Most business owners would agree that you need to have a certain level of trust in your IT person. After all, he or she does have access to all of your company’s data and systems. But what if you were no longer satisfied with their services and were looking into replacing them? Could you be sure that he or she wouldn’t do something to jeopardize your computer network and ultimately your business? Ask yourself the following 6 questions:
1. Do you know all the passwords? Every machine and Internet related device on your network has (or should have) a password. If your current provider is the only one who knows what they are then you cannot view, change, or update the system settings. You should also know the passwords to your company’s database and accounting package so you can change them whenever there is a change in IT providers.
2. Do you know where your backup files are stored and if they are being stored properly?
If you are like most business owners, you’re too busy dealing with the “crisis of the day” to think about system backups and probably leave tasks to your internal expert. If your database gets fried and your tech is nowhere to be found, you might be in a lot of trouble.
3. Do you have all the product keys to your software? Product keys are long, alphanumeric codes, usually printed on the back of the software’s packing material, that are required to install the software. Once installed, you don’t need them again…UNLESS your system becomes unstable and you need to reinstall the program. Always make sure you have these stored in a secure location.
4. Do you know where all the software disks are stored? Taking a minute to organize and store your software disks in a secure place can save you a considerable chunk of money in the event that you need to restore a program on your computer. If you don’t have the disk, you might be forced to buy the software again.
5. Do you know what routine maintenance must be done to your network? I know that the very idea of learning about and keeping track of all the servers, workstations, and peripherals on your network probably gives you a major headache, but it is important information to maintain. If your expert leaves without providing you with this information, you may need to pay a new professional to take this work over.
6. Do you know how to protect yourself from an ugly security breach if your computer expert leaves? What happens if you let go of your IT expert and he or she still has access to your company’s network? As soon as humanly possible, you should disable his or her access, including remote access to your network.
If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you will want to get the answers soon. Any IT provider who is secure enough with the quality of their services should welcome the opportunity to provide you with the answers.
This post was submitted by Pedro Nunez. Pedro is one of our preferred providers and is director of IT services @ IT Management solutions-http://dentalcomputersupport.net/
Friday, December 18, 2009
URGENT WARNING TO ALL BUSINESS OWNERS: If You Can’t Answer “Yes” To These 6 Questions, Your Current IT Person Has Too Much Control
Friday, December 4, 2009
In Office Patient Seminars to Teach and to Grow Your Practice-How about Sjogrens Syndrome?
There are many interesting ways to grow your practice. The best way is doing what you do best: keep your patients’ mouth healthy. You can do this while attracting new patients, emphasizing loyalty and enjoying a closer relationship with your existing clientele.
One suggestion is to identify a common complaint and hold a series of in-office seminars to present the problem and explain how doctors, hygienists and patients can work together to keep them healthy.
Sjogrens Syndrome is a common complaint in my practice. I can see no better means of singing the praises of regular check ups than teaching a group about Sjogrens. A simple invitation for a one-hour gathering highlighting a few key symptoms such as dry mouth, sensitive teeth, frequent oral infections and a catchy title like Is your Mouth Like the Mojave Desert? It may be Sjogrens Syndrome; is a good start.
Invite the group to join you at the appointed time in the seating area of your office, but if you have a well-appointed staff/conference room, you can be sure that they will feel special, as if you had invited them into your inner sanctum. This creates an atmosphere of trust and invites loyalty from your existing patients. Feel free to have a few snacks and drinks, and have some common mouthwashes on hand as a good ice-breaker by asking those identified sufferers if they have tried mouthwash to alleviate the symptoms. It is a good idea to have one of your hygienist on hand, along with your appointment coordinator.
Plunge into the main causes for dry mouth, as occurring when the body mistakes the salivary glands for foreign intruders and attacks them. Use simple language reassuring them that occasionally, everyone's mouth feels dry like desert sand. Perhaps it was something they ate or a medication they took that caused saliva flow to diminish. However, this desert goes beyond occasional dryness. You can add statistical data by mentioning that there are four million Sjögren's Syndrome sufferers in the U.S. and that someone with Sjögren's Syndrome typically has the disease for six years before it is diagnosed because it mimics and co-exists with several other conditions.
Emphasizing the role of saliva as one of the most important fluids in the body because it acts as a protector from bacteria, yeasts and viruses, and presenting a simple chart listing how Sjogrens disguises as some of the most common conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and the difficulty in diagnosing it appropriately because no two people have the same signs or symptoms is very impressive.
Your chart may look something like this:
Concluding that unfortunately there is no cure for Sjögren's Syndrome but that a dentist can usually detect early stages of Sjögren's Syndrome before they are aware of dryness in the mouth through regular check ups. This way a dentist can monitor their dental health as well as offer recommendations for things they can do at home to ease the desert sand discomfort, such as prescription medications in severe cases and new over-the-counter oral care products that might provide relief.Your punch line that “the desert is an interesting place to visit, but that they probably don't want to live there”; is a good reminder that if they have Sjögren's Syndrome, early intervention is crucial. Your staff is happily ready to make an appointment right now!
Finally, create an incentive for your patients to bring in their friends, and you have a loyal patient and new ones on the way!
This entry was written by Gerry J. Casazza, DMD, F.A.G.D.
Gerry has recently joined the e-dds team as the clinical consultant and practice management specialist. He has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and has a thriving practice with 2 locations north of Boston. Email Gerry@e-dds.com
One suggestion is to identify a common complaint and hold a series of in-office seminars to present the problem and explain how doctors, hygienists and patients can work together to keep them healthy.
Sjogrens Syndrome is a common complaint in my practice. I can see no better means of singing the praises of regular check ups than teaching a group about Sjogrens. A simple invitation for a one-hour gathering highlighting a few key symptoms such as dry mouth, sensitive teeth, frequent oral infections and a catchy title like Is your Mouth Like the Mojave Desert? It may be Sjogrens Syndrome; is a good start.
Invite the group to join you at the appointed time in the seating area of your office, but if you have a well-appointed staff/conference room, you can be sure that they will feel special, as if you had invited them into your inner sanctum. This creates an atmosphere of trust and invites loyalty from your existing patients. Feel free to have a few snacks and drinks, and have some common mouthwashes on hand as a good ice-breaker by asking those identified sufferers if they have tried mouthwash to alleviate the symptoms. It is a good idea to have one of your hygienist on hand, along with your appointment coordinator.
Plunge into the main causes for dry mouth, as occurring when the body mistakes the salivary glands for foreign intruders and attacks them. Use simple language reassuring them that occasionally, everyone's mouth feels dry like desert sand. Perhaps it was something they ate or a medication they took that caused saliva flow to diminish. However, this desert goes beyond occasional dryness. You can add statistical data by mentioning that there are four million Sjögren's Syndrome sufferers in the U.S. and that someone with Sjögren's Syndrome typically has the disease for six years before it is diagnosed because it mimics and co-exists with several other conditions.
Emphasizing the role of saliva as one of the most important fluids in the body because it acts as a protector from bacteria, yeasts and viruses, and presenting a simple chart listing how Sjogrens disguises as some of the most common conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and the difficulty in diagnosing it appropriately because no two people have the same signs or symptoms is very impressive.
Your chart may look something like this:
- enlarged saliva glands
- thick, sticky saliva
- decreased ability to taste foods and smell
- difficulty chewing, swallowing and talking
- burning sensation in the mouth
- dry cough, nose and skin
- sore or cracked tongue
- extreme fatigue
- joint pain
- increase in cavities
- teeth are sensitive to hot, cold and sweets
- requent oral infections, like yeast (thrush)digestion problems
- difficulty tolerating dentures
Concluding that unfortunately there is no cure for Sjögren's Syndrome but that a dentist can usually detect early stages of Sjögren's Syndrome before they are aware of dryness in the mouth through regular check ups. This way a dentist can monitor their dental health as well as offer recommendations for things they can do at home to ease the desert sand discomfort, such as prescription medications in severe cases and new over-the-counter oral care products that might provide relief.Your punch line that “the desert is an interesting place to visit, but that they probably don't want to live there”; is a good reminder that if they have Sjögren's Syndrome, early intervention is crucial. Your staff is happily ready to make an appointment right now!
Finally, create an incentive for your patients to bring in their friends, and you have a loyal patient and new ones on the way!
This entry was written by Gerry J. Casazza, DMD, F.A.G.D.
Gerry has recently joined the e-dds team as the clinical consultant and practice management specialist. He has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and has a thriving practice with 2 locations north of Boston. Email Gerry@e-dds.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
My success is related to the quality of my entrance, my bed position or where is my office located? This is crazy!!!
I know it sounds funny. Yet what I am going to tell you sounds even funnier: There is a direct connection between the floor plan of your home and office and your body!
When we look at a floor plan, we can see where the rooms are located and what function each room may perform as well as what other activities may go on within it. Is it a bedroom? Storage? Kitchen? Home office? A floor plan and layout also speak volumes regarding the occupant’s chances of success, health, wealth, relationships, family, children, creativity, recognition and spirituality, because the home and the body are connected. In Feng Shui terminology, a floor plan is the holder of the “mystical being”. The mystical being is our inner persona. That is what guides us to select a particular environment to live and work given the course of our life path when we buy, rent or select the particular space even for work outside our homes. Each body part and organ has a direct correspondence or vibrational resonance with an architectural detail, a sector of the space and the crucial systems that bring in electricity, plumbing, sewage, and ventilation. The energetic vibration of these elements corresponds to every atom, particle and molecule of our living system. I will elaborate on this concept on the next entry. Today I want to explain the connection at the practical level.
To begin to grasp the enormity of what I am presenting today, if we were to lay face down with our head at the front door, and then, given the locations of the other spaces, we follow to where our “neck” is laying, where are the “shoulders”, the “legs” and so on; we can identify not only parts of our bodies that may be sensitive, but also aspects of our lives. For example, if the neck is laying in a very narrow and shortened entry hall with the body abruptly going up the stair case, it leaves arms and shoulders down below as the chest angles upward. Given this scenario, in life we may exhibit difficulties getting cooperation to move our projects forward, our intimate relationships maybe difficult and we may have digestive issues such as reflux. This is because the head, the neck and the shoulders energetically resonate with our ability to attract benefactors and to help others. It resonates with our ability to comprehend information as well. Thus we may have difficulties grasping ideas, and carry them out or enable us to properly plan our projects and research necessary information. These parts of our anatomy also "speak" of obtaining support from business, banking, managing banking investments and dealing with authorities in general. Specifically to the body, if this area were constricted, cluttered or unkempt, a dweller may also suffer constant headaches, exhibit neurosis and skin problems, lung and large intestine conditions, and/or stomach ailments in general. It should be noted that not everybody will exhibit the same symptoms or problems in a family dwelling or an office setting. But it will affect those with a weaker vibrational field. Stress, illness and other factors affect the degree to which an individual resonates with the difficult space design. In short, analyzing a space and observing how energy flows around the dwelling, into it and throughout the interior can tell a lot about how our lives are flowing. When the design problems are identified and correlated with life situations or health conditions, we are able to address each of them either separately or concurrently with the ultimate goal of learning our life lessons and moving on to the next stage of our human path in this lifetime. The space you picked, yes, you did, offers you pearls of wisdom about yourself. Embrace its message!!!
More in a few days...But if you are in a hurry, please contact lidia@e-dds.com
This entry was submitted by Lidia Scher the Office Design Expert for Virtual Dental Solutions.
Lidia has designed many beautiful and successful dental office environents throughout the country for the past 24 years. See portfolio and menu of virtual consultations available by clicking on the Office Design page.
When we look at a floor plan, we can see where the rooms are located and what function each room may perform as well as what other activities may go on within it. Is it a bedroom? Storage? Kitchen? Home office? A floor plan and layout also speak volumes regarding the occupant’s chances of success, health, wealth, relationships, family, children, creativity, recognition and spirituality, because the home and the body are connected. In Feng Shui terminology, a floor plan is the holder of the “mystical being”. The mystical being is our inner persona. That is what guides us to select a particular environment to live and work given the course of our life path when we buy, rent or select the particular space even for work outside our homes. Each body part and organ has a direct correspondence or vibrational resonance with an architectural detail, a sector of the space and the crucial systems that bring in electricity, plumbing, sewage, and ventilation. The energetic vibration of these elements corresponds to every atom, particle and molecule of our living system. I will elaborate on this concept on the next entry. Today I want to explain the connection at the practical level.
To begin to grasp the enormity of what I am presenting today, if we were to lay face down with our head at the front door, and then, given the locations of the other spaces, we follow to where our “neck” is laying, where are the “shoulders”, the “legs” and so on; we can identify not only parts of our bodies that may be sensitive, but also aspects of our lives. For example, if the neck is laying in a very narrow and shortened entry hall with the body abruptly going up the stair case, it leaves arms and shoulders down below as the chest angles upward. Given this scenario, in life we may exhibit difficulties getting cooperation to move our projects forward, our intimate relationships maybe difficult and we may have digestive issues such as reflux. This is because the head, the neck and the shoulders energetically resonate with our ability to attract benefactors and to help others. It resonates with our ability to comprehend information as well. Thus we may have difficulties grasping ideas, and carry them out or enable us to properly plan our projects and research necessary information. These parts of our anatomy also "speak" of obtaining support from business, banking, managing banking investments and dealing with authorities in general. Specifically to the body, if this area were constricted, cluttered or unkempt, a dweller may also suffer constant headaches, exhibit neurosis and skin problems, lung and large intestine conditions, and/or stomach ailments in general. It should be noted that not everybody will exhibit the same symptoms or problems in a family dwelling or an office setting. But it will affect those with a weaker vibrational field. Stress, illness and other factors affect the degree to which an individual resonates with the difficult space design. In short, analyzing a space and observing how energy flows around the dwelling, into it and throughout the interior can tell a lot about how our lives are flowing. When the design problems are identified and correlated with life situations or health conditions, we are able to address each of them either separately or concurrently with the ultimate goal of learning our life lessons and moving on to the next stage of our human path in this lifetime. The space you picked, yes, you did, offers you pearls of wisdom about yourself. Embrace its message!!!
More in a few days...But if you are in a hurry, please contact lidia@e-dds.com
This entry was submitted by Lidia Scher the Office Design Expert for Virtual Dental Solutions.
Lidia has designed many beautiful and successful dental office environents throughout the country for the past 24 years. See portfolio and menu of virtual consultations available by clicking on the Office Design page.
Friday, November 6, 2009
A Few Ways You Can Measure Social Media-Part 3 of 3
5. Now, you've made sure you’re doing the right things by following the before-mentioned tips, but you don't have time to do all this newfangled stuff!!! You can get free advice from social media experts who are handing out information over the web. There are social media agencies out there who will also be happy to help you, if you don’t have the time or resources to do this in-house.
6. We offer help as well. Contact Angela@e-dds.com for a free consultation.
Tips were submitted by Lidia Scher, our in-house office designer, Lidia@e-dds.com
6. We offer help as well. Contact Angela@e-dds.com for a free consultation.
Tips were submitted by Lidia Scher, our in-house office designer, Lidia@e-dds.com
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tips on Dental Office Success
Would you agree that success is defined by whether or not you can,
1. Work smart, not hard,
2. Can attract opportunities that easily turn into positive
outcomes,
3. Enjoy harmonious relationships within your family, your friends and your business,
4. Feel satisfied with your career and business choice,
5. Can have a broad view of your life and work, yet can attend to the smallest details,
6. Invite the right clients and the right people into your life, and
7. you easily realize profits higher than you projected!
When I am not on track with these landmarks, I first look within my home environment and my office to see how energy flows within these two spaces and I check for the following tell tales that something is not going well:
1. Look at what is happening outside my buildings. New construction going on? Some movement of tenants? Change in management? Wheather related events such as trees down or power lines?
2. Check out the quality of my entry. Do I need to remove/change plantings? Do I need to add some seasonal items/greens? Repaint the door? Fix anything? How is my walkway? Does it seem to narrow as it goes out toward the street? Is it blocked by a tree/bush that is overgrown? Do I even have a walkway guiding to the door, or do I just have grass outside my front door?
3. Look at my bedroom, my bed and my desk at the office. Do they offer me a position of control in relation to the access door?
4. Check out the quality of my bed and my desk and chair. Do they need repairs? Do they say...temporary or solid and strong?
5. See if my bedroom or my office shares a wall with a room that is in conflict with the activities of my bedroom and my office. Is the kitchen or bathroom on the other side?
6. Do I have clutter in my bedroom and in my office?
7. Is my desk piled high with "stuff" that "I can always find" or is it so clean that "I can eat there"?
8. Check out the lighting in my bedroom and my business. Is there balanced lighting or there are dark spots or lots of glare?
Well, you may think that these two lists have nothing to do with each other, but they do.
Study the 2 lists and jot down your reactions to it. I'll elaborate on their correlation on next week's blog.
If you need answers in a hurry, you may contact Lidia Scher @ lidia@e-dds.com
1. Work smart, not hard,
2. Can attract opportunities that easily turn into positive
outcomes,
3. Enjoy harmonious relationships within your family, your friends and your business,
4. Feel satisfied with your career and business choice,
5. Can have a broad view of your life and work, yet can attend to the smallest details,
6. Invite the right clients and the right people into your life, and
7. you easily realize profits higher than you projected!
When I am not on track with these landmarks, I first look within my home environment and my office to see how energy flows within these two spaces and I check for the following tell tales that something is not going well:
1. Look at what is happening outside my buildings. New construction going on? Some movement of tenants? Change in management? Wheather related events such as trees down or power lines?
2. Check out the quality of my entry. Do I need to remove/change plantings? Do I need to add some seasonal items/greens? Repaint the door? Fix anything? How is my walkway? Does it seem to narrow as it goes out toward the street? Is it blocked by a tree/bush that is overgrown? Do I even have a walkway guiding to the door, or do I just have grass outside my front door?
3. Look at my bedroom, my bed and my desk at the office. Do they offer me a position of control in relation to the access door?
4. Check out the quality of my bed and my desk and chair. Do they need repairs? Do they say...temporary or solid and strong?
5. See if my bedroom or my office shares a wall with a room that is in conflict with the activities of my bedroom and my office. Is the kitchen or bathroom on the other side?
6. Do I have clutter in my bedroom and in my office?
7. Is my desk piled high with "stuff" that "I can always find" or is it so clean that "I can eat there"?
8. Check out the lighting in my bedroom and my business. Is there balanced lighting or there are dark spots or lots of glare?
Well, you may think that these two lists have nothing to do with each other, but they do.
Study the 2 lists and jot down your reactions to it. I'll elaborate on their correlation on next week's blog.
If you need answers in a hurry, you may contact Lidia Scher @ lidia@e-dds.com
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