Learn how you can speed up some of the everyday tasks your team performs.
In my experience, whenever you can save your staff time or make their workday a little bit easier, it makes for a happier and more efficient team. Here are some Dentrix features and tips you can use to save time and make everyday tasks easier:
- Set Up and Use Procedure Buttons in the Patient Chart
Using procedure buttons for the procedures that you chart and treatment plan regularly is much quicker and easier than searching for a procedure code in the list of procedure categories. - Use Multi-Codes
Most offices have several procedures that they treatment plan multiple codes for. Instead of treatment planning each procedure code individually, create a multi-code to make the process easier. This also ensures that all procedure codes are included and none are forgotten by mistake. For example, offices will often create a single multi-code that contains all the individual procedure codes for a root canal, crown, build up, and crown seat. Offices that fabricate dentures and have the patient return for several appointments (initial impressions, wax try-in, and so forth), may create procedure codes for those separate visits, and then they can easily treatment plan all the codes at once using a multi-code.
Bonus Tip: Combine these first two bullet points, and you can make treatment planning even easier by creating procedure buttons for multi-codes!
- Use the Auto-State Button
This is an especially handy feature when working with a new patient. You can use Auto-State to chart all of the patient’s existing restorations from another provider at another practice. Then when it’s time for your doctor to examine the patient, switch to treatment planning mode. The Auto-State button eliminates the need for additional clicks for each procedure being charted and can be a great time-saving tool. - Use Fast Checkout Options
This feature in the Ledger allows you to perform three key parts of the patient check-out process with one click. An insurance claim will be created, the patient payment window will appear for you to post a payment, and a patient walk-out statement will be batched or printed, depending on your preference. Not only does this feature save you time, it also ensures that the most important tasks of the patient check-out process are completed. This can be especially useful if you have a new team member that may not be as familiar with the patient check-out process. - Enter Batch Insurance Payments
This is one of my favorite Dentrix features. It simplifies the process of posting batch insurance payments. The best part is, if you haven’t allocated the insurance payment accurately, Dentrix will provide you with a warning. This allows you the opportunity to address the problem immediately instead of trying to find the mistake at the end of the day. There are many other helpful features available within the Batch Insurance Payment Entry dialog box. You can split a claim if some procedures aren’t paid and require additional information, and you can create a guarantor statement if the insurance did not pay what was estimated and the patient has a remaining balance. - Close Claims Without Assignment of Benefits
For claims you have filed for the patient’s reimbursement, you can close these claims, either for one family or for all patients. The benefit of using this feature is that you don’t have to close these claims individually, which would be a time-consuming process. You should close claims that you aren’t expecting assignment of benefits for, otherwise they will continue to appear on the Insurance Aging Report and could skew other Dentrix insurance payment reports.
All those little moments you save throughout the day can really add up. Be sure and try these Dentrix time-saving tips to help your team be more efficient throughout the day.
Learn More
For additional information, read the following :
- Customize Procedure Button Sets in the Patient Chart
- Creating Multi-Codes in Dentrix
- Save Time with the Auto-State Button in the Patient Chart
- Setting Up Fast Checkout Options in the Ledger
- Improvements to the Batch Insurance Payment Entry Window
- Automatically Closing Claims without Assignment of Benefits
By Charlotte Skaggs
Certified Dentrix Trainer and The Dentrix Office Manager columnist
Charlotte Skaggs is the founder of Vector Dental Consulting LLC, a practice management firm focused on taking offices to the next level. Charlotte co-owned and managed a successful dental practice with her husband for 17 years. She has a unique approach to consulting based on the perspective of a practice owner. Charlotte has been using Dentrix for over 20 years and is a certified Dentrix trainer. Contact Charlotte at vectordentalconsulting@gmail.com.
