaching deaf children. Like so many others, Seims held a variety of small jobs after graduating, and still hadn’t found her place when a call from her father changed her path forever. He wanted her to join him in the transition business, but she was wary. They’d always been close, and she didn’t want to do anything that could damage their relationship. So the pair struck a deal: They would try it for 6 months and make sure it was working for both of them. Six months became 10 years, and Seims had become the closer for the company. She was more connected to dentistry then she’d ever thought possible. Her dad sold the company, the recession hit, and Seims was laid off. She was seriously considering a career change when a conversation between Matt French and her father turned something up. French was looking for a new salesperson, and he recognized the value someone like Seims would have. “Matt pointed out that I knew the majority of the dentists and the industry,” Seims says, “so I shadowed him for a while, took the broker’s test, and began to work on my own with WDIA in 2010.”
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talking with them on the phone. It’s all new territory for me,” she says. “It was a little intimidating at first, but I’m getting used to the setting. I like the face-to-face interaction, and I like meeting the staff I have talked with on the phone.” Romero is seeing the fruits of her labors, too, saying, “I’ve begun to build relationships with the different offices, and they’re now comfortable coming to me to ask for help, and they’re confident that I will have the answers they need. That is so satisfying.” What’s not so satisfying, she says, is having to pester her clients because of deadlines imposed by the carriers, but it comes with the territory.
A helping hand
Romero discovered her outside interest quite by accident. Though she’d always enjoyed photography, it wasn’t until a friend gave her an SLR camera that she really began to explore how it could become her creative outlet. While still in Cashmere, she learned that some of the Hispanic high school students couldn’t afford the traditional professional senior photography that the other kids could, so she offered to help them out by taking their photos for free. Photography became her niche, and she continued to hone her skills and build her portfolio. Her sister owns a dance studio in Wenatchee, and Romero began to take pictures there, as well, further growing her business (Photos by Drucille) and cementing her reputation in the community. Five years ago she made the leap to the holy grail of portrait photography: weddings. It’s tough work, she says, because the subjects are emotional, and photographers only have one chance to get it right. Romero says that her first wedding was “a beast,” but now she understands how to prepare, and what she needs to do. Today, her favorite type of work is portrait photography – seniors, dancers, weddings – and she has a growing list of clients in Seattle and Central Washington. This winter and spring, Romero will add “instructor” to her list of accomplishments, as she becomes a teacher’s assistant for the photography certification program at the UW.
Diagnosing and serving
Although Matt French has been WDIA’s Director of Insurance Services for 10 years, he started out with the WSDA 15 years ago, serving alongside the late Marilyn Sweeney as the exhibits manager for the PNDC. At the same time, French was known to help out on side projects, such as writing code for the WSDA’s second- generation website. It was a skill, like so many others, that he picked up on his own. Since he was a youngster, French had the knack for analyzing things, dismantling them, and putting them back together. Well, at the beginning, he wasn’t so good at the “putting back together” part. He explains, “When I was a young child, I would take apart doorknobs and clock radios, anything I could get my hands on. For a long time, I just broke things, which didn’t make my parents really happy. Then, when I was about 9, my mother wanted to go someplace in the car, but it wouldn’t start. My dad was out of town, so I told my mom I would take a look at it. As I recall, it was something simple and obvious, but I was able to figure it out and get the car running.” That love of cars and engines grew over the years, through his friends and their fathers. French learned how to replace brakes, and starters, and then how to tear apart an engine and reassemble it. With each experience his skills grew, as did his analytic abilities. Now, French always has a project car (or two) in the garage. He buys and fixes them to sell, and while he doesn’t recoup the time that he puts into the vehicles, the work brings him immense satisfaction, eases stress, and keeps him close to home. “I love finding something that is broken and fixing it,” he says. “I love the satisfaction of hearing something run after I’ve fixed it, knowing that I’m the one who did it.” French takes that same skill set and applies it to his work at WDIA. He explains, “I feel the same way about business. The bones of it are the same. I find out what people need by listening to them, find the right product, get it to them, and get them on their way. But that’s what dentistry is about, too. Diagnosing, serving people, and making them better.”
The move to insurance
Like his colleagues, French never envisioned himself in the insurance industry. He had worked his way through college selling shoes at JC Penney, and was even their top salesman in the country at one point. He remembers telling his then-girlfriend, Megan (Megan French, now his wife and co-worker at WDIA), that he never wanted to have to wear a suit again, and that he wanted a job with little or no paperwork. “Look where I am today,” he says, with a laugh, “in a job with stacks of paperwork, where most days I wear a suit.” After college, French worked in trade show and meeting management with DECA, an association for high school students in marketing and business administration classes. After three years, French switched gears and taught English in China and Taiwan. And while the teaching stint was short-lived, French began to get a feel for what he wanted to do – serve people. When he returned home, his parents called. They owned several assisted-living facilities, and needed his help. They had always been there to support and help him, and he felt that it was his turn to repay the favor, so he moved to Vancouver and ran a facility for three years. While he didn’t like the 24/7 aspect of the work, or that it kept him hours away from Megan (who lived in Seattle), the experience really cemented his love of serving and helping people. After three years he moved to Seattle so the couple could be closer, and joined the WSDA. After working in his post for five years, he began conversations with Dick Cavaliere, then Director of Insurance Services for WDIA, about working beside him. “It was a great opportunity, and I had done all that I could with exhibit hall management, so I said yes,” says French. “Dick took me under his wing, literally. “He was something of an angel to me. He taught me everything I needed to know about serving people and taking care of clients. I went with him on ride-alongs, and meeting with clients for a few months, until he let me go on my own. I was very green at the time, and there were so many things unknown to me, so he stayed on to mentor and teach me. He gave me a lot of confidence. He was something of a father figure to all of us, and we all wanted to work hard for him because we respected him, and because he worked hard himself.” French, too, worked hard at learning the business of insurance. Cavaliere had 35 years of insurance industry knowledge that he was willing to share, but if he didn’t know an answer, he’d have French research it and get back to him so that he could learn, too. Those lessons are ones that French has passed on to his staff at WDIA. They see his work ethic in real time, they understand that he expects the same from them, and they know that he appreciates their dedication. Cavaliere’s mentoring has paid off for a new generation of workers.
Educating clients
French knows the business of insurance inside and out. He loves working with dentists because they share the same values and work ethic, and he takes the work seriously and personally. “Most of what we do involves educating our clients about the best policies for them, what they should purchase, and why,” he says. “It’s not as simple as just having them sign a piece of paper. It’s a process of building trust and understanding. We try to become them to get a feel for where they are in their life and practice, then we can determine what to recommend. Ultimately, it’s their decision, of course, but we try to guide them to make the best choice for their practice.” But French couldn’t do it alone. In addition to Seims, Moran, and Romero, Melissa Castle, Megan French, and Kristen Cappellano are the staff members who keep WDIA running smoothly. “My staff is amazing,” says French. “They are everything. They are the foundation of the agency. If you don’t have a good staff behind you, you have nothing. They’re the ones keeping you moving. We’ve been so lucky with our staff.” Call WDIA today to discuss your insurance needs at 800-2829342 or (206) 441-6824, or visit wdiains.com for information or to request a quote.
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PADDY & DRU
WDIA’S MEDICAL SPECIALISTS
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IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU A WSDA MEMBER WHO SURVIVED A DEVASTATING DISABILITY TELLS HIS STORY 1 6 路 th e wsda ne w s 路 issue 3, januar y 路 2017 路 www.wsda.org
Dr. Marsh had set out with his family to Seattle to attend a Seahawks game. His son wanted to drive, so Marsh spent four hours in the back seat with his knees bent. He explains what happened when they arrived in Seattle: “Shortly after I got out of the car, I fell down, tried to walk a little bit and then collapsed after I lost the ability to move the left side of my body.” A blood clot had formed in his right knee. Normally this happens when people fly long distances. The clot went through a tiny hole in his heart, which is very common. About 30 percent of the population have the same hole. It traveled from his leg to his heart, and then into his brain, where it blocked my middle cerebral artery on the right, causing a massive stroke. Marsh had no history of strokes in his family, and no reason to feel apprehensive about a drive to Seattle. The stroke left him unable to practice dentistry.
It could happen to anyone.
Marsh was lucky in that he was fully insured for disability through a policy endorsed by American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Insurance provided a lifeline for Marsh and his family. “Having disability insurance does give you a lot of freedom, which is lifesaving in a way. I didn’t have to go out and try to find a new profession to make ends meet,” he says. “I can pretty much do what I want now. The insurance helps the family a lot, and it helps you personally to make good decisions about what you want to do for the rest of your life. You should definitely never practice without a policy. People think that their risk is low, or that they will pay for any accidents out of savings, and that is insanity. The premiums can be expensive, but it’s critical to get, and if it lapses, to get it back quickly. I paid it for 25 years and never needed it, but all of a sudden I did, and it was there. What I discovered through my experience is that it could happen to anyone, anytime.”
Marsh says having disability insurance was only part of the solution. After his stroke he was hard pressed to find resources or services for disabled doctors. He explains, “When I was in the hospital, I asked my wife to find out what we should do because I had no idea. She called several professional organizations, including the ADA, and was told that they had nothing they could offer. They told her to call our doctor.” No one had guidelines for doctors facing disability. Had Marsh died or become an addict or an alcoholic, there would have been multiple programs and services from which to choose. He was on his own.
A fortuitous meeting
A couple of months after his stroke, Marsh had a meeting with Dr. Greg Ogata, past president of the WSDA. Many readers will recall that Ogata suffered a similar stroke at the 2012 WSDA House of Delegates. Like Marsh, Ogata was left disabled and unable to practice dentistry. Ogata’s friendship and guidance have been invaluable to Marsh, who says that while he has experienced ups and downs following his stroke, there were many down days. “The best thing for me was having Greg around to talk to,” says Marsh. “He was an orthodontist, and I was an oral surgeon. We have gone through very similar experiences, emotions, and frustrations. It has been a gigantic help to have another dentist to talk with about this, and we’ve become close over the last two years.” Marsh says Ogata helped him navigate through the emotional morass, and he hopes that he has been of similar help to his friend. “You’re never over this, you still have bad days,” says Marsh. “You just have to move on, which can be difficult in the dental environment. We’re Type A personalities, always on the go, and after a stroke, you can’t do that anymore. It’s been two years for me, and I’ve had to resign myself to the fact that this is where I am.”
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Moving forward
Marsh knew one thing: He wasn’t going to sit idly by. Because he had the freedom afforded by his disability insurance, he was able to stack his schedule with meaningful and fulfilling activities, as opposed to scrambling to continue to provide for his family. “I serve on the Committee on Budget and Finance at the WSDA. In addition, I teach dental students in Spokane for the UWSoD Ride program,” says Marsh. “I do a lot of things, none of them full time, but they keep me happy and active. On top of that, I started an organization to help disabled dentists; The American Association of Disabled Dentists. This March, Greg, Dr. Ted Baer, and I are making a presentation to pitch a nationwide disability protocol. The hope is that the next time somebody calls with a disability, the ADA will be able to direct them appropriately, and help them find someone they can talk to about the experience. We hope to be a lifeline for people going through the kinds of things we did. The topic of disability is so much more than insurance, although it’s an integral part of survival.” Visit Marsh’s website, disableddentists.org, for real help, support, and compassion if you or a friend becomes ill or injured.
Be prepared, call WDIA
Marsh was able to make the transition from working surgeon to disabled advocate and educator because he had the right disability insurance. He says that approximately 20 percent of all dentists do not have disability insurance, electing to hope for the best and fall back on savings. “It’s crazy to think that way,” says Marsh. “The stories I’ve heard are heartbreaking.” If you have questions concerning disability insurance, Contact Matt French or Kerri Seims with WDIA today at 800-2829342 or 206-441-6824.
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Dr. Ron Marsh was at the top of his game professionally. He had a thriving oral surgery group practice in the Tri-Cities. He was heavily involved in the practice, working as many as 60 hours a week at times. At just 58 years old, he had years of dental practice ahead of him. His life was on course until one ordinary day two years ago, when it was upended forever.
pndc news committee on pndc chair dr. carrie york
Meet
DR. CARRIE YORK Chair of the Committee on PNDC
Dr. York is a general dentist from Mercer Island, WA. When she’s not practicing dentistry, she leads a group of five other WSDA members and one dental hygienist who work year-round to bring fresh content and exciting changes to the PNDC each year.
“Happy new year to you all! The PNDC serves as gathering place for our members to reconnect with one another, strengthen our community as a dental profession, and provide affordable, high-quality CE, so that our members and their teams can continue to deliver the highest quality of care to their patients. You spoke and the committee listened — from an even further expanded Saturday schedule, to courses aimed at increasing the number of qualified dental assistants in our state, to how quickly our shuttles run, we have continued to improve the PNDC for all attendees. A conference program is on its way to you in the mail, and online registration is open now! Visit wsda.org/pndc today to register and explore our interactive course schedule. For now, read our PNDC highlights to get a first look at what’s new for 2017.” 2017 PACIFIC NORTHWEST DENTAL CONFERENCE Conference: June 15-17 | Exhibits: June 15-16 Bellevue, WA Register here: wsda.org/pndc pndc@wsda.org | (800) 448-3368 PRICING Purchase a Conference Badge and have your pick from more than 75 lectures. WSDA Members: $150-$250 Team Members $140-175 Non-ADA Members: $1,800 COMMITTEE ON PNDC Dr. Carrie York, Chair Dr. C.R. Anderegg, Jr. Dr. Chris Lee Dr. John Lo Dr. Joseph Luchini Dr. Kevin Suzuki Midge Carstensen, RDH
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A complete interactive course schedule can be found at wsda.org/pndc
UW Clinical Symposium: Led by Natasha Flake, DDS, PhD, MSD, this symposium will cover the cutting edge techniques being used to train “dentists of the future” at the UW School of Dentistry. UW affiliate faculty receive a discount. Endodontic Solutions · Gary Glassman, DDS Reliable, Successful Everyday Dentistry · John Kanca, DMD Points on Piercing: Oral Health Considerations · Betsy Reynolds, RDH The Art and Science of Full and Partial Dentures · Michael Johnson, DDS Anterior All Ceramics: From Case Selection to Cementation · John Nosti, DMD, FAGD, FACE The Stress Mess: The Impact of Stress on Health · Betsy Reynolds, RDH
EXPANDED DENTAL ASSISTING COURSES Dental Assisting 101 · Shannon Brinker, CDA From How…to WOW! · Lori Trost, DMD Complete Records Visit · Shannon Brinker, CDA Efficient and Predictable Provisionals · Lori Trost, DMD Assisting in Implant Surgery · Ellen Gambardella, CDA, RDA Wowing Patients From Our Side of the Chair · Shannon Brinker, CDA The Art of Exquisite Anterior, Posterior…Provisionals · Shannon Brinker, CDA
IMPROVED CONFERENCE LOGISTICS By popular request, we have made the following improvements to the PNDC experience. Expanded Lunch Breaks: We have expanded lunch hours on Thursday and Friday to give you more time to explore the Exhibit Hall and have lunch with your team. Breaks now run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday! Increased Shuttle Service: Get where you need to go, when you need to be there. We’ve invested in more shuttles to ensure reliable travel times between the Hyatt and Meydenbauer Center. th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org · 19
pndc news committee on pndc chair dr. carrie york
EVEN MORE SATURDAY COURSES
WPHP:
TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN WASHINGTON
In 1986, the Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP) was founded by concerned members of the Washington State Medical Association to provide substance abuse recovery and mental health services for healthcare professionals. Since that time, the assessment and monitoring programs provided by the organization have helped countless healthcare professionals get the help they need to practice free from addiction. WSDA News recently reached out to Dr. Chris Bundy, Medical Director for WPHP, to find out how the program works and to discuss the issues specific to dentists.
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addiction medicine, and holds a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. “We’re the therapeutic alternative for dentists and other health professionals who are experiencing impairment because of possible addiction or mental health issues,” he says. If you have concerns about a dentist’s ability to practice with reasonable safety, you can call WPHP, as opposed to calling the dental commission. Bundy says the WPHP is a safe haven for people to get an evaluation, treatment referral, and post-treatment monitoring without having to notify DQAC, unless the doctor in question is at risk of practicing impaired or is not willing to work with WPHP. Post-treatment monitoring includes random toxicology tests performed up to four times a month, weekly monitoring groups, and therapeutic monitoring in the event that people need either medical or mental health treatment. Additionally, Bundy says, “Typically, there is a workplace monitor for substance abuse disorders. And while we’re known for substance abuse disorders, one of the things we like to get out there is that we’re able to assist with any health condition that may affect a person’s ability to practice. One that people don’t think about often is the aging dentist struggling with early dementia or cognitive decline. In those cases, what we see most often is the staff colluding to keep the dentist working. It’s not necessarily conscious. They fill in the gaps, help out, and prop up the dentist who may be struggling until they can’t anymore. But the reality is that those other people in the practice who are DOH-licensed have a reporting responsibility, and if a patient were to get hurt and the DOH were to investigate, all of those licensees are at risk.
Isolation
According to Bundy, 1 percent to 2 percent of healthcare professionals at the doctoral level are practicing impaired in a given year. He notes that the WPHP’s participation of medical licensees living and working in Washington is about 1.25 percent, whereas its participation with dentists is about .5 percent. The reason? Dentists practice in relative isolation compared to physicians, without peers who can observe their work, attitude, and demeanor. Bundy explains, “Individuals who might be in a position to observe these behaviors are subordinate and financially dependent on the dentists for their income, which could lead to a reluctance to report their concerns. There are psychological issues of betrayal that subordinate staff members can harbor. If they turn the dentist in, they may feel they are betraying their confidence and trust.” WPHP is committed to creating access to resources for any dentist or health professional who feels like they need help to maintain financial viability, while receiving the care they need. “Our goal is always to rehabilitate professionals and return them to the professional practice,” says Bundy. “If their practice is decimated as a result of their treatment needs, it doesn’t serve the dentist, and it perpetuates the fear that people have about coming to see us. We recognize that there are major hurdles associated with getting help. Like any small business owner, many dentists don’t feel that they can take a vacation or be out of practice for any length of time and still make their payroll. They worry that if they’re not generating fees, then they won’t be able to keep the business open. The fear is the same if they’re not practicing because they’re in treatment.”
A network of helping hands
To that end, the WPHP has been working with WSDA board member Dr. Ted Baer to develop a support system for people who may need to take leave from their practice. “Dr. Baer has taken the lead on the program,” says Bundy. “He wants to interface with
the resource as it evolves and develops, and help develop the stable of volunteers through our organization. We’re tapping people through our organization who may be able to help. We know people who have been down the path who may be asked to volunteer a day a week for a colleague who is in trouble.” By providing a support system, the WPHP hopes that more people will come forward to help dentists in danger of practicing while impaired.
How the program works
When the WPHP receives a call from a concerned party about a doctor’s behavior, one of the first things they do is call other people who know the doctor to independently verify the claims. “We try to establish the credibly of the caller,” says Bundy, “and if we feel there is sufficient evidence to move forward, we then reach out to the dentist and ask them to meet with us. From there we do an initial evaluation to determine what should be done.” Bundy is quick to note that it’s rare for disgruntled employees to call WPHP, explaining, “A disgruntled or recently terminated employee typically calls the commission because they want to get the doctor in trouble, but a concerned employee will call WPHP because they want the doctor to get help without getting in trouble.” WPHP evaluates the doctor and makes a determination based upon the severity of the condition. “There are different outcome possibilities,” says Bundy. “About half of the people referred to us receive no substance abuse disorder diagnosis, and they go about their business. If they have been diagnosed with a mild substance abuse disorder, they will be asked to complete a year of diagnostic monitoring. They won’t have to undergo treatment, but will have to remain abstinent of all drug and alcohol use. Additionally, they will have to submit to random toxicology tests. Many lack the ability to control their drinking at this stage. They fail the diagnostic monitoring, and we’ll know there is a more significant problem. For people with moderate-to-severe substance abuse disorders, the recommendation is usually 60 to 90 days of residential treatment, followed by five years of monitoring.” However, as Bundy points out, not all of the referrals pertain to substance abuse. Each year nearly half of the referrals relate to mental health and other health-related issues. As he says, “Lots of medical issues can work against physicians. Chemo, liver disease, MS, and other illnesses can affect cognitive ability and the ability of doctors to practice.”
Being proactive
Bundy recommends that practices and organizations get ahead of the problem by hosting or attending programs that increase awareness and foster good health in the workplace. For years, WPHP has hosted workshops and events (see ad on page 23) aimed at connecting healthcare providers with experts in mind/ body medicine and compassion cultivation training, among other topics. Currently, WPHP is moving away from hosting the events and trying to focus on curating relationships between experts in the field and practices or organizations. Bundy says, “We can connect them with people like Mindfulness Northwest, who conduct our mindfulness-based stress-reduction series, to develop a relationship with those organizations directly. We’ve found that when wellness can be integrated into the work that people are doing daily, it tends to be more effective. Wellness and presenteeism, meaning working while ill, is a tremendous cost to any healthcare practice. Two-thirds of health-related costs come from the indirect costs of lost productivity due to personal health issues of the staff.” For more information about WPHP and its work, visit wphp.org or call (206) 583-0127 or 800-552-7236.
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member news treating substance abuse in washington
Bundy is board certified in adult and geriatric psychiatry and
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Seattle Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Workshops and Classes (in partnership with Mindfulness Northwest) The Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals is designed to promote mental health by engaging the mind and the body through experiential learning. The course is adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. As defined by Dr. Zinn, “Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment, non-judgmentally.” Mindfulness is an excellent antidote to the stresses of a modern medical practice as it invites us to stop, breathe, observe, and connect with one’s inner experience.
Winter • Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals: Five Session Program. Sundays, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., January 29 – February 26.
Spring • Meeting Mindfulness Workshop, Sunday April 23, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals: Five Session Program. Sundays, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., May 7 - June 11.
Workshop registration ($150): http://www.mindfulnessnorthwest.com/event-2306908 5-week program registration ($250): http://www.mindfulnessnorthwest.com/event-2306899 Classes are open to health care professionals and their spouses/partners.
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The Dental Group
Comprehensive | Professional | Tax Efficient LLC A DENTAL GROUP COMPANY
425-216-1612 www.dentalgroupllc.com
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203 E. Meeker St. | Kent, WA 98032 2959 Northup Way | Bellevue, WA 98004 2 4 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org (800) 735-7231 www.nakanishidentallab.com
PRACTICE FOR
WSDA Practice for Sale Event Date: Saturday, February 11, 2017 Location: WSDA Office, 126 NW Canal St, Seattle, WA 98107 Time: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:00 a.m.) Cost: Free! Registration Deadline: January 27 Are you looking to buy or sell a practice in 2017? Let the WSDA help. The Practice for Sale Event, held in a “speed dating” style, will give you quality face-to-face time with other members who are looking to buy or sell a practice.
FEB 11
Sponsored by:
How will it work? During the event, buyers and sellers will meet with one another in a series of 12-minute appointments. Each seller will have their own private room in the WSDA office in which to hold interviews. Appointments will be scheduled by buyers on a first-come, first-served basis the morning of the event. Visit wsdasource.org/events/practiceforsale to register!
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member news ser ving nationally
SERVING IN THE WINDY CITY MEET WSDA MEMBERS WHO HOLD NATIONAL POSTS IN THIS SERIES
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Editor’s note: Eight WSDA members are now serving the ADA in national posts. The WSDA News will be reaching out to each of them to find out what their duties are, why they chose to take on a national post, and how things are going.Up first: Dr. Henry “Bud” Evans. Dr. Henry “Bud” Evans is well-known to WSDA members. He served on the WSDA’s Committee on PNDC from 2007-10, and chaired the Committee in 2010. So it’s not wholly surprising that he is now serving on the ADA’s Committee on Annual Meeting. It’s a sprawling group, comprised of 25 members from around the country. “There is political representation from all the districts, plus new dentists, women dentists, local reps,” says Evans., “Everyone is well represented, but it can be hard to move forward quickly with so many voices.” Still, Evans, who describes himself as a “continuing education addict,” was happy to get involved when asked. “The timing was just right. I was getting ready to sell my practice, but didn’t want to give up dentistry, which I haven’t. I’m still working part time. I thought about what I was going to miss the most as I wind down my career, and one of them was dental meetings and the continuing education piece of meetings. I loved the work I did on the Committee on PNDC, loved working with the other dentists and the staff. It was really fun to see the meeting roll out after all the work. So when I had the opportunity to continue that at the national level, it sounded like fun.” Evans had always admired the work done by state delegates at the ADA House and on the ADA Board of Trustees, and he viewed national service as an opportunity to give back in a personal way and make a difference.
Committee duties
Evans serves on the Continuing Education Sub-Committee (he will serve as the group’s chair in 2018, his last year), and his duties pertain to signing speakers and developing content for the meeting. It’s a world he knows and loves. “We scout other meetings around the country, listen to speakers, and evaluate all aspects of the meeting, really. All members of the entire committee scout exhibitors, meeting logistics, and speakers,” he says. “We confirm
that the old standbys are still good, and have a listen to the new and upcoming speakers to see if they live up to the hype. We try and add 30 to 40 percent new speakers each year to keep things fresh and introduce rising stars.” Scouts typically attend 15 to 20 minutes of a lecture, using the short time to see how the lecture rolls out, observe audience engagement, and make note of attendance. Evans says, “You pick it up fast. You can tell if a lecturer has people’s rapt attention, or if they are just going through their material.” He usually scouts big shows like the Hinman in Atlanta, the California Dental Association show, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry conference, and the Greater New York conference. Currently, he’s focused on who will be speaking at the ADA meeting in Hawaii, in October of 2018.
Highlighting innovation
Additionally, the group looks for new and innovative ways for the meeting to evolve. A couple of years ago, members introduced informal wind-down or campfire sessions, where one speaker sits with six to 12 people for more informal one-on-one learning. Additionally, they have a new and emerging speaker series that is much like the Emerald City Lecture Series at the PNDC, with eight or 10 speakers who have never presented before. One recent addition is the cadaver lab, where procedures like TMJ and anesthesia are performed on cadavers. The group has some wild new tech offerings coming soon. Evans was mum, but hinted that the technology they’re looking at is really amazing.
Another post for Evans?
Will Evans consider another national post? It’s uncertain. The timing for the continuing education post was ideal, and the post was his top pick. He says he’s not political, but has enjoyed the camaraderie of other dentists who are excited about continuing education. “It’s not just about hammering out the meeting,” Evans explains. “There’s a social aspect, and you form bonds and friendships that go on forever. But I love meeting people who I can learn from. If there was a position available that I could contribute to, I would consider it!”
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member news tser ving nationally
Dr. Henry “Bud” Evans
ce news component continuing education
Mount Baker District Dental Society
CE
February 10 Midwinter Meeting Bruce Christopher · Are We Having Fun Yet? Four Points by Sheraton, Bellingham
ACROSS THE STATE
March 14 Dr. Jacob Burry Modern Endodontic Techniques
Want to be included in this listing? Send your component society or study group listing to Managing Editor Rob Bahnsen at rob@wsda.org.
March GMM Tacoma Country & Golf Club
April 18 Dr. Steve Hannon
April GMM/ Installation of New Officers Tacoma Country & Golf Club
Max Dale’s Mt Vernon
Seattle-King County Dental Society
April 11 Matt Babick · Fraud Prevention
January 24 Addiction Medicine: Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Dr. Stephen Markus
BG&CC
May 9 TBA
Pierce County Dental Society Upcoming Meetings
Register Online At: www.pcdentists.org All General Membership Meetings: 2 CE Credits, Cost: $41.00 (meal included)
February 28 Dr. Mostafa Norooz
February GMM Tacoma Country & Golf Club
SPECIALIZING IN
March 21, 2017 Brad McPhee
Practice Transitions
Sales
Valuations
Consulting
Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown, 1113 6th Avenue (206) 464-1980 Sponsored by: SnS Business Solutions
February 28 Who Has Sleep Apnea? Can Dentists Help All Of Them? Dr. Stephen Carstensen
Sheraton Bellevue Hotel, 100 112th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 (425) 455-3330 Offered by: The Dental Group, LLC
Real Estate PRACTICE GROUP
THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR PRACTICE? Take the first step with our complimentary Practice Snapshot Valuation and FREE consultation. Offer expires 12/31/16. Call 877-866-6053 to schedule.
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CURRENT LISTINGS NW WASHINGTON — Pediatric
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To Dr. Chris Rafoth for the sale of his practice to Dr. David Adams
FOR MORE LISTINGS AND INFO ON HOW YOUR PRACTICE COULD BE LISTED IN OUR NEXT AD CONTACT US TODAY.
INFO@OMNI-PG.COM
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2 8 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org
The Pankey Institute Speakers:
Dr. Mark Murphy · Simplifying and Selling the Complex Case: Moving Past Insurance Entitlement Dr. Dale Sorenson · Considerations in Achieving Exquisite Restorative Dentistry: Preparation and Provisionalization
Lynnwood Convention Center Sponsored by: Snohomish County Dental Society, UW
April 25
Annual Officer Installation and Member Recognition event Dr. Bernard Larson · Dr. Sherwin Shinn Location: Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98126 (206) 937-1600 Sponsored by: WDIA
May 12 Management of The Fearful Dental Patient; Drugs, Death and Dentistry featuring Dr. Stanley F. Malamed, DDS The Fearful Dental Patient - a.m. Session Drugs, Death and Dentistry - p.m. Session Bellevue Westin Hotel, 600 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 638-1000 Sponsored by: Washington AGD, SKCDS and UW SOD
Snohomish County Dental Society
Contact the SCDS office for more details or to register for any meeting. All SCDS General Membership meetings are held at the Mill Creek Country Club starting at 6 p.m. with a Social Hour, followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. and a one hour CE progr a.m. at 7:30 p.m.
February 15 Mr. Robert Spector · The Nordstrom Way Guide to Dental Practices · SCDS General Meeting Mill Creek Country Club
March 10
Two Pankey Institute Speakers:
Dr. Mark Murphy · Simplifying and Selling the Complex Case: Moving Past Insurance Entitlement Dr. Dale Sorenson · Considerations in Achieving Exquisite Restorative Dentistry: Preparation and Provisionalization Lynnwood Convention Center For details and registration go to: www. skcds.org
th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org · 29
March 15 Dr. Dolphine Oda · Oral Pathology, TBA SCDS General Meeting Mill Creek Country Club
April 19 Dr. Rhonda Savage · Dealing with Difficult People SCDS General Meeting Mill Creek Country Club Joint meeting with Snohomish Co. Dental Hygiene Society Dentists and staff welcome to attend.
April 28 BLS for Healthcare Providers & First Aid Courses Presented by I Know CPR
I Know CPR, Everett Advance Registration Required. Contact the SCDS office.
May 17
SCDS General Meeting
WSDA President, Dr. BJ Larson · WSDA Update & Current Issues
ce news component continuing education
March 10
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There are many good, even compelling reasons to properly document your patient’s visits to your practice. Memorializing conversations, treatment plans, patient compliance, and patient consent are just a few. Poor chart documentation can set a dentist up for significant challenges if they’re named in a lawsuit, if a subsequent dentist is now providing care to the patient and is trying to understand the previous treatment plan, or if the patient has requested to view their records. Your chart notes should always include your observations when examining your patient and their radiographs. This should be followed with a diagnosis, which then correlates with your treatment plan and what comes next. All prescription or over-the-counter medications must be documented, including the dental nexus for why you’re prescribing. Your discussions with the patient about their treatment plan or any concerns they have should also be documented using PARQ (Procedures, Alternatives, Risks, Questions), SOAP, or whatever acronyms you use. It is not necessary to repeat the PARQ discussion for each visit unless your treatment plan has changed, then you need to have another discussion. However, it is necessary that you consistently practice the same routine with each of your patients. Some of the most common documentation errors are: not charting the PARQ discussion, leaving out the diagnosis, or the diagnosis is apparent from the radiograph but isn’t noted in the record, no treatment plan, failure to document prescriptions or OTC medications, and why they’re prescribed, and not documenting shortfalls in the treatment and subsequent follow-up efforts by the dentist. And what about the noncompliant patient? No shows, frequent cancellations, or patients trying to dictate their own care should be documented in minute detail. One of the most common examples we see is patients who refuse radiographs but want the dentist to continue treating them. What very often happens is, even if the patient has signed a release form, and even if the dentist warns of risks associated with the inability to properly diagnose, eventually an issue will materialize that could’ve been caught with radiographs, and the patient will have a limited memory of the dentist’s earlier warnings as they prepare to sue the dentist. And consider for a moment; how do you think that would play out in a court of law? The patient, who is not a dental expert, has been allowed to dictate their care. And the dentist, who is the expert, has allowed it. Hint – the plaintiff attorney will have a field day, and it’s not going to go well for the dentist. Ask yourself what meets the standard of care and if your treatment falls within those guidelines. If it doesn’t, don’t do it. If you’re not currently charting patient quotes with quotation marks, begin that new habit today; it’s one of the easiest and best tools in your risk management arsenal! Patient quotes carry a high degree of credibility with a jury if you get sued. Patients that are threatening or using profanity should be quoted. If you’re uncomfortable placing the language in your chart, use the first letter, the appropriate number of blanks, and then the last letter for each word used. Other examples where charting quotes is appropriate: patients who don’t want to follow your recommended treatment plan, e.g. “I can’t afford that right now. Is there something else we can try?” Or when a patient is pleased with their dental care, e.g. “I just love my new dentures; they feel great!” If the patient changes their tune later, you’ve created a credible history of the patient’s own comments in your dental record. HIPAA gives your patients the right to view their dental records, so please avoid making disparaging remarks in the record. I once worked in a teaching hospital and came across a surgery report that had been dictated by the surgeon. He described his patient as having “thighs the size of a baby whale.” Can you imagine how that patient would’ve felt if they had read their doctor’s remarks? Lawsuits have been lost, not because the dentist didn’t meet the standard of care, but because of inappropriate comments in the dental record. And finally, if you work in a private dental group setting, provide your services in a volunteer clinic, or work for a tribal clinic, it is imperative that you be particularly diligent with your documentation. In these situations it’s not unusual for multiple dentists to see the same patient. You must always be in compliance with Washington’s laws and provide treatment that meets the standard of care. Your progress notes and observations should be as detailed and explicit as possible. If you get sued, how thoroughly you document your records could make all the difference between winning a defense verdict or losing to a plaintiff verdict. Sounds like a compelling reason to practice good chart documentation, doesn’t it?
th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org · 31
Melissa Moore Sanchez Manager, Sales and Marketing NORDIC
“If you get sued, how thoroughly you document your records could make all the difference between winning a defense verdict or losing to a plaintiff verdict. Sounds like a compelling reason to practice good chart documentation, doesn’t it?”
nordic news why good chart documentation matters
Why good chart documentation matters
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Well-demarcated radiolucency between teeth #s 26 & 27 Contributed by
Dr. Samuel Bobek, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Seattle WA
History of present illness
This is a 43-year-old white female who was referred to Dr. Bobek for the evaluation of a slowly growing swelling in the right anterior mandible (Figure 1). A periapical radiographs shows a well-demarcated radiolucency with a hint of scalloping and multilocular appearance between teeth #s 26 & 27 (Figure 2). The patient noticed the swelling 2-3 months ago. She noticed a small change in her bite with movement of the lateral incisor. No symptoms otherwise - no pain, drainage, anesthesia or paresthesia. The past medical history is significant for malignant melanoma and hypothyroidism. Malignant melanoma was treated with surgical excision a few years ago. The patient is nonsmoker. She reports allergies to latex and amoxicillin.
Figure 1
Test your knowledge!
Visit https://dental.washington.edu/oral-pathology/case-of-themonth/ and see if your assessment of the case is correct.
Figure 2
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Congratulations on our recent transitions:
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th e wsda ne w s 路 issue 3, januar y 路 2017 路 www.wsda.org 路 33
Todd McVay
Dave Knutzen
clinical corner issue 3, januar y 2017
CLINICAL CORNER
Support your practice. Earn more points. Enjoy the rewards.
Dentists count on the ADA Visa Signature® card to deliver the rewards that matter to them and the benefits they deserve. Use your card everywhere Visa is accepted to earn: • 2 points for every net $1 spent on all ADA purchases • 1 point for every net $1 spent on everything else3 Redeem points for the rewards of your choice, including dining, gift certificates, name-brand merchandise, cash back and even travel on more than 150 airlines with no blackout dates. Just 25,000 points = up to a $450 ticket. Plus, enjoy exclusive benefits such as Travel Accident Insurance, Auto Rental Insurance, 24-hour concierge service, travel discounts and upgrades, shopping discounts and much more!4
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• 3 points for every net $1 spent on gas, grocery and restaurant purchases in the first 90 days.
Call 888-327-2265 ext. 94595 | Visit usbank.com/ADA94595 We may change APRs, fees, and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with U.S. Bank National Association and is affiliates as provided under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law. (1) Subject to credit approval. Accounts must be open and in good standing (not past due) to redeem points. (2) Your 0% introductory APR applies to balance transfers made within 30 days of account opening. A Balance Transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) will apply. The introductory APR does not apply to purchases or cash advances. The rate will end early and increase to the APR for Balance Transfers or to a Penalty Rate APR if you make a late payment, make a payment that is returned, or your account exceeds its credit limit. Thereafter, the APR may vary and as of 1/1/2015, the undiscounted variable APR for Balance Transfers is 9.99%- 23.99% (based on your creditworthiness)]. We apply your payments to balances with lower APRs first. (3) Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. (4) Certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Cardmembers are responsible for the cost of any goods or services purchased by Visa Signature Concierge on cardmembers’ behalf. The creditor and issuer of the American Dental Association Card is US. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc © 2015 U. S. Bank National Association. ADA Business ResourcesSM is a service mark of the American Dental Association. ADA Business Resources is a program brought to you by ADA Business Enterprises, Inc.. (ADABEl), a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Dental Association. ADA is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association.
©2013 Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives
3 4 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org
IS IT TIME FOR AN INSURANCE REVIEW? USE THIS CHECKLIST As your practice grows, your earnings increase. or your family gains new members, your insurance needs increase, as well. Many dentists forget to keep their insurance coverage in step with their life and business changes, which can leave them in a difficult financial situation if an accident occurs. Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency recommends that all dentists review their insurance coverage at least once each year to determine if what they have meets their present and future needs. Things we’ll cover in your annual review include: • Have you added to your family? • Are you purchasing or selling a practice? • Was there any change in your marital status or dependents (children, parents, or other relatives) during the year? • Should you update your will? • Have you inherited considerable funds or gifts? • Do you feel you have adequate life insurance for your practice and family? • Do you feel you have adequate personal disability insurance to replace your earnings due to sickness or accident? • Do you feel you have adequate long-term care insurance for yourself, your parents, or other family members?
If you would like to review your current insurance needs, please contact the Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency at 800-282-9342 or wdia@wsda.org.
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sole broker for NORDIC
endorsed company news columbia bank · due diligence
CONSTRUCTIVE DUE DILIGENCE
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Production by procedure code report
Request a report for the last two years that breaks down each procedure that was performed by doctor and staff by code. Check through the report to see what procedures the practice offers. Check to see if there are any procedures that you can offer that the current provider does not. Are there any procedures offered that you will need to discontinue or will you need to get further training or certification to enable you to offer these same services?
Current scheduling methods
Go through the daily schedule from six months prior through the future six months. Are you comfortable with the time allotted for procedures? Keep in mind that initially you will spend a little more time getting to know your patients. It will take six to12 months to meet all of your new patients. If you can emulate how the current provider is practicing, you will be able to support the current production/collections of the practice, which is a large part of the value or sale price associated with the practice. If you can provide additional procedures and efficiencies, you will have an even stronger position in maintaining and growing the practice.
Chart audit
Although this can take you between three to six hours to complete, you will have a much better understanding of the practice if you do a chart audit. Pull a minimum of two active patient records/ charts from the database for each letter in the alphabet. For purposes of this audit, an active patient is one who has been seen for a cleaning within the last 12 months. Within these records you will begin to see patterns of practice. Make your own spreadsheet to understand the patterns.
Look at the following markers: • How long has the person been a patient of the practice (new patient date)? Age of the patient? ZIP code? • What is the status of the patient? Is it clearly defined? Is his/ her next appointment scheduled? • When is the patient due for a hygiene appointment and is it scheduled? • Has all the restorative treatment been rendered?
• What does the patient’s treatment plan look like? Based on the notes and X-rays, are you comfortable with the treatment plan?
New Patients
New patient flow is vital to a growing, thriving practice. While some well-established practices seem to have a steady flow of new patients, other practices may not, and it’s good to determine what the current trend is for new patient flow. It is important to note that some geographic areas are more prone to transient patients, which is not always a negative indicator. Consider these points: • How does the practice attract new patients? • Are new patients tracked? • What was the average monthly number of new patients last year? What is the current YTD average? • Are departing patients tracked? What is the average monthly number of departing patients?
Miscellaneous Markers • Accounts receivables – Check for timely billing and outside vendors for payment plans. Majority of total should reflect in the current due with minimal amount in the 90+ day column. (Current 70 percent, 30 days 15 percent, 60 days 10 percent, 90+ days 5 percent) • The practice’s financial policy • The number of PPOs accepted • Staff longevity, benefits offered, and the office manual indicating policies and procedures. Lynne Nelson is a vice president of professional banking, serving Columbia Bank’s growing client base of dentists, veterinarians, and physicians in eastern Washington. Nelson has more than 25 years of experience in the dental industry, and works with a team of dental experts across the Pacific Northwest to provide targeted insight and financial solutions. Connect with her today to learn more about starting your dental practice.
• Track any restorative needs and, if so, is the patient’s next appointment scheduled for this?
th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org · 37
endorsed company news columbia bank · due diligence
In this piece, Lynne Nelson of Columbia Bank, a WSDA preferred lender, shares her due diligence tips and tricks. Purchasing all or part of a dental practice is one of the biggest decisions of your life. To help you identify which practice is right for you, Nelson outlines the pertinent information you’ll need to make the best choice.
letters to the editor /newsflash issue 3, januar y 2016
newsflash New definition of oral health An editorial in the December issue of The
Journal of the American Dental Association ( JADA) discusses the FDI Dental World Federation’s new definition of oral health: “Oral health is multifaceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort, and disease of the craniofacial complex,” reads the definition. More than 200 national dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, adopted the new definition. Traditionally, oral health has been defined as the absence of disease. But as authors of the JADA editorial explain, a new definition was necessary to expand on its many facets and convey oral health as a fundamental human right.
DQAC needs commission members
The Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance, is accepting applications to fill vacancies on the Dental Quality Assurance Commission. It has expected vacancies for dentist, expanded function
dental auxiliary, and public member positions. The commission is looking for public-spirited people willing to study the issues and to make decisions in the public’s best interest. It is seeking diversity in board and commission members, recognize the value variety brings in understanding and serving the people of Washington State. It is seeking candidates with diverse backgrounds and those who provide geographic representation throughout the state. The Dental Quality Assurance Commission consists of 16 members appointed by the Governor. Members must be citizens of the United States and residents of this state. Dentist members must be licensed dentists in the active practice of dentistry for a period of five years before appointment. Of the twelve dentists appointed to the commission, at least four must reside and engage in the active practice of dentistry east of the summit of the Cascade mountain range. Public members of the commission may not be a member of any other health care licensing board or commission, or have a fiduciary obligation to a facility rendering health services regulated
by the commission, or have a material or financial interest in the rendering of health services regulated by the commission. The Dental Quality Assurance Commission meets about eight times a year. Historically, meetings have been scheduled on a Friday in the months of January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December. The Dental Quality Assurance Commission operates under legislative mandate to protect the health and safety of the public, and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of health care providers under its jurisdiction. If you are interested in applying for an appointment to the Dental Quality Assurance Commission, please go to Governor’s website and complete the application online at: https://fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/ boardsapplication. Applications, along with a current resume must be submitted by March 30, 2017. If you have any questions about serving on the Dental Quality Assurance Commission, please contact Jennifer Santiago at (360) 2364893 or at Jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov.
letters to the editor To Jeff Parrish —
Thank you for your many years of contributing to the WSDA News. I didn’t realize how much I would miss Parrish or Perish until the latest edition came out and I immediately turned to the back page… and it wasn’t there. I may not have liked or agreed with everything you said, but it always made me think and consider another perspective. I’m sure you offended people at times, but I only felt challenged, which I’m sure was your intention. I’ve known you since dental school and know the person you are. Your heart for service and your love of this profession have always been an inspiration to me. I wish you well on your next adventure. My sincere hope is that one of you will pick up the torch and continue to challenge us. Maybe I won’t know you and will be offended by some of the things you say and that’s OK. Ignite our emotions, keep us
from getting complacent,give us a different perspective. We need it! — Dr. Susan Hollinsworth
Dr. Jennings —
I just read your article and didn’t know if I should laugh, cry or both! I am a Newport High School and UW graduate. I graduated in 1990 from then Northwestern University Dental School, which successful prepared us for the NERB examine (most of took it without the use of an assist!) I took me two years returning home to finally get through the WA State board exam after attending “the class.” Luckily I was in graduate school, so returning home to practice was not a necessity at the time. Sad things haven’t changed! Ethically, I cemented a cast inlay, only to find out the prep was a failure. Who replaced it? I had a perio patient who tried to impress my assist by bringing a hand gun to the exam
to show her! Schools should not be graduating students who are incapable of performing dental procedures. Boards only create a false sense of security in my opinion. We all continue to have clinical failures throughout our careers regardless of our best intention and to the best of our abilities. — Dean Burnett DDS, MS
Dr. Jennings responds: Hi Dean, What a great letter! I totally agree with your conclusion. It does lend a false sense of security. You bring up another interesting point about teaching dentists how to manage and deal with adverse outcomes. Hmmmm. Now the hard work comes with the live boards...actually changing things! Thank you for reading and sharing.
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OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
DENTIST NEEDED — Growing general dental offices are seeking caring, competent dentist with great people skills to join our team at greater Seattle area. Excellent opportunity for potential partnership. Please email resume to mydental88@gmail.com.
SPOKANE — Seeking full-time general dentist, able to work a varied shift schedule including weekends; must be able to do all aspects of general dentistry including molar endodontics and 3rd molar/surgical extractions; able to adapt to new systems and paradigms; great opportunity to grow and learn; 1-5 years experience preferable. Unlimited income potential! Send resume to Dr. Bradley J. Harken; bradharken@hotmail.com.
PERIODONTIST NEEDED — Large private group practice in brand new state of the art building looking for part time periodontist in Silverdale, WA. Digital office with CBCT. Thriving practice in need of a specialist to come in 2-4 days per month. Please send CV to silverdaledental@hotmail.com.
ASSOCIATE DENTIST — Earn Up to $220,000/ yr.+! Great respect, benefits and bonuses! Fast growing, privately owned dental office seeking a talented and enthusiastic associate dentist to join us full time. Great income potential and opportunity for advancement! Excellent benefits. Educational support and Training! Morning, evening and Saturday hours. Earn as high as $220,000/ yr….plus bonuses! $588 restorative production/ exam average, you see 125 hyg. patients/mo., you get 30 percent of production No patient cherry picking by senior dentists. Contact Dr. Hilde at 360-391-1201 or Jason@hildefamilydentistry.com. PROMINENT DENTAL PRACTICE — Spokane Washington looking for full time associate. Enthusiastic, hard working dentist desired. Seeking an ideal candidate that is highly skilled, dedicated to providing unmatched patient care and desiring a long term commitment to the practice. Applicants can expect to perform all aspects of dentistry including: root canal therapy, crown and bridge, oral surgery, general restorative and much more. Great pay and benefit. Ownership options available. Please send resume: employment@sleepdentistryspokane.com visit: sleepdentistryspokane.com. ISSAQUAH ASSOCIATE — Associate position available to start immediately working Tuesdays with hours 7-5, and 2 Saturdays a month 8-2. More days available in future. Doctor will be working in a family practice with the ability to practice as one desires and is capable of. OS, Endo, Perio, Pros, Rest patients/ cases to work with. Send resume to dr.howey@hotmail.com. GENERAL DENTIST ASSOCIATE POSITION — Option to buy. Existing DDS with is looking to be retired within the next year or sooner. This private practice (30+ year patient base) is open Mon-Thurs (Mon-Wed 8-5, and Thurs 9-3). Prefers someone with at least five years of experience. Part time to start, (3 days) building into full time. Substantial patient base! Salary DOQ. Email: lori.leonarddds@outlook.com.
DENTISTS NEEDED — Dental Professionals is recruiting dentists for temporary and permanent positions throughout western Washington – Vancouver to Bellingham and the Olympic Peninsula. No fee to you and you pick the days and geographic locations that you are available to work. This is a great opportunity to earn supplemental income or find a permanent position. If interested please call Bob at (206) 767-4851. MULTI-SPECIALTY GROUP PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES — At Willamette Dental Group, we believe that health is preventing disease, not just treating it. When you work at Willamette Dental Group, the organization’s progressive approach frees you to do what matters to you – and to your patients. What makes this multi-specialty group practice unique is a commitment to proactively facilitating the best possible health outcomes. We currently have openings in Oregon and Washington for General Dentists, Endodontists, Oral Surgeons, Pediatric Dentists, and Locum Tenens Dentists, and offer competitive guaranteed compensation, benefits, paid vacation, malpractice insurance, in-house CEs, and an in-house loan forgiveness program. Please send your resume to Kelly Musick (kmusick@willamettedental.com) and visit www.willamettedental. com/careers to learn more! DENTIST NEEDED — Part-time dentist for national claim Review Company. Work from your home or office. Must have clean active Washington dentist license. Seeking dedicated individual, please submit resume PRDentalLLC@gmail.com or fax 212-471-9973. GENERAL DENTIST, SUNNYSIDE — Full time position. Work beside specialists. Offering a great schedule, great compensation and guarantee. Great opportunity to expand skill set as you work or a perfect opportunity for an experienced dentist to utilize a wide range of skills. For more information, please contact Jolene Babka at jbabka@applesmiles.com.
ENDODONTIST PIERCE COUNTY — Offering a part time or one day week position in a large group practice with general and specialist dentist on staff in Bonney Lake. Serving the Puyallup/Sumner/Auburn/ Enumclaw area in a multi dentist group practice. Send resume and inquiries to docvan99@aol.com.
PART TIME ENDODONTIST — Looking for a parttime Endodontist to work a day or two day a month. Nice modern office located in Bothell Area. Please respond with resume to bellevuedentists@gmail.com.
HIRING — We are hiring a Dental Practice Broker in Washington. Flexible hours, good pay, we provide training. If you are a dentist, or have extensive experience in the dental industry, give Rod Johnston a call at (206) 979-2660.
GUEST DENTIST / LOCUM TENENS DENTIST — General dentist needed for medical leave JanMar/Apr-2017, in Puyallup South Hill area. Please send CV or Resume to South Hill Family Dentistry at LaSheen@southhillfamilydentistry.net
DENTIST NEEDED — Puyallup-seeking a FT General Dentist to join established family, cosmetic and implant dental practice. Dentist should be skilled and personable and willing to be an integral part of the practice and community. It would be ideal to find a dentist who wants a long-term opportunity and to call this practice home. Partnership buy in desired and will be considered. Please e-mail resume and inquiries to: docvan99@aol.com.
PEDIATRIC DENTAL SPECIALIST ASSOCIATE NEEDED — Growing busy pedo/ortho practice with potential for ownership. Large, existing patient base. Pediatric dentist 4+ days/week. No Medicaid. Large modern facility adjacent to Valley Medical Center in Renton. Send resume and personal statement to OBR1900@aol.com.
LOCUM TENENS — Dentist needed For maternity leave from Feb 20th-May 5th. FFS office splitting time between Issaquah and Renton locations, two days a week at each office. Great staff and great patients. email Issaquah@drscoles.com for more information.
ORTHODONTIC ASSOCIATE NEEDED — Large pediatric dentistry/orthodontic practice in Renton needs orthodontic associate to treat existing and growing number of pediatric orthodontic patients. 3 to 4 day work week now with potential to grow into full-time practice. Future ownership would be available if desired. Resume and personal statement to obr1900@aol.com.
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ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITY, YAKIMA — We have a great associate opportunity for a new graduate or a long term home for a seasoned dentist looking to be compensated well with less of the headaches and stress. Group practice composed of general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. For new grads it’s the perfect opportunity to learn your craft by working side by side with generalists and specialists while being paid very well. Base salary of $150,000 for new grads plus bonuses. Base salary of $175,000 plus bonuses for experienced dentists. Opportunities to earn much more with our full schedules! Both positions have the opportunity to earn well above $200,000. Full benefits package. State of the art clinics and equipment. Mix of children and adult dentistry. Mix of State and private insurance. Full time opportunity available. Moving expense reimbursement offered. Please send inquiries to jbabka@applesmiles.com. GENERAL DENTIST REQUESTED, MAPLE VALLEY — Our multi-doctor, family practice is looking for an outgoing, professional doctor skilled in all aspects of dentistry to join our team. Our beautiful, modern office has been providing excellent dental care to our ever growing community for over 10 years. We offer a generous compensation package along with the opportunity to work with an established, efficient and personable team. Please email your resume to wendyloconnell@yahoo.com or you may fax it to 425-4138599. ASSOCIATE NEEDED, SPOKANE — Flexible solo Spokane GP is willing to hire associate 2 days/week or sell practice outright. Very fluid arrangements can be made. Call 509-638-3157 for more info. DENTIST NEEDED — Great general dentist opportunity, close to downtown Seattle, new state of the art clinic. Experienced support staff including restorative hygienist. Group practice with oral surgeon and orthodontist co-treating. $150,0000 minimum guarantee or 30% and opportunity to earn well above $200k. Full benefits. Mix of children and adult patients. Must be friendly, team oriented, motivated, and have a good chair-side manner. Please email jbabka@applesmiles.com for more information. FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE IN BELLEVUE — We are looking for full time associate in Bellevue to work 4+ days a week . We are a top office in our area. Beautiful modern office with state of the art technology. Fantastic patients and team. Fully digital. Must be highly skilled and experienced. Ready to learn and be a part of the team. Outstanding earning potential. Please email resume to bellevuedentists@gmail.com. DENTIST NEEDED — Join our mission driven team of ten dentists and well trained support staff in providing quality, comprehensive general and restorative dental care to our patients. 4/10 hour workdays provide a good life work balance and the opportunity to enjoy the areas recreational activities with your family. Comprehensive benefits, sign on bonus, Employer match 401(k), relocation, generous paid leave and CDE. HPSA score 23. Potential for loan repayment. Start date: September 2016. For more information contact : Colleen Hazel, PHR, HR Generalist / 509.764.6105/chazel@mlchc.org. Or visit our website at www.mlchc.org to apply online.
classifieds issue 3, januar y 2017
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
in memoriam anderson, blomquist, bolton, jacobsen, lowr y
in memoriam Dr. Marc Anderson
Dr. Marc Anderson was born on February 3, 1943 in Rockford, Illinois. He and his three bothers, David, Paul and Noel, and two sisters, Jackie and Kathy, were raised in a family steeped in the traditions of their Swedish heritage. They all had a part in running the family grocery store, Howie’s Royal Blue. He had lasting memories of trips to find just the right fruit for special occasions and numerous stories of moving stock from here to there. Those long days of school and work forged his resolve to make the most of any given situation. As he grew up, his ambition to become a dentist led him to attend Augustana College, a small Liberal Arts college in Rock Island, Illinois. From there, he went on to attend the University of Illinois Dental School in Chicago where he met Mary Christensen, who was to become his wife and mother of their two sons, Christian and Scott. After graduation, the newlyweds moved to Seattle, Wash. where Anderson had accepted a hospital dentistry internship at the University of Washington. But more than his internship brought him to the Pacific Northwest. For years his family had taken camping and fishing vacations in Canada. It was on one of those trips that Marc heard of Priest Lake. Seattle seemed to be the perfect place for him to start his family, while uniting his love of the outdoors and dentistry. After completing his internship, he became the Chief of Hospital Dentistry at the University of Washington Hospital where he taught residents. He formed lasting bonds with his students and colleagues. While he found his work fulfilling, his love of children led him to enter the pediatric dentistry program at UW. Upon completion of the program, he moved to Children’s Hospital where he served as Director of the Pediatric Dental Program and provided care for children with complex health challenges. He spent the final years of his career in private practice in Bothell and Seattle. Anderson was very proud of his sons, Christian Eric and Scott Colin Anderson. His quiet Swedish manner may have masked this abounding love for his boys, but he would want it stated clearly how important they were in his life. He loved to take them fishing and boating, but most of all, to spend time with them at Priest Lake in Idaho. It was there that he found peace and serenity, be it on the lake or in a huckleberry patch. Anderson was loved by many. He was loved by his wife, Debbie Anderson of Bothell, WA, his son Scott of Port Orchard, WA, his brothers David, of Hilbert, WI,
Paul, of Seattle, WA, and Noel, of Madison, WI, and his sister Kathy of Youngstown, OH. He was loved by his very special childhood friend, whom Marc often referred to as a brother, Dale Engberg and his wife Jan, of Phelps, WI, and his dear friends Dennis Egerton and Carla Grau-Egerton, of Freeland, WA. He was loved by the children he cared for and his colleagues. Special loves and friendships included Larry and Joyce Zentz, the entire Norwegian Navy, Dan, Dee, Jack, Chris, Steve and Mary lndgjerd, Peter and Sharon Deacon and Ed and Tammy Sprinkle.
Dr. Theodore Robert “Ted” Blomquist
Theodore Robert “Ted” Blomquist, age 91, born in the family home of Waubun, Minnesota, the seventh of eight children of John and Emelia (Ledin) Blomquist. After high school in Waubun, he attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. While there, he enlisted in the Navy. He was a graduate of the NROTC unit at the University of Washington in Seattle. Attended the Navy Tactical Radar school in Hollywood, Florida. Destroyer duty in the Pacific theater in World War II. Following wartime service, he graduated from the college of dentistry at the University of Minnesota. Dental practice in Spokane, WA 1950 to 1986. Blomquist served as president of the Spokane District Dental Society. He also served as president of Washington Dental Service, the Washington State component of Delta Dental Insurance Plan. Following retirement, Blomquist was a volunteer travel counselor for the Spokane Visitors Center. He was a 10-gallon donor at the Spokane blood bank. He and his wife, Rae, became part-time residents of Green Valley, AZ in 1999 and full time in 2003. He volunteered at the Lions Club Recycling Bin for 13 years until his health deteriorated. He was a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church and the American Contract Bridge League. Blomquist is survived by his loving wife Rae of 44 years at their Green Valley home. Survived by sons Eric of Spokane, WA; Theodore of Paris, France; Daniel and wife Jen of Silvis, IL; Kurt of Seattle, WA; daughter Melanie and husband Bob Miller of Kirkland, WA; stepdaughter Renae Hengel of Tucson, AZ. Eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Sister Marjory Johnson of Ruskin, Florida. Nieces, nephews, cousins and many special friends.
Dr. Wayne Allen Bolton
Wayne Allen Bolton, D.D.S., M.S.D., of Yakima, died Monday morning, January 31 at Highgate Senior Living Center. Bolton was born December 24, 1922 in
Everett, Washington to George and Edith (Jacobson) Bolton. He attended schools in Everett and graduated in 1941. There he met JoAnn Knisely. They were married April of 1946. Bolton served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 through 1946. His undergraduate education included Gonzaga University and University of California at Berkeley. He graduated from the University of Washington’s first dental class in 1950 as well as its first orthodontic class, 1952. Bolton practiced orthodontics in Seattle and Mercer Island and then Yakima before retiring in 1986. He also taught for several years at the University of Washington’s Orthodontic School. He was a kind, generous and gentle man who loved the Lord and loved his wife and family. His loving wife, JoAnn, survives him. He is also survived by two sons, Mike of Yakima and Fred (Petra) of McMinnville, OR. Daughters are Darsie (Larry) Henderson of Gig Harbor and Kristi (Bruce) Graham of Yakima. Grandchildren include David (Alison) Easley, Jane (Bryan) Kiehl, Peter (Stephanie) Graham, George Graham, Angie Bolton and Alec Bolton. Great-grandchildren are Cameron and Brody Easley, Aubree Graham, Kate Kiehl and Addison Turner. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Preceeding Wayne in death were his parents as well as his sister, Irene Cressell.
Dr. Peter Jacobsen
Dr. Peter William Jacobsen, husband, father, grandfather, dentist, and avid boater, beloved by many, died November 14th at his home. He was 67. Jacobsen held an enduring love for discovery, adventure, navigation, astronomy, and all things in nature, with his greatest passion being at the helm of his boat, “Courageous,” on Puget Sound. He spent summers with his family, sailing through the San Juan and Gulf Islands, treasuring the remote, pristine waters. Born in Seattle, Washington on February 25, 1949, Jacobsen graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1979, operating dental practices in Snoqualmie and Maple Valley during his career. He loved the relationships he built with his patients and staff, and found great joy impacting the lives of those he felt he had the privilege to serve. A standout athlete at Kirkland’s Lake Washington High School in the 1960s, Jacobsen was also the starting safety for the University of Colorado football team when
Continued on page 42
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ASSOCIATE TO OWNER – Spokane, WA We strive to give patients the best dental experience each and every time they walk into our office. We love our community and welcome anyone with open arms. Our team is remarkable and we want to hire an associate who is interested in providing the same care we strive to provide each and every day and would like an opportunity to purchase the practice. Experience is ideal, but I’m willing to mentor the right candidate. We would love an associate who is able to perform multi– faceted dentistry. This includes (in addition to general Dentistry): molar endodontics, extractions, dentures/partials , implants (placement & Restorations), and Invisalign orthodontics. Other expanded functions are welcome such as sedation, (oral or IV). We keep most specialties in house to accommodate our patients. Patients love that they rarely have to see a specialist for certain care. Our standards may be high, but we’ll help you to perfect your skills. If interested please email us your resume at: StanleySargentDDS@comcast.net and we will get back to you in a timely manner. DENTIST NEEDED — Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS), a Community Health Center in Central Washington State, is looking for a full time dentist to serve low income and underserved individuals and families in a new dental clinic in Granger, WA. Provide full scope preventive and restorative care all ages, six months to elderly. YNHS is an eligible site for National Health Service Corp and Washington State Health Professional loan repayment programs. YNHS also has a special focus to serve the homeless of Yakima County. Dental providers work alongside committed HCH staff to care for high needs homeless individuals. Full time for providers is 40 hours per week. YNHS offers a competitive compensation package, inclusive of malpractice coverage, paid leave, CME, retirement / life / disability. See our website at www.ynhs.org for the breadth in our services and diversity in our staff. We are looking for individuals who share a sense of compassion for the underserved, and passion for quality. GENERAL DENTIST, TRI CITIES — Great associate opportunity for a new graduate or a long term home for a seasoned dentist looking to be compensated well with less of the headaches and stress. Group practice composed of general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. For new grads it’s the perfect opportunity to learn your craft by working side by side with generalists and specialists while being paid very well. Base salary of $150,000 for new grads plus bonuses. Base salary of $175,000 plus bonuses for experienced dentists. Full benefits package and moving allowance. State of the art clinics and equipment. Mix of children and adult dentistry. Mix of state and private insurance. Position available in coveted Pasco, Washington facility this Spring. Please send inquiries to jbabka@applesmiles.com. DENTIST OPPORTUNITY IN WESTERN WASH. — Seeking experienced dentist for busy, well established, successful, fee for service, group dental practice. Full-time position available. Excellent immediate income opportunity ($180,000 to $375,000 + per year) depending on productive ability and hours worked. Secure, long-term position. You can concentrate on optimum patient treatment without practice management duties. Modern well-equipped office with excellent staff, and lab services provided. If you are bright, energetic with a desire to be productive, very personable, and people oriented, and have great general and specialty clinical skills, Fax resume to Dr. Hanssen at (425) 484-2110.
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
SEEKING GENERAL DENTIST — To provide healthcare to everyone. Join our dynamic, growing team providing preventive & restorative care to children &/or adults at our community health center in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Work in newly remodeled facilities with digital radiology & without the work & overhead costs of running your own practice. Please view our website at www.unitycarenw.org/careers for details & help us increase the years of healthy life in the people and communities we serve!
FOR SALE — Attractive, fully equipped, modern five operatory dental office in UW/Laurelhurst area. Exceptionally well-designed, and beautifully maintained – 1,800 sq. ft. office with separate consultation op, sterilization room, private office for two, handicap bathroom, full laboratory for technicians, and staff room. Attractive 3rd floor location provides excellent natural lighting in every operatory. Lease is transferrable and renewable. Sale includes all dental and office equipment (dental chairs, lights, units, handpieces, instruments, x-ray equipment, office furniture and built-in cabinetry throughout, plus everything else that makes this office “truly turnkey.” Office appraised by Schein at $210,000. Open to all offers. Excellent value for relocation of established DDS or starter office for new grad. Email rleemfp@gmail.com for photos and additional information or call/text (206) 949 2958.
GENERAL DENTIST, SPOKANE — We have a great associate opportunity for a new graduate or a long term home for a seasoned dentist looking to be compensated well with less of the headaches and stress. Group practice composed of general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. For new grads it’s the perfect opportunity to learn your craft by working side by side with generalists and specialists while being paid very well. Base salary of up to $150,000 for new grads plus bonuses. Base salary of $175,000 plus bonuses for experienced dentists. Opportunies to earn much more with our full schedules! Full benefits package and moving allowance. State of the art clinics and equipment. Mix of children and adult dentistry. Mix of State and private insurance. Full time and part time opportunities available. Moving expense reimbursement offered. Please send inquiries to jbabka@applesmiles.com. GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE — Central WAHighly Visible, well-established Ellensburg practice for sale. Over 25 years of a great reputation and goodwill. The office is located in a single occupancy building on a prominent intersection with long term lease options. There is an amazing team that is committed to a successful transition. Collections averaging $80K/month, low overhead, productive hygiene department and excellent systems. The owner does not practice; an owner/practitioner would have solid upside potential. Great opportunity to retain specialty procedures in the practice. Seven treatment rooms, pano, digital x-rays, and intraoral cameras and Dentrix. Only Qualified buyers please. Contact Susan at 509962-2755 or MVDC@fairpoint.net. GENERAL DENTIST — Seeking a general dentist to join our growing practice. We have recently relocated to a brand new office and are searching for a general dentist to join our office. We are located in downtown Seattle. FT and PT applicants are invited to send your resume, cover letter, and a list of your in-network insurance companies to summergemini80@yahoo.com. OPPORTUNITIES WANTED OPPORTUNITY WANTED — University of Washington RIDE graduate looking for a part time associate position in the Seattle area. View my CV here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lo34mcSje oNOakGekjmGrqQFXHlbP-GIfU3zT9t5Glg/pub. ASSOCIATESHIP — Seeking Associateship in Whatcom County-Graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, 2016. View my CV here: drive.google.com/file/ d/0BxLG0RUgFDpnUlNNamNqdF9vbDg/view. OPPORTUNITY WANTED — 2016 USC graduate looking for an Endodontist position in Endodontic office or GP office. View my CV here: docs.google. com/document/d/1363Zn09JEFt8Jfxw1AlTfDpfU GZKBgBR0VgMMDaMuFs/edit?usp=sharing.
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DENTAL PRACTICE FOR SALE, MARYSVILLE — Collections 700k plus per year on 3 clinic days per week five op practice, with digital pano and xrays Modern finishes and updated clinic with great location and visibility Email inquiries to nwdental77@gmail.com. FOR LEASE — Beautiful first floor office in a three story professional building. Has been the location for an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon for nearly 30 years. Two surgical and three exam rooms with lots of parking. Post op room and private door to drive up. One block from Medical center and hospital. Park like setting with private gardens and floor to ceiling windows. Owner of the building is a General Dentist who is an owner occupant. Also an endodontist, orthodontist and other general dentists in the building. There is a need for another Oral surgeon in the valley! Owner will make the lease attractive. Call for more details and a showing. (509) 670-7593. SEEKING MERGER/SPACE SHARING — Established Silverdale, WA. General practice is seeking to consolidate and streamline practice leasehold and general administrative expenses. I am seeking an ethical and like-minded practitioner(s) for potential space sharing, partnership, or merger. Interested parties should email 3100merger@ gmail.com. FOR SALE — Bellevue Ideal for a specialist or a general dentist start-up. Beautiful turn-key dental space for sale in Bellevue, top quality construction, DanNix design. Located on the growing Bel-Red corridor close to Microsoft, 520, new multi-family development, and the new REI corporate headquarters. Fully equipped with three operatories, all ADEC, Pano, plumbed nitrous, and separate storage space with compressor. The lease term is excellent and structured simply with base monthly rent. There is no triple NNN pass through for expenses. Please contact financial@belmoddental. com for more details. FOR LEASE — General practice Battle Ground WA. Three fully equipped operatories -busy main street location - contact Vicki at 360-521-8057 or lyledkelstrom@gmail.com. MERGER THROUGH SALE — A small practice downtown Seattle ($415,000 revenue in 2016) with no in-network insurance contracts. Entirely fee for service and we help them bill their insurance. We need to relocate and are looking for a merger through sale to another practice to work back part-time. This may mean signing insurance contracts. Call (206) 915-1234.
classifieds issue 3, januar y 2017
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
in memoriam anderson, blomquist, bolton, jacobsen, lowr y
in memoriam, continued from page 40
the Buffaloes won the 1968 Liberty Bowl. his love for sports continued throughout his life as he enjoyed snow skiing at Mt. Bachelor and Sun Valley, waterskiing on Lake Washington, and summiting Mt. Rainier in 1978. Jacobsen had a magical smile, a contagious laugh, and a sense of humor that was appreciated by most. Through his enthusiasm, encouraging words, and his genuine interest in others, he had a way of making everyone he encountered feel special and significant. He was kind and generous, and the warmth of his hugs and bright spirit will be so dearly missed. In addition to his wife Deanna, of Bellevue, Jacobsen is survived by his son Ryan Jacobsen, daughter-in-law Jenna Jacobsen, daughter Ashley Olson, son-in-law Tim Olson, two granddaughters, and one on the way.
Sales
Acquisitions Mergers Valuations
Handling dentists’ practices with care since 1997
SKAGIT VALLEY - Modern GP in convenient location and rapidlygrowing area, collecting $1.1M. EASTSIDE SEATTLE AREA Well-established GP in desirable community, collecting $745K. D! SEATTLE - Solid GP in bustling,SOL centrally-located neighborhood. CAPITOL HILL - Growing GP, LD! phenomenal location. SO
Dr. Van Lee Lowry
Dr. Van Lee Lowry, Col. U.S.A., Retired. Passed away on March 29, 2016. Lowry was born July 11, 1929, in Tacoma Washington to George and Louise Lowry. He attended Sherman Grade School, Mason Junior High, and Stadium High School. He then went on to earn his B.S. in Chemistry and Biology at the College of Puget Sound and graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Jean Lowry and is survived by his children Karen Lynne Lowry, Dan Lee Lowry, and their families.
Please visit our website to view our current listings Robert Stanbery Owner
888.789.1085
www.practicetransitions.com
Pacific Dental Conference March 9-11, 2017
Featured Speakers
Join us in Vancouver, BC
One registration fee allows access to all open sessions – no pre-course selection necessary! Fees in Canadian Funds Three days of varied and contemporary continuing dental education sessions are offered (something for your whole team) Lunches and Exhibit Hall Receptions included in the registration fee for all three days Over 140 speakers and 150 open sessions and hands-on courses to choose from, as well as the Live Dentistry Stage in the Exhibit Hall Over 300 exhibiting companies in the spacious PDC Exhibit Hall (Thurs/Fri) PDC Lab Expo on Saturday – One day of exhibits area and lectures for Dental Technicians and all Dental team (lunch included) Fantastic shopping, beautiful seawall access within blocks of your hotel, and great spring skiing and golfing
Official conference of the:
March 11
www.pdconf.com
Online registration and program information at...
Harold Crossley Pharmacology
Stanley F. Malamed Anaesthesia
Kristy Menage Bernie Anthony (Rick) Cardoza Dental Hygiene Laser Dentistry / Forensics David Clark Karen Davis John Svirsky Ron Zokol Bobby Birdi Carla Cohn Judy Bendit John Molinari Timothy Donley
Dale Miles Steve Gilliland Larry Gaum Jeff Coil Damon Adams Alan M. Atlas David Landwehr Steve Meldrum David Rothman
John Alonge Oral Surgery
Lee Ann Brady Restorative
Brian Nový Jim Grisdale Cathia Bergeron Laurie St-Pierre Rodrigo Sanches Cunha George K. Merijohn Manor Haas Glenn van As Nancy Dewhirst
Complete speaker roster available for viewing at pdconf.com
4 2 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 3, januar y · 2017 · www.wsda.org
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
EDMONDS HIGHLANDS: Five chair GP practice, professional building, produced $435K in 2016 on 2 days/week, Dentrix, low overhead, strong referral base, excellent online reviews. Motivated seller. Call Danette Hamilton at 425-208-5391, dhamilton@AFTCO.net.
PEDIATRIC PRACTICE FOR SALE OR BUY-IN — North Central WA. A once in a lifetime opportunity: premier North Central Washington Pediatric dental practice available for either full sale or 50 percent buy-In. Referring out oral surgery; orthodontics and third molar extractions. Doctor owned building available for sale or lease. This is a great opportunity with flexible potential transition terms. For more information contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or email: Jennifer@ cpa4dds.com.
FOR LEASE — Highly visible Lynnwood Dental office for lease. Plumbed for four operatories, including nitrous and O2. 1,400 sq.ft. $24 per sq.ft and $3.62 NNN. email Steve Kikikis steve@omnipg.com.
FOR SALE — Established practice in University Place, WA for sale. General practice that does oral surgery, ortho and implants. Excellent patient base and location. Rent is extremely low with utilities and is locked in. Producing around $1m. Contact Lishoshima@gmail.com or call (206) 399-0242.
FOR SALE — Whatcom County General Dental Practice– Located in busy shopping complex and growing area. Annual collections over $500,000. 4 equipped operatories, lots of opportunity for growth. Contact Rod Johnston @rod@omni-pg. com.
FOR LEASE, UNIVERSITY PLACE - Great location with low rent and utilities included with 5 ops. Practice performs oral surgery, implant placement, perio surgery and ortho. Collections $750,000. Please contact Linnell Isoshima 206399-0242.
FOR SALE — South Sound Perio practice and real estate available for sale. Collections over $1.5 million. Great referrals and low overhead. Building is also for sale. Call Rod at Omni 206-979-2660 or rod@omni-pg.com.
G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN LINCOLN COUNTY — Annual collections over $430,000. Four operatories, doctor works three days per week. Practice is located within 35 miles of Spokane. Practice has been in same location since mid-60’s. Doctor owns the building and will sell it now or in the future. Well-trained staff will assist with the transition and will stay with the practice after the transition. Well-established practice with an excellent collection policy in place. Excellent cash flow for a practice of this size. Please contact Buck Reasor, DMD, cell: 503-680-4366, Fax: 888317-7231, email :info@ reasorprofessionaldental. com, www.reasorprofessionaldental.com. PO Box 14276, Portland, OR 97293. FOR LEASE/$13 sq. ft — Three operatories, recent renovations and willing to allocate funds towards further TI’s. Excellent visibility and marketability in 30 mph commuter zone on Burlington Blvd. Daily traffic counts 19,000. Close to Burlington High School, downtown Burlington, Haggen, Walgreens, Cash & Carry and other big box stores. Call Jason (360) 391-1201 or JasonHilde@gmail.com. FOR SALE OR LEASE — Spokane dental office. Nearly turn-key opportunity with major equipment in all 5 identical operatories. Building is located in the prime center location of a beautifully landscaped and maintained dental/medical office complex. On street visibility and signage exposure with ample free parking. The main floor is 2,450 sq ft with an identical footprint in the daylight lower level. Has full telecom services including CAT-5 computer networking. For information contact: Gary Kuster, Dowers Commercial Real Estate (509) 869-8100. GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE, RENTON — Lovely, nice and bright general dental practice in Renton for sale. Near Valley Medical Center with great visibility from high volume traffic areas. Four operatories. Approximately 1,255 square feet. Collecting $801K. For more information contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or email Jennifer@cpa4dds.com. GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE — South of Seattle, Burien. Well-established general dental practice located in the charming, renaissance area of Burien. Collecting $389K. 1,298 sq/ft. approximately. Four fully-equipped operatories. DSN practice management software. Digital radiography. Nitrous. For more information contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or email Jennifer@ cpa4dds.com. ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE FOR SALE — Greater Olympia area. Thriving, Greater Olympiaarea orthodontic practice opportunity primarily operating on two doctor days/week and three staff. Collecting $701K. 340 active patients. Five chairs plus exam room. TOPS Ortho practice management software. Digital radiography and pano. iTero. Invisalign. Surgical orthodontics. Building available for lease or sale by owner. For more information contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 2161612 or email Jennifer@cpa4dds.com. FOR LEASE — Built out dental space available for lease downtown Redmond Washington. Some equipment in place. Flexible terms. Up to six operatories, business office, and personal office. Contact Dr. Rod Robinson at (425) 822-6279.
FOR SALE, OLYMPIA - General Practice open 5 days a week. Seven operatories in a great location. Collecting over $550,000. Great practice to grow. Please contact Linnell Isoshima 206-399-0242. GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE— Prime location in Woodinville. Four chair practice with room to grow. Office performs sedation dentistry, Invisaline and Sleep apnea. One hygienist in the office. Average 2-year collection of $940K/yr. Please contact Linnell Isoshima – lisoshima@gmail.com 206-399-0242. PRACTICE FOR SALE — Small town practice, with older dentist ready to turn things over, preferably to recent graduate. I’m more interested in continuity of care than in making money on the sale, so this could be a way for a debt-laden graduate to get a practice of his/her own--I will carry the contract. Four ops, older but functional equipment, great location, middle-income clientele, collections averaging $650,000/year since 2011 working 3.5 days/ week. You won’t make $300K your first year, or do many 28 crown reconstructions, but you’ll be your own boss with lower debt pressure, and with growth potential. Contact me at ruralpractice461@ gmail.com for details. FOR SALE— Woodinville office. Four operatories, doing Invisaline.sediation, implants. Areas to expand are exits and endo. Four days a week. Eight days of hygiene. Collecting $900,000 On Main Street of Woodinville, ample patient parking . Well established practice. Email: Lisoshima@ gmail.com or call (206) 399-0242. OFFICE FOR LEASE, UNIVERSITY PLACE — University Place GP five op mature practice. Office performs implants, endo, ortho and extractions. Collections $800k on three days a week (ortho 1 day). Rent is $1,800/month includes utilities. Prime location. Email: Lisoshima@gmail.com or call 206-399-0242. FOR LEASE – Kennewick partially equipped fully plumbed, four operatories, approx. 2200 sq ft, Email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com. FOR LEASE – Maple Valley Dental office for lease. start-up or move your existing practice. Fully built out with 5 operatories, Plenty of parking in plaza. Approximately 1,524 sq. ft. with favorable lease terms. Email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com.
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FOR SALE —Investment opportunity in Maple Valley for sale. Mix of office and retail uses Asking price is 1.4 million for this visible building on .95 acres is 6,400 sq.ft Contact Steve Kikikis at steve@ omni-pg.com.
FOR SALE - Grays Harbor - Fee For Service General Dental practice for sale. Annual collections over $200,000, four operatories, lots of parking on busy street. Contact Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group at 206-979-2660 or e-mail rod@ omni-pg.com. FOR SALE - West Olympic Peninsula General dental practice for sale. Annual collections over $800,000 on 3 days per week. Doctor and hygiene booked several weeks out. Only dentist in town. Building also for sale.. Contact Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group or e-mail rod@omni-pg. com. OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE — For sale with general dental practice. Work 3 days/wk with little competition, enjoy the outdoors the other 4 days/week. Annual collections over $400k without trying. Low overhead. Contact Jim Vander Mey at jim@ omni-pg.com. NEW LISTING – Bellevue dental office space up to 3,204 sq. ft. Plumbed for 7 operatories. Great parking and signage. Close to Microsoft, Group Health and other eastside businesses. Contact Steve at steve@omni-pg.com EDMONDS — Plumbed office space for lease in Edmonds. Three ops expandable to 4 or 5. Located on high traffic street going into Edmonds. Great visibility and signage. Contact Steve at steve@ omni-pg.com. NEW LISTING — Fully equipped dental office for sale in Arlington. Three operatories, dental chairs, and sterilization, equipment included in purchase. No Patients Included. Approx. 950 sq. ft plus storage room. Asking $180,000. Email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com NEW LISTING — North Whatcom County general dental practice for sale. Annual collections of $400,000. Located next to Starbucks on busy street. Newer equipment, pano, etc., Beautiful city on the Canadian border. E-mail rod@omni-pg. com. NEW PEDIATRIC PRACTICE LISTINGS – One located in the South Sound, the second pediatric practice is located north of Seattle. Contact rod@ omni-pg.com for details.
classifieds issue 3, januar y 2017
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
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OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
BELLINGHAM — Lease turnkey dental suite. Formerly successful pediatric and orthodontic Class-A office space. Save $200,000+ construction costs. Ample parking. Interstate-5 access. High-traffic/visibility location. Customization available. Lincoln Professional Center: 360-739-1421 adengst@gmail.com.
NEXT/ANNIE MILLER & ASSOCIATES — Providing consulting services to the dental community for the past 35 years. New practice start-ups, practice transitions, sales and valuations. Dental space planning and architecture; real estate leasing and acquisitions, employment benefits; staffing resources and training; financing. Call today for your free consultation…we can’t mint money for you, but we can sure save what you have now! Annie Miller (206) 715-1444. Email: annie@nextnw. com.
FOR SALE — Rayscan 3D CBCT machine (Rayscan Alpha – EXPERT3D) Owned our previous machine for seven years. Purchased this one new for $65K, as it had similar capabilities. Later realized we want to upgrade for more features. Less than one year old, low shot count, still under parts warranty. (360) 692-0300 (Silverdale, WA).
BELLEVUE/FACTORIA general dentistry/specialist office for lease. 1,249 sq. ft. 3-ops. (Or, 2,100 sq. ft. for ? ops) Winner location. Easy I-90/I-405 frwy access. Across the street from Factoria Mall. 15’ pole sign by Factoria Blvd. available. T.I. required for conversion. Landlord will contribute to concession (206) 915-2263 Mark. DENTAL BUILDING FOR SALE — Modern two story office building in fast growing market. Existing office tenants generating solid cash flow. Dental Clinic with six operatoriums available for immediate use. $1,475,000 @ 6.5 CAP. Call Chris 206 595-5791 for viewing and further details. GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE North Seattle, WA. An outstanding opportunity in a prime location. Three fully equipped, digital ops, room for four. Real estate also for sale. Please contact SeattleDentalOfficeSale@gmail.com. G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN THE LONGVIEWKELSO AREA — General practice for sale with four fully equipped operatories. Annual collections over $550,000. Great location with excellent visibility. Well established practice that has been in same location for over 38 years. Well trained staff will assist with the transition. Seller owns building and would sell now or would sell in the future. Outstanding collection policy. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD, Reasor Professional Dental Services, info@reasorprofessionaldental.com, (503) 680-4366. BELLEVUE — General practice for sale in Lake Hills neighborhood. 20+ years. Great location with good street visibility. Three chairs with room for four, approx. 1,500 sq. ft. , fully digitized, Dentrix, Invisalign, mostly adult restorative and families. Ave. 600k+ annual production, staff wlling to stay, doctor will work through transition. Please reply to: Piega@delaneytransitions/ (425) 890-8271. FOR LEASE, OLYMPIA — Ideal location on Martin Way near St. Peter Hospital, 2,000+ sq. ft. Five ops including chairs, panex and more. Perfect for startup/ satellite office, future purchase possible. Contact Don at uncledgh@aol.com. FOR SALE — Modern general dental practice for sale in downtown Bellevue. One to two year association with sale price to be determined at today’s value plus one half of earned equity at the time of transition. Six chair office built out in 2008. Chartless, digital pano and xrays. Email: office@ dentistryinbellevue.com. YAKIMA/SUNNYSIDE — We have a great associate opportunity for a new graduate or a long term home for a seasoned dentist looking to be compensated well with less of the headaches and stress. Group practice composed of general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. For new grads it’s the perfect opportunity to learn your craft by working side by side with generalists and specialists while being paid very well. Base salary starting at $165,000 plus bonuses. Full benefits package and moving allowance. State of the art clinics and equipment. Mix of children and adult dentistry. Mix of State and private insurance. Position available in Yakima/Sunnyside, Washington. Come try out the East side of the state where there’s 300+ days of sunshine, beautiful landscaping, the gorgeous Columbia River and family friendly communities! Please send inquiries to jbabka@applesmiles.com.
FOR SALE — Tukwila. Newly upgraded dental practice in Tukwila for sale. $725,500.00. Six ops with the latest in imaging upgrades, new computers, software and hand pieces. One of the last feefor-service practices left. Seller will pay for new floor covering throughout, leave the security deposit for the new buyer on the lease assessment and help with the transition. Call today for a tour. Annie Miller, (206)-715-1444. AVAILABLE, SOUTHCENTER — Just available. 1200 square foot fully equipped 4 operatory dental space. Cerec , Panoral, 4 chairs, lights, nitrous, air and vacuum all available and in place. Please call Dr. Jerome Baruffi at Medical Centers Management (206) 575-1551. SPACE SHARING OPPORTUNITY DOWNTOWN SEATTLE – Looking for a dentist with an existing practice to share our office space. This is not an associate position. Restorative practice with inhouse C&B, and denture processing lab, and technician. Modern downtown Seattle five chair office. Lease ending soon? Decrease your overhead now! Opportunity to buy into the facility for the right person. drnicolini@hotmail.com. FOR LEASE — Quality professional office Space for lease in the heart of the Renton Highlands in the Highlands Professional Plaza medical dental building. Excellent place for an oral surgeon and/ or endodontist to open a satellite office or start up practice. Currently there are two GP dentists, a pedodontist, an orthodontist and a large physical therapy clinic. This building has a proven track record of successful businesses because of its location and quality. The building sits across the street from Bartells, QFC, and Starbucks. There are six elementary schools and four high schools within two miles. Get close to where the people live and enjoy fast practice growth. Call (206) 595-9100. FOR LEASE — Centrally Located Medical Office Suite Available in Kennewick, WA. Fully finished, 6 exam rooms, 5 offices, large lab/procedure area. Private entrance and ample parking. Contact Rob Ellsworth, SVN Retter and Company at 509) 4302378, or rob@robellsworth.com. FOR IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY — A fully plumbed dental office. 1,350 sq ft , three operatories, air, water, vacuum, nitrous oxide and oxygen, private office, lab, staff lounge, separate staff entrance. This office has exceptional exposure to the Southcenter Mall traffic. Please call Dr. Jerome Baruffi at Medical Centers Management (206) 575-1551. SERVICES HAVE SEDATION, WILL TRAVEL! — Make fearful patients comfortable with IV Conscious Sedation. I am set up to come to your office and sedate your patients so that you can perform needed treatments the patients avoid due to fear. I have over 19 years experience providing safe IV Conscious Sedation. Serving Washington and Oregon. Richard Garay, DDS. (360) 281-0204, garaydds@gmail.com.
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FOR SALE: Gently used 2 year-old Digital Pano (Instrumentarium OP30)- $17k This unit has the Extra-Oral Bitewing program as well as TMJ Projection. The images are brilliant and easy to diagnose from. Buyer responsible for cost of moving, installing and insurance for the move. admin@ UptownDentalGigHarbor.com. INTRAORAL X-RAY SENSOR REPAIR — We specialize in repairing Kodak/Carestream, Dexis, Gendex and Schick CDR sensors. Repair and save thousands over replacement cost. We purchase old/broken sensors. www.RepairSensor.com / (919) 924-8559. FOR SALE — Two Midmark Elevance Chairs with leather, heat/massage with 6-position delivery units and asst. instrumentation included. One 12 o’clock cabinet available. High-end equipment. All only 1 year-old and in superb condition. Email clrdds@comcast.net or call (509) 326-6862 for photos. Best offer. USED/REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT — Adec, Gendex, Pelton Crane, DentalEZ, Porter, Air Tech, Midwest, Midmark and etc. Lab equipment. Parts are also available for almost all equipment. Call Dental Warehouse at 800-488-2446 or http:// cascade-dental.net. FOR SALE — I-Tero HD2.9 for sale. Just over 1.5 years old. Perfect working condition. Asking $11,000.00 Please contact us at edmondsortho@ gmail.com. OFFICE CONSTRUCTION CONSTANTINE BUILDERS INC. (CBI) — WSDA endorses CBI as their preferred builder of Dental facilities with over 25 years of experience from ground up buildings, renovations, remodels, and interior tenant improvement projects. All projects are completed on time and within budget. CBI provides the highest level of quality service with integrity that exceeds our client’s expectation. Please see our display ad on page two and website at www.constantinebuilders.com for additional information and how you can become another satisfied client. Telephone (206) 957-4400, O. George Constantine.
CLASSIFIED ADS IN THE WSDA NEWS Visit wsda.org/news/classifieds/ to place your ad and select the issues you would like your ad to run in. Follow up your submission with a phone call to Rob at (206) 9735220 to submit your credit card information (sorry, no check payments), and your ad will be placed. Sell your practice or fill a position quickly? Don’t worry, you’re only charged for the ads that run. We’re flexible, and the process is painless and cost effective. Pricing is as follows: Members: $50 for the first 30 words, $1 per word for each word over 30. Non-members: $100 for the first 30 words, $1 per word for each word over 30.
classifieds issue 3, januar y 2017
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
first person dr. stephen lee
Friends don’t let friends take bad CE
Dr. Stephen Lee Editorial Advisory Board
“I am amazed at the cost of some continuing education (CE) programs. Junk mail and throw-away journals filled with ads for expensive classes cover our desks, with slick, convincing marketing pitches.”
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the WSDA.
About 15 years ago, as graduation from dental school approached, my dad wrote me a letter with various nuggets of advice from his dental career, all of which still apply. In this column, I will discuss one of his suggestions: that you can get a great education from people who don’t charge an arm and a leg. I am amazed at the cost of some continuing education (CE) programs. Junk mail and throw-away journals filled with ads for expensive classes cover our desks, with slick, convincing marketing pitches. Unfortunately, CE classes lack a money-back guarantee, so it falls on our shoulders to determine what is worth our time and money. It’s information we should share with our peers. We all have colleagues who fall for the pitch. They post pictures on Facebook to show the exotic locale of the class, and rave about what a great education it is. When they return, they are ready to be super dentists. Six months later, if I ask what they’ve implemented from the class, the typical response I hear is, “Well, I don’t really get those kinds of cases, but the speaker was great,” or “My patients aren’t interested in two years of braces and a mouthful of crowns, but the speaker was great.” Inevitably, they sign up for more classes, inspired by the charismatic speaker and the institute’s fancy framed certificate, and they’ve paid so much that they’re unwilling to recognize their mistake. You will not be as good as the specialist down the street by attending an “intensive hands-on three-day seminar” just because you shelled out $8,995 to go. You might end up doing more harm than good, realizing later that the speaker conveniently left out the cases that didn’t go so well. Great educators will share their failures to help you learn, and they won’t try to convince you that you will only be a great dentist if you buy all of their materials….and sign up for one more seminar. Several institutes for continuing education are expensive and excellent, and thus, a reasonable value; my intent is not to trash everybody that offers CE. In addition, some cheap CE is worthless, and we’ve all been to free evening classes with bad dinners that turned out to be a sales pitch for something we don’t need, to solve a problem we don’t have. A few teaching centers don’t even teach quality dentistry. One of my local mentors referred to a certain big out-of-state teaching center as “The Institute of Unnecessary Dentistry.” Ask yourself this: Is the course content within your ethical boundaries, or are they selling the idea of chopping down straight white teeth to put on straight white veneers? I walked out of one class when the speaker recommended we tell patients that their restorations are like the furniture in their house. The suggestion was that a patient wouldn’t live with mismatched furniture from different decades, and that the mouth was no different. This speaker suggested it would be a good service to our patients to refresh things every so often. What an insult to all the work placed by previous dentists, which was done with the optimistic, but appropriate, expectation that the work should last a lifetime! Be a smart consumer of your education. When you consider your time and the expense of the travel and lodging, your CE costs a lot more than the number you write on the check. Invest the extra time finding out where the best value is from colleagues. Join a study club. Go to the PNDC, June 15 to 17. You’ll have a wide variety of courses to choose from at a very reasonable price, and you can be sure that the speakers are vetted by the WSDA, unlike some highly advertised courses at Las Vegas casinos that are all sparkle and no substance. I ask this of the longtime dentists who have made these mistakes: Be vocal about where you’ve found great dental wisdom, but also be vocal about when, where, and to whom you’ve overpaid for garbage education. Don’t be embarrassed to admit you spent a bunch of money on classes that turned out to be losers. Share your mistakes. We need to help our peers avoid the same mistake, and we don’t want bad CE providers to stay in business. To the younger dentists: be a smart consumer. Don’t be spellbound by the razzle-dazzle marketing spewed out by those with more interest in money than mentorship. Ask the other dentists about their experiences, both good and bad. With a bit of effort, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can learn. Investing in your education doesn’t just mean spending money for classes. It means spending the extra time to determine the wisest way to allocate your time, energy, and money to bettering your professional self.
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THE OBVIOUS CHOICE
FOR WASHINGTON DENTISTS Trustworthy Just as your patients trust you, Matt and Kerri are trusted by their clients because they specialize in insurance products for dentists. Reliable Matt and Kerri have years of experience advising dentists about insurance. They’ve been able to build and nurture solid relationships because they deliver service excellence time and time again. Knowledgeable The WDIA Team will help you make informed decisions about the insurance policies you need no matter what career stage you’re in.
YOUR WDIA TEAM: Matt French · Kerri Seims 206.441.6824 · 800.282.9342 www.wdiains.com
Sole broker for:
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Washington State Dental Association 126 NW Canal Street Seattle, WA 98107
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PA ID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 8115
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
We're not the norm… Anytime we discover exposures our doctors are facing beyond professional liability, we work to develop and offer exceptional dentist-specific products. For instance, NORDIC was one of the first northwest companies to offer dentists comprehensive cyber risk coverage. Can the big box companies say that? For more information about cyber coverage, call …… NORDIC – the Gold Standard
800-662-4075 nordicins.com melissa.sanchez@nordicins.com
Sole broker for NORDIC
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