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# Fluence

The power of us.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.fluenceportland.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/blog) - Our reputation as a premier accounting and consulting firm is built upon our relentless pursuit of client satisfaction. Fluence focuses on assisting dental professionals.
- [Meals & Entertainment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/meals-entertainment) - Along with the recent passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (effective January 1, 2026) came a bit of ambiguity on the topic of meals and entertainment, namely what related expenses are deductible and to what extent they are deductible. If you heard that employee snacks and beverages are now completely nondeductible, here is
- [What Is Your Average Production Per New Patient—and What Is It Telling You?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-is-your-average-production-per-new-patient-and-what-is-it-telling-you) - What Is Your Average Production Per New Patient—and What Is It Telling You? Most practices track new patient flow. Fewer take the next step and ask the more important question: What is each new patient actually worth? Average Production Per New Patient (APNP) is one of the most telling metrics in a dental practice. It
- [Inherited HSAs: What you need to know](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/inherited-hsas-what-you-need-to-know) - Health Savings Accounts can offer great tax advantages during life. But when the account owner dies, the rules change and the tax result depends heavily on who inherits the account. An issue that is commonly seen is that families assume an HSA works like a retirement account. In most cases it does not. A surviving
- [Minimum Wage Updates for 2026: What Small Businesses in Oregon & Washington Should Know](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/minimum-wage-updates-for-2026-what-small-businesses-in-oregon-washington-should-know) - If you’re a small‑business owner in Oregon or Washington, minimum wage rules can feel like a moving target — especially when rates change by city, county, or even which side of the street you’re on. Here’s a straight‑talk breakdown of what’s changing in 2026 and how it may affect your business. Oregon: Minimum Wage Goes
- [Portland Reopens Repair/Restore Grant Funding for Small Businesses and Nonprofits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/portland-reopens-repair-restore-grant-funding-for-small-businesses-and-nonprofits) - Portland’s small business community has faced repeated challenges from break-ins, vandalism, and related repairs, lost revenue, and business disruption. For many storefront businesses, these incidents create financial hardship beyond the initial damage. The good news is that the City of Portland has reopened funding through the Local Small Business Expanded Repair/Restore Grant Program, managed by
- [Unclaimed Patient Refunds](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/unclaimed-patient-refunds-3) - Around this time of year, Fluence sends out a letter about submitting unclaimed patient refunds older than three years to the state’s Unclaimed Property division. Along with a formal letter describing the rules for this process, we will send you a list of the refund checks entered in QuickBooks that have not cleared within a
- [Why Corporate Extensions Can Be Beneficial — Even If Not “Used”](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/why-corporate-extensions-can-be-beneficial-even-if-not-used) - We often file extensions proactively, even when a return is expected to be completed well before the deadline. Here’s why: Additional Runway for Retirement Plan True‑Ups Certain retirement plan contributions or adjustments — such as 401(k) or profit‑sharing true‑ups — may not be fully finalized by the original filing deadline. An extension preserves the ability
- [Who Really Owns Dental Gold Scrap — and Why Protecting It Matters More Than Ever](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/who-really-owns-dental-gold-scrap-and-why-protecting-it-matters-more-than-ever) - Every dental practice generates gold scrap—removed crowns, bridges, inlays, or other precious‑metal restorations. But many dentists are surprised to learn that what happens to those tiny pieces of metal carries both legal implications and operational risk. With precious metals at high market value, dental gold theft is a growing concern in practices of all sizes.
- [Is your Washington dental practice subject to sales and use tax?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/is-your-washington-dental-practice-subject-to-sales-and-use-tax) - You likely know that Washington state has a “Sales and Use” tax. While this tax primarily applies to retail transactions and does not apply to professional services such as dentistry, we want to help you stay informed about Washington’s rules as they may apply to certain aspects of your dental practice. Understanding which transactions are
- [No Bank Account on File? Expect Significant Tax Refund Delays in 2025](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/no-bank-account-on-file-expect-significant-tax-refund-delays-in-2025) - As the IRS continues to move away from paper checks, how you choose to receive your tax refund matters more than ever. If your 2025 tax return does not include direct deposit information, your refund will still be processed—but it may be significantly delayed. Here’s what taxpayers need to know and why having a bank
- [Preparing Your Dental Practice for a Sudden Death: Why Every Dentist Needs a Continuity Plan](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/preparing-your-dental-practice-for-a-sudden-death-why-every-dentist-needs-a-continuity-plan) - No one wants to imagine the unthinkable — but as dental professionals, we plan for emergencies every day. What many practice owners don’t plan for is what would happen to their practice, team, and patients if they were to pass away suddenly. Unfortunately, it’s a scenario that does occur, and when practices aren’t prepared, the
- [Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Oregon Taxpayers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/voluntary-self-identification-form-for-oregon-taxpayers) - Each year, tax practitioners are obliged to inform Oregon taxpayers (including non-residents who file an Oregon tax return) about Form OR-VSI. Please see below for required disclosures regarding this form: The Oregon Department of Revenue’s Form OR-VSI is used to gather data about the race and ethnicity of Oregon taxpayers. This data will help the
- [Trump Savings Account](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/trump-savings-account) - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July of 2025, includes provisions for the new “Trump Account”, which is a tax-deferred account created to encourage long-term savings for qualifying children. Trump accounts are similar to a traditional IRA but are specifically for children under age 18. Here are some details you need to know:
- [Important Changes to the Tax Treatment of Charitable Donations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/important-changes-to-the-tax-treatment-of-charitable-donations) - Beginning in 2026, several important changes to the tax treatment of charitable donations will take effect, which may impact your end of year decision making: 1. A new 0.5% adjusted gross income “floor” is applied to individuals who itemize their deductions. This means that only the portion of your total contribution which exceeds this floor
- [Best Practices for Paying Retirement Plan Deferrals: 401(k) and SIMPLE IRA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/best-practices-for-paying-retirement-plan-deferrals-401k-and-simple-ira) - Managing retirement plan contributions—whether for a 401(k) or a SIMPLE IRA—requires accuracy and timeliness. Even small mistakes, such as late deposits or incorrect allocations, can lead to compliance issues with the IRS and Department of Labor (DOL). Below are best practices to help employers stay compliant and avoid costly errors. Know the Timing Rules For
- [Why Dental Practices Should Reject Credit Card Payments from Insurance Companies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/why-dental-practices-should-reject-credit-card-payments-from-insurance-companies) - Dental practices don’t have it easy navigating the complexities of insurance reimbursements. Recently, some insurers have begun offering credit card payments instead of traditional checks or electronic funds transfers (EFT). While this may sound convenient, it’s a costly trap that most dental practices should avoid. Hidden Costs That Hurt Your Bottom Line Credit card payments
- [Protect Your Dental Practice: How to Avoid Common Scams](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/protect-your-dental-practice-how-to-avoid-common-scams) - Running a dental practice means juggling patient care, compliance, and business operations. Unfortunately, it also makes you a prime target for scammers. From phishing emails to fraudulent payment schemes, these threats can cost you money, damage your reputation, and compromise patient trust. Here’s what you need to know—and how to stay safe. Top Scams Dentists
- [Discover the Official Podcast of the Academy of Dental CPAs: The Art of Dental Finance and Management](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/discover-the-official-podcast-of-the-academy-of-dental-cpas-the-art-of-dental-finance-and-management) - As a proud member of the Academy of Dental CPAs (ADCPA), Fluence is committed to bringing you the best insights and resources in the dental industry. Together with ADCPA and Art Wiederman, we stand among the top thought leaders shaping the future of dental practice management and financial success. We’re excited to share a valuable
- [Oregon's Itemized Pay Statement Requirements: What Employers Must Include](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/oregons-itemized-pay-statement-requirements-what-employers-must-include) - Under ORS 652.610, Oregon law mandates that employers provide an itemized pay statement with every payment of wages, commissions, or salary. This requirement ensures transparency and helps employees understand how their earnings are calculated and what deductions are made. Required Information in Every Pay Statement Employers must include the following details: Date of payment Pay
- [Changes are coming regarding check payments to and from the Internal Revenue Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/changes-are-coming-regarding-check-payments-to-and-from-the-internal-revenue-service) - Changes are coming regarding check payments to and from the Internal Revenue Service. In accordance with a recent Executive Order, the IRS has announced that it will stop issuing most paper check refunds for individual taxpayers starting January 1, 2026. Going forward, tax refunds will be issued primarily through electronic payment methods such as direct
- [New Rules For Roth Catch Up Contributions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-rules-for-roth-catch-up-contributions) - Certain changes are coming to rules around Roth “Catch-up” contributions for participants over age 50. A catch-up contribution is an extra, tax-advantaged contribution that individuals age 50 or older can make to their retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, above the standard annual limit. The latest IRS regulations require that starting in 2026,
- [Why Every Workplace Needs a Social Media Acceptable Use Policy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/why-every-workplace-needs-a-social-media-acceptable-use-policy) - In today’s digital world, social media is everywhere connecting us, sharing ideas, and even shaping our professional lives. But with this power comes responsibility. That’s why having a clear social media acceptable use policy isn’t just a formality, it’s a smart move for any organization. Protecting Everyone’s Rights A good policy starts by making it
- [UNCLAIMED PROPERTY REPORTING SITES OPENING SOON](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/unclaimed-property-reporting-sites-opening-soon-2) - Unclaimed property audits have been on the rise recently and we want to remind everyone of the upcoming deadlines and steps that need to be taken for each state’s annual unclaimed property reporting. Even if your practice doesn’t have any unclaimed property to report, your state may still require you to file a “zero” or
- [Unscheduled Treatment Plans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/unscheduled-treatment-plans) - If you're like many dental practices, September can be a slower month. With kids heading back to school and families settling into post-summer routines, it's a great time to focus your team's efforts on unscheduled treatment plans. As the end of the year approaches, many patients don’t realize they could be leaving money on the
- [Umpqua – Columbia Bank Transition: QuickBooks Bank Connection Instructions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/umpqua-columbia-bank-transition-quickbooks-bank-connection-instructions) - This week Umpqua Bank has officially changed their name to Columbia Bank. While that generally just changes what you see on your statement, it has impacted those that have their bank accounts connected in QuickBooks. What it means is that you will need to update your bank connection by disconnecting and reconnecting the accounts that
- [Mastering Patient Insurance Verification: Best Practices for a Smooth-Running Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/mastering-patient-insurance-verification-best-practices-for-a-smooth-running-dental-practice) - In today’s dental landscape, efficient insurance verification is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Verifying patient insurance before appointments help ensure smoother visits, reduces billing surprises, and protects your cash flow. When done well, it improves both patient satisfaction and your practice’s bottom line. Here are best practices to streamline your insurance verification process
- [Employer Guide: Legal Requirements for Paycheck Deductions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/employer-guide-legal-requirements-for-paycheck-deductions) - As an employer, it's essential to understand the legal framework surrounding paycheck deductions. States have strict rules to protect employee wages, and non-compliance can lead to penalties. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant. When Are Paycheck Deductions Allowed? Law permits deductions from employee wages only under specific conditions. As an employer, you
- [Expiring Energy Credits Deadlines Quickly Approaching](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/expiring-energy-credits-deadlines-quickly-approaching) - The new tax law just recently passed has expiration dates for several energy credits that may require action to secure the credits SOONER THAN LATER before they expire. Electric vehicle credits (Expiring September 30, 2025) The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), passed in 2025, significantly impacts the clean vehicle credit established under the Inflation Reduction
- [Unlocking Tax-Free Retirement: What Dentists Should Know About Backdoor Roth Conversions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/unlocking-tax-free-retirement-what-dentists-should-know-about-backdoor-roth-conversions) - As a high-earning dental professional, you're likely no stranger to the challenge of retirement planning within IRS income limits. One common frustration? Not qualifying for direct Roth IRA contributions due to income restrictions. Enter the Backdoor Roth IRA conversion—a powerful (and legal) strategy that allows high-income earners like dentists to build tax-free retirement income. What
- [What Dentists Need to Know About the HIPAA Windows 10 Update](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-dentists-need-to-know-about-the-hipaa-windows-10-update) - In today’s increasing digital dental landscape, safeguarding patient information is not just good practice, it’s the law. As dental professionals, we are entrusted with sensitive data protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). With recent changes in Microsoft support policies and the evolution of the Windows operating system, it’s time for dental
- [Taxes and Due Dates](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/taxes-and-due-dates) - Juggling taxes and due dates is difficult while trying to run a business. Now that the stress of second quarter taxes has passed, there are a couple of things that you can do to set things up to make handling this easier going forward. More and more the various government entities are beginning to require
- [Avoiding Audit Nightmares](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/avoiding-audit-nightmares) - Taxes are a complex subject, and they occur at every level of government (federal, state and local). As a business owner, it is essential to comply with tax laws. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to stay compliant you may receive an audit notice. If this occurs, certain key factors can complicate the process and lead
- [Understanding Dental Practice Overhead: A Guide for Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/understanding-dental-practice-overhead-a-guide-for-dentists) - Running a successful dental practice isn’t just about delivering great care — it’s about managing the financial health of your business. One of the most important metrics to track and understand is overhead. Mismanaging overhead can quietly eat into your profits, while smart overhead management can boost your bottom line without compromising patient care. In
- [Unclaimed Patient Refunds](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/unclaimed-patient-refunds-2) - Around this time of year, Fluence sends out a letter about submitting unclaimed patient refunds older than three years to the state’s Unclaimed Property division. Along with a formal letter describing the rules for this process, we will send you a list of the refund checks entered in QuickBooks that have not cleared within a
- [Unclaimed Patient Refunds](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/unclaimed-patient-refunds) - Around this time of year, Fluence sends out a letter about submitting unclaimed patient refunds older than three years to the state’s Unclaimed Property division. Along with a formal letter describing the rules for this process, we will send you a list of the refund checks entered in QuickBooks that have not cleared within a
- [FinCEN Lifts Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirement for U.S. Companies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/fincen-lifts-beneficial-ownership-reporting-requirement-for-u-s-companies) - The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that U.S. companies no longer need to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports under the Corporate Transparency Act. This reporting rule took effect in 2024 but quickly faced scrutiny, leading to its removal. Starting in 2024, most U.S. companies—especially small businesses—had to report details about their beneficial owners,
- [Auto Log and Meals and Entertainment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/auto-log-and-meals-and-entertainment) - Here are two important letters: the Auto Letter and the Travel, Meals, and Entertainment Letter. These letters provide helpful information regarding the proper documentation and substantiation of these business-related expenses, as well as any relevant updates to the tax code that could impact your deductions. The Auto Log Blank Sheet and Meals and Entertainment Log
- [New Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Oregon Taxpayers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/new-voluntary-self-identification-form-for-oregon-taxpayers) - Beginning with the 2025 filing season, tax practitioners are obliged to inform Oregon taxpayers (including non-residents who file an Oregon tax return) of a new form, Form OR-VSI. Please see below for required disclosures regarding this form: The Oregon Department of Revenue’s Form OR-VSI is used to gather data about the race and ethnicity of
- [Fluence LLC Introduces SafeSend Returns® for Tax Return Delivery](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/fluence-llc-introduces-safesend-returns-for-tax-return-delivery) - We are pleased to offer SafeSend Returns to our clients as our secure, electronic tax return delivery system. The client-friendly interface walks you through a guided process that includes on-screen review of your return, collecting IRS-compliant e-signatures on e-file authorization forms, and options for making tax payments. Then, SafeSend Returns automatically sends the form(s) back
- [The Importance of Small Businesses Keeping Good Records for the IRS on Mileage, Meals, and Travel](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/the-importance-of-small-businesses-keeping-good-records-for-the-irs-on-mileage-meals-and-travel) - When running a small business, maintaining meticulous records isn't just advisable; it's essential, especially when it comes to dealings with the IRS. Specifically, keeping detailed records of mileage, meals, and travel can make a significant difference in how much tax you pay and how smoothly your audit process goes, should you ever face one. The
- [Downtown Business Incentive Credit **update**](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/downtown-business-incentive-credit-update) - As you’ll recall from the Fluence blog sent in late 2023, the City of Portland released its “Downtown Business Incentive” (DBI) credit program, which is a temporary non-refundable credit program to incentivize new commercial lease signings and existing lease renewals in certain downtown Portland districts. This program was limited to four districts at the time
- [Recharging Your Practice for 2025: A Fresh Start for Growth and Success](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/recharging-your-practice-for-2025-a-fresh-start-for-growth-and-success) - The new year is a time for reflection, goal setting, and renewal—and as a dentist, it’s also a chance to rejuvenate your practice and professional outlook. The fast-paced changes in technology, patient expectations, and healthcare dynamics mean staying ahead requires both strategy and self-care. Here’s how to recharge and set your dental practice up for
- [SafeSend One Client Portal](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/safesend-one-client-portal) - We are pleased to offer our clients the SafeSend One Client Portal as a way for you to keep your tax documents, and manage any action items, all in a central location. The email you received containing your SafeSend Gather has the link to access the SafeSend One Client Portal and set up your account.
- [Update On Corporate Transparency Act and FinCEN’s BOI Reporting- Feeling Confused on What You Are Required to Do?  So Are We!](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-on-corporate-transparency-act-and-fincens-boi-reporting-feeling-confused-on-what-you-are-required-to-do-so-are-we) - There have been several developments since our last blog on December 13th, 2024, https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/corporate-transparency-act-cta-and-fincens-boi-reporting. On December 23rd, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals ruled in favor of the Justice Department lifting the injunction and reinstating the reporting requirements. The government announced a new filing deadline of January 13, 2025, for all small businesses that
- [Announcing SafeSend](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/announcing-safesend) - We are very excited to announce our new client portal and delivery system, SafeSend! SafeSend is a secure, easy to use system that will improve your online experience with our firm. We will be sending out multiple emails over the next couple of weeks explaining the different areas of SafeSend and how they will work
- [Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and FinCEN’s BOI Reporting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/corporate-transparency-act-cta-and-fincens-boi-reporting) - There have been several recent developments surrounding the CTA and BOI reporting that we recently released a blog about - https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/potential-action-item-business-ownership-information-boi-filing. Since the release of that blog a Texas federal court TEMPORAILY halted reporting through a nation-wide injunction. The government has already filed an appeal against the injunction. The government said that they will honor
- [OHA Cyber Insurance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/oha-cyber-insurance) - You could be at risk if you see patients with Delta/Moda coverage The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has recently come out with new requirements for dental practices that see patients with Oregon Educators (OEBB) or Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) coverage. These patients will show up as covered under Delta/Moda in your dental practice. The
- [Trent Announcement](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/trent-announcement) - Fluence is pleased to announce Trent Miller, CPA, is returning to the firm as of December 2, 2024. Trent started his accounting career at Fluence in 2014 and has spent the last five years furthering his career and dental knowledge at another firm. Trent brings a wealth of dental industry knowledge as well as tax
- [POTENTIAL ACTION ITEM - Business Ownership Information (BOI) Filing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/potential-action-item-business-ownership-information-boi-filing) - Who this Affects: If you registered your business with the Secretary of State’s office, you are required to file the BOI filing. This is required for each entity you form. Fluence is not filing this for you. We are not authorized to practice law and therefore, will not be able to help you with this.
- [S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/s-m-a-r-t-goal-setting) - Setting and achieving goals can be challenging, with many obstacles standing in the way of success. However, starting with a clear strategy significantly increases the chances of reaching your goals. Since 1981, the S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting method, first introduced by George T. Doran, has proven to be one of the most influential frameworks for individuals and
- [UNCLAIMED PROPERTY REPORTING SITES OPENING SOON](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/unclaimed-property-reporting-sites-opening-soon) - Unclaimed property audits have been on the rise recently and we want to remind everyone of the upcoming deadlines and steps that need to be taken for each state’s annual unclaimed property reporting. Even if your practice doesn’t have any unclaimed property to report, your state may still require you to file a “zero” or
- [Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount AntiTrust Litigation Class Action Lawsuit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/payment-card-interchange-fee-and-merchant-discount-antitrust-litigation-class-action-lawsuit) - If you accepted Visa and Mastercard payments between the years of 2014 – 2019 you are eligible to enter this class action lawsuit. The U.S. District Court has approved a proposed settlement of at least 5.54 billion. The date to enter the class action lawsuit has been extended to February 4, 2025. To enter the
- [Preparing for the Unexpected: Essential Steps for Small Business Owners](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/preparing-for-the-unexpected-essential-steps-for-small-business-owners) - As a dental practice owner, you juggle countless responsibilities every day. But amid all the hustle, it's crucial not to overlook preparing for unexpected circumstances, such as death or disability. Ensuring your loved ones are equipped to handle these events can safeguard their future, the future of your practice, and provide peace of mind. Here
- [How to Minimize Oregon Estate Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-to-minimize-oregon-estate-taxes) - Currently the federal estate tax exemption is nearly $13.6 Million dollars, or $27.2 Million for a married couple. So, unless you have assets exceeding these amounts, your estate won’t pay any federal estate taxes (also known as “death taxes”), when you pass. This means there will be more of your assets left to your heirs.
- [Salary Increase for Exempt Employees – Effective May 22, 2024](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/salary-increase-for-exempt-employees-effective-may-22-2024) - The US Department of Labor (DOL) has amended the Restoring and Extending Overtime Protections rule. The final amendment increases the salary threshold required under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is for all bona fide executive, administrative, and professional exemptions (white-collar exemptions). The changes are as follows: July 1, 2024: Salary threshold increases to $844
- [AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION ALERT – CYBERSECURITY THREAT](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/american-dental-association-alert-cybersecurity-threat) - We wanted to make sure our clients received the recent ADA warning of a current cybersecurity threat to dental offices released May 6, 2024, as follows: Current Threat Information from the FBI: On Tuesday, May 6, 2024, the FBI informed the ADA and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) of a credible
- [From Beach Parties to Tax Parties: A Brief History of Spring Break and Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/from-beach-parties-to-tax-parties-a-brief-history-of-spring-break-and-taxes) - Spring break is synonymous with fun in the sun, but its history is as diverse as the destinations revelers flock to each year. Surprisingly, the origins of this beloved vacation period have a curious intersection with taxes. The concept of spring break can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where societies celebrated the arrival of
- [Is Your Practice Ready for A Medical Emergency?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/is-your-practice-ready-for-a-medical-emergency) - We recently had an opportunity to join the Oregon Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for a Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office presentation that was put on by Dr. Steven Beadnell. The course was extremely informative and Dr. Beadnell discussed how to diagnosis, prevent, manage, and prepare for common Medical Emergencies that could occur in a
- [Do Not Be Misled About Annual Reports](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/do-not-be-misled-about-annual-reports) - These false annual reports notices are being sent out again. Workplace Compliance Services (W.C.S.) has started sending 2024 Annual Reports to Oregon companies. This renewal is not from the State of Oregon and is not required. W.C.S. is a private, for-profit, out-of-state company. If you receive this notice, please discard. Below is the information from
- [Read this if you accept cash payments and present large cases in your dental practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/read-this-if-you-accept-cash-payments-and-present-large-cases-in-your-dental-practice-2) - Very few doctors are aware of one of the more drastic federal laws connected to receiving cash payments. If your practice receives a cash payment of $10,000 or more from a patient, you have 15 days to file a form 8300 to report the transaction to the IRS. The IRS pays special attention to cash
- [Paid Leave Oregon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/paid-leave-oregon-3) - Paid Leave Oregon benefits started September 3, 2023. Paid Leave Oregon is administered by the Oregon Employment Department. Employees apply online at Frances Online Landing Page (oregon.gov). The Oregon Employment Department will approve or deny the leave and provide that information to employees and employers. As the employer, if an employee comes to you stating
- [Corporate Transparency Act – How does this affect you?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/corporate-transparency-act-how-does-this-affect-you) - The Corporate Transparency Act is a new law taking effect on January 1, 2024. It will require companies registering as a business in a U.S. state, territory, or Indian tribe to file information regarding their beneficial owners and corporate applicants in a database maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
- [Two Simple Ways To Deter Fraud And Embezzlement That Take Three Minutes To Check](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/two-simple-ways-to-deter-fraud-and-embezzlement-that-take-three-minutes-to-check) - Here are 2 simple ways to reduce the likelihood of fraud and embezzlement in your practice. In total, these should take 3 minutes out of your day, but can help catch deceitful activity. Gross Accuracy Check – Simply compare the total collections for the prior 6 months as listed in your practice management software (Dentrix,
- [Downtown Business Incentive Credit Program](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/downtown-business-incentive-credit-program) - In response to the increase in commercial real estate leasing vacancy in downtown Portland, the city has adopted the “Downtown Business Incentive (DBI)” temporary non-refundable credit program to incentivize new commercial lease signings and existing lease renewals in certain downtown Portland districts, which will be taken against the Portland Business License tax. We wanted to
- [Firm Events and Write-Offs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/firm-events-and-write-offs) - One of the questions we hear a lot is along the lines of, “Can I write-off (insert team building event or social activity here) for my staff?” For example, “I’d like to take my staff on a cruise, can I write this off through the practice?” Firm events include recreational or social activities done primarily
- [Retaining Employees](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/retaining-employees) - Title: The Key to a Flourishing Dental Practice: Keeping and Retaining Exceptional Employees Introduction: Running a successful dental practice goes beyond providing excellent patient care. It also involves creating a positive and nurturing work environment for your staff. Your dental team is the backbone of your practice, and retaining dedicated and skilled employees is essential
- [Non-Deductible Trip vs Deductible Business Trip](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/non-deductible-trip-vs-deductible-business-trip) - Summer is in full swing and with that comes vacation season. For that reason, I wanted to take a minute to share some requirements on how to turn your next trip from a non-deductible personal trip into a deductible business trip. The first step is to make sure that you are leaving your tax home.
- [New Form I-9](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/new-form-i-9-3) - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an updated Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). The new Form I-9 is available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. You do not need current employees to complete the new I-9 if you have a properly completed form on file. Employers may continue to use the older Form I-9 (Rev.
- [Employee Recruiting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/employee-recruiting) - Title: Strategies for Successful Staff Recruiting in Your Dental Practice Introduction: As a dental practitioner, one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful dental practice is having a competent and dedicated staff. Your dental team plays a vital role in ensuring seamless operations, exceptional patient care, and a positive experience for everyone who
- [Paid Leave Oregon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/paid-leave-oregon-2) - Paid Leave Oregon benefits start September 3, 2023. Paid Leave Oregon will be administered by the Oregon Employment Department. Employees may start applying for Oregon Paid Leave benefits starting August 14, 2023. They may apply online at https://www.oregon.gov/employ/frances/Pages/default.aspx/ or request a paper application from the department. The Oregon Employment Department will approve or deny the
- [Read this if you accept cash payments and present large cases in your dental practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/read-this-if-you-accept-cash-payments-and-present-large-cases-in-your-dental-practice) - Very few doctors are aware of one of the more drastic federal laws connected to receiving cash payments. If your practice receives a cash payment of $10,000 or more from a patient, you have 15 days to file a form 8300 to report the transaction to the IRS. The IRS pays special attention to cash
- [Accounts Receivable Payment Categories](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/accounts-receivable-payment-categories) - Fluence is currently reviewing each client’s payment categories used in the practice and will follow up with any recommendations for changes in this area including a daily Accounts Receivable checklist for your office to use moving forward. Why? There are several reasons for this: It is important all payments posted to your accounts receivable system
- [Umpqua Transition](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/umpqua-transition) - We know you have been receiving emails regarding the transition from Columbia Bank to Umpqua bank and you may have some questions. There are some steps you will need to take by Friday March 17th to be sure you are ready. The process may seem daunting, but below are a few guidelines that may help
- [A US Savings Bond To Consider](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/a-us-savings-bond-to-consider-2) - The US Series i Savings Bonds are an inflation-driven savings bond and there are two components to calculating the interest rate. The first is just the normal fixed, market rate and right now that is zero. However, these bonds also have a rate driven by inflation, which resets semiannually, and the inflation rate is currently 6.89%. This
- [Tax Implications For Businesses With Out Of State Remote Workers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-implications-for-businesses-with-out-of-state-remote-workers) - Since the start of Covid in 2020, businesses have seen a sharp increase in the number of “remote” or “telecommuting” employees working from home. This can have significant tax implications, both for the employer and the employee, if that employee resides in a different state. It is commonly known that employees working from home in
- [Changes To and Extension of Non-Business and Residential Energy Credits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/changes-to-and-extension-of-non-business-and-residential-energy-credits) - The recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains a multitude of new environmentally related tax credits that are of interest to individuals and small businesses. The Act also extends and modifies some pre-existing tax credits. Extension, Increase, and Modifications of Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. Before the Act, you were allowed a personal credit for
- [IRA 2022 Vehicles Credits Summary](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ira-2022-vehicles-credits-summary) - The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes changes to the credit available for electric vehicles, as well as adding an additional credit for previously owned clean vehicles and for qualified commercial clean vehicles. The changes are complex, and phase in over time. If you are in the market for an electric vehicle, we
- [Paid Leave Oregon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/paid-leave-oregon) - Paid Leave Oregon will begin in 2023. Oregon payroll taxation beings January 1, 2023, and employees may start applying for benefits September 3, 2023. Paid Leave Oregon will be administered by the Oregon Employment Department and beginning in September 2023 employees can apply online at paidleave.oregon.gov or request a paper application from the department. The
- [Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Applications Can Now Be Submitted](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/federal-student-loan-debt-relief-applications-can-now-be-submitted) - If you qualify under President Biden’s Federal Student Debt Relief Plan you can now submit your application for student loan relief. Please see our October 3, 2022 blog to check for eligibility. https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/student-debt-relief. The Application process is easy and takes about 5 minutes. Applications must be submitted no later than 12/31/2023. Click on this link
- [Have You Sold or Are You Considering Selling Your Home?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/have-you-sold-or-are-you-considering-selling-your-home) - Article Highlights: Home Sale Exclusion 2 out of 5 Rule Gain or Loss from a Sale If you have sold your home this year, or are considering selling your home soon, you should be aware of how this will affect your current taxes. There are various issues that can affect your home sale, such as
- [Student Debt Relief](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/student-debt-relief) - Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan Last month, President Biden announced his Administration's plan to provide student debt relief to eligible borrowers. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform you of the details regarding eligibility. Who is eligible? You are eligible if you have most federal loans (including Direct Loans and other loans held
- [Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ensuring-lasting-smiles-act-elsa) - Currently, most private health plans provide coverage for congenital anomalies and many states require insurers to provide coverage of any health services related to congenital anomalies or birth defects. Despite this, health plans systemically and routinely deny, or delay claims and appeals for any oral or dental related procedures. Their “basis” is that such services
- [Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/oregon-paid-family-and-medical-leave) - Oregon passed a Paid Family and Medical Leave law which provides eligible employees paid leave for their own serious health condition (medical leave) or for family care (family leave). The law was postponed during COVID and will start January 1, 2023. Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave is an insurance program. Employees and employers will
- [A US Savings Bond To Consider](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/a-us-savings-bond-to-consider) - We normally do not look too deep into government savings bonds due to the low interest rates, but there is one we feel is worthy of consideration right now. The US Series i Savings Bonds are an inflation-driven savings bond and there are two components to calculating the interest rate. The first is just the
- [IRS Backlog and Delays](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/irs-backlog-and-delays) - We wanted to share an update on some reasons behind IRS delays which are impacting many of our clients. An Annual Report to Congress recently released by National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins called 2021 “the most challenging year taxpayers and tax professionals have ever experienced.” Many of you may agree, especially if waiting on
- [New Metro and Multnomah County Tax Payment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-metro-and-multnomah-county-tax-payment) - What Employers Need to do Now for the New Metro and Multnomah County Taxes As you are probably aware from our previous newsletters, Portland Metro District and Multnomah County have recently passed two new taxes: The Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Tax and the Multnomah County Preschool For All (PFA) tax. For details on these
- [CORRECTION TO EXAMPLE 2: New Multnomah County Tax](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/correction-to-example-2-new-multnomah-county-tax) - CORRECTION TO EXAMPLE 2 - UPDATE: The Multnomah County Preschool for All Tax for 2021 The purpose of this letter is to provide a reminder of the upcoming due date of 4/15 for the new tax. This also provides an update as to how the new tax works as we have been able to review
- [HHS UPDATE- WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU BY JANUARY 10, 2022](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/hhs-update-we-need-to-hear-from-you-by-january-10-2022) - If you received HHS Provider Relief Fund payments in excess of $10,000 between July 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020, you must comply with HHS’ reporting requirement. The Reporting Portal will open January 1, 2022 and your report must be submitted by March 31, 2022. There is currently no extension available from HHS and non-compliance
- [New Multnomah County Tax](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/new-multnomah-county-tax) - UPDATE: The Multnomah County Preschool for All Tax for 2021 The purpose of this letter is to provide a reminder of the upcoming due date of 4/15 for the new tax. This also provides an update as to how the new tax works as we have been able to review the tax law as written.
- [New Metro Tax](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/new-metro-tax) - UPDATE: The City of Portland’s New Metro Homeless Services Tax for 2021 The purpose of this letter is to provide a reminder of the upcoming due date of 4/15 for the new tax. This also provides an update as to how the new tax works as we have been able to review the tax law
- [Workers Opportunity Tax Credit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/workers-opportunity-tax-credit) - As people start to return to work there is a tax credit that has been around for years that you may be eligible to receive. The Workers Opportunity Tax Credit provides a tax credit to employers who hire individuals that are in one of the targeted groups. One of those groups is hiring an individual
- [Further Clarification on HHS Phase 4 Eligibility](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/further-clarification-on-hhs-phase-4-eligibility) - Phase 4 General Distribution Regarding our recent blog about the HHS Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund, there is one point of clarification we would like to make. For the Base Payment most healthcare providers who can demonstrate a loss in the applicable period should qualify. However, for the Bonus Payment a healthcare provider must have
- [10/26 Application Deadline Approaching for HHS Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund Payments – Should You Apply?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/10-26-application-deadline-approaching-for-hhs-phase-4-provider-relief-fund-payments-should-you-apply) - Our office has received many questions from clients wondering if they should apply for the HHS Phase 4 General payment. Based on what we know, the answer is “it depends.” First, consider these questions: Do you have an overall loss of patient revenues when you compare the two timeframes laid out on the application (7/1/2020
- [Update on HHS Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Process for Physicians and Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-on-hhs-provider-relief-fund-prf-reporting-process-for-physicians-and-dentists) - Having helped several clients with the reporting of PRF payments that were received in the first round (April 10 – June 30, 2020), we now have a better understanding of the online reporting process. If you received a PRF payment between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, the reporting for use of these funds
- [Phase 4 General Distribution and ARP Rural payments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/phase-4-general-distribution-and-arp-rural-payments) - Just a reminder that if you qualify, the Department of Health and Human Services begin accepting applications September 29, 2021. To see if you qualify please CLICK HERE https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-funding-available-for-health-care-providers-affected-by-the-covid-pandemic to access the blog we send out last week. The application process will be open for a period of four weeks. Your final completed application must
- [PPP 2 Forgiveness Application](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-2-forgiveness-application-2) - Your PPP 2 Loan Cover Period is most likely over by now. It is 24-weeks from when you received the initial deposit. The majority of our clients received this at the end of January through February. If so, your 24 weeks was over in July or August for reference. If it is over, you are
- [New Funding Available for Health Care Providers Affected by the Covid Pandemic](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-funding-available-for-health-care-providers-affected-by-the-covid-pandemic) - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced $25.5 billion in new funding for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To read full article CLICK HERE https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments. $8.5 billion in America Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve RURAL Medicaid, Children’s Health insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicare patients. An additional
- [Washington Mandatory Vaccine Rule for Health Care Workers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/washington-mandatory-vaccine-rule-for-health-care-workers) - Effective October 18, 2021, health care workers and staff working in a health care setting must present documentation that they are fully vaccinated or that they are entitled to an exemption. Acceptable proof that an employee is fully vaccinated is one of the following: CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or photo of the card Documentation
- [Oregon Mandatory Vaccine Rule for Health Care Workers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/oregon-mandatory-vaccine-rule-for-health-care-workers) - Effective October 18, 2021, health care workers and staff working in a health care setting must present documentation that they are fully vaccinated or that they are entitled to an exemption. A COVID-19 vaccination card or digital photo meets the rules requirements for proving an individual is fully vaccinated. A complete copy of the rule
- [Expressing Appreciation Strengthens Teamwork and Performance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/expressing-appreciation-strengthens-teamwork-and-performance) - “If you don’t show appreciation to those that deserve it, they will learn to stop doing the things you appreciate.” When dental teams feel appreciated, they are far more invested in providing great service. Expressing appreciation regularly builds stronger teamwork, which translates into an even better patient experience. If you want your practice and team
- [Three Proven Ways to Increase Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/three-proven-ways-to-increase-treatment-acceptance) - When dentists and teams go to great lengths to explain treatment, and then patients fail to schedule, it can leave everyone wondering what else is needed. The answer is that most practices can do better with less: less meaning less time spent explaining treatment with words that fail to build value. If you want to
- [Unclaimed Property](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/unclaimed-property-2) - What is unclaimed property, you might ask? With some exceptions, unclaimed property includes items your practice has in its possession that it is not entitled to. The two most common types of unclaimed property for a dental practice are un-cashed patient refund checks and credit balances on patient accounts. If your practice has a minimum
- [PPP 2 Forgiveness Application](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-2-forgiveness-application) - Banks are currently opening the forgiveness application portal for anyone who received the PPP 2 Loan. At this point, we recommend the following: You wait until your covered period is over to submit for loan forgiveness. There is no rush to complete this process. You have up to 10 months after your covered period is
- [Advance Child Tax Credit Payments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/advance-child-tax-credit-payments) - The IRS has begun depositing the 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit funds into taxpayers’ bank accounts which has resulted in some confusion. Below are some FAQ’s about the expanded child tax credit payment. Q: Is this another stimulus check? A: No, this is an advance on a 2021 Child Tax Credit. Any amounts received reduce the credit available on
- [Washington Cares Fund](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/washington-cares-fund) - Washington Cares Fund Washington State has a new fund and related tax called the Washington Cares Fund, which has been developed to help mitigate the costs of long-term care for workers in the state. The law goes into effect as of January 1, 2022. What follows is an overview of the new law. For Employees
- [Update on the Affordable Care Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-on-the-affordable-care-act) - In July 2020, our office filed protective claims for some of you in the event that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be overturned. We knew of a court case challenging the ACA’s individual mandate. The protective claim functioned to keep the 2016 tax year open for filing amendments, which could have resulted in the
- [HHS Provider Relief Funds Reporting Extensions and PPP Updates](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/hhs-provider-relief-funds-reporting-extensions-and-ppp-updates) - HHS- Provider Relief Funds (PRF) Update On Friday, June 11th the Heath Resources & Services Administration released a revised notice of reporting requirements and reporting timeline for recipients of the provider relief fund payments. The full notice can be found at the below link. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/provider-post-payment-notice-of-reporting-requirements-june-2021.pdf There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but we
- [Fluence’s Commitment to You](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/fluences-commitment-to-you) - We are excited to see how well practices are performing given everything we have experienced in the last year. We also share your enthusiasm about a sense of normalcy returning to our lives. Even though the challenges of 2020 are in the rearview mirror for many, we wanted to let you know that our work
- [PPP 1 Loan Update](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-1-loan-update) - In a March 11th blog, https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-forgiveness-applications-should-you-apply, we laid out some recommendations on when to apply for forgiveness on your first PPP loan. Now that we are two months down the road, we wanted to touch base again on what should be done with any first PPP loans. If you asked Fluence to help with the PPP loan
- [Use Empathy to Boost Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/use-empathy-to-boost-treatment-acceptance) - Now more than ever patients need an understanding and empathetic dental team. The pandemic has contributed to patients postponing dental treatment and appointments, which has led to larger treatment plans. In addition, most practices are seeing an increasing number of patients with cracked tooth syndrome and gum disease. Stress from the pandemic has taken a
- [Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/exclusive-thriving-dentist-adcpa-study-clubs-for-adcpa-dentist-members-2) - Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members We had an amazing TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #4 on May 4th and May 5th. I hope each & every one of you enjoyed it just as much as we did. TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #5 on
- [How to Conduct Effective Interviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-conduct-effective-interviews) - The late actress Katharine Hepburn once said, “Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.” Interviews are challenging. Not only does the interview create nervousness on behalf of the interviewee, but there is also pressure on the interviewer. The cost of hiring the wrong person can be substantial. In order to increase the odds
- [Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/exclusive-thriving-dentist-adcpa-study-clubs-for-adcpa-dentist-members) - Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members We had an amazing TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #3 on Tuesday, March 2nd. I hope each & every one of you enjoyed it just as much as we did. TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #4 on ”24 Systems
- [Important Tax Updates](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/important-tax-updates) - -Important Updates- Personal Tax Filing Deadline Extended until May 17th Updates on PPP Loans & Applying for Forgiveness Updates on the Employee Retention (ERC) Credit Updates on the HHS Provider Relief Fund 2020 Personal Tax Filing Deadline Extended until May 17th- Great news! The federal personal tax filing deadline for 2020 has been extended until
- [American Rescue Plan Act (ARP Act)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/american-rescue-plan-act-arp-act) - Yesterday, the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP Act) of 2021 (the stimulus package). Below are some highlights of the ARP Act: $1,400 per person stimulus payments for taxpayers and dependents. This begins to phase-out at $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married filing jointly) Payments are expected to begin being sent out later this
- [PPP Forgiveness Applications – Should You Apply?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-forgiveness-applications-should-you-apply) - Banks are currently allowing you to submit PPP loan forgiveness applications on the first round of PPP funds. Should you apply for forgiveness or wait? This is what we recommend for loans that are $150,000 or less: Please check with the manager in charge of your accounting to determine if you are eligible for the
- [We Are Excited to Share a Great Book and Four Webinars](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/we-are-excited-to-share-a-great-book-and-four-webinars) - Fluence is very excited to announce the publication of a book by Mike Smith, CPA, SPHR: The Path to Greater Dental Practice Success. Mike has taken his passion for coaching dentists and teams and created a ten-chapter book that outlines how to take your practice to the next level. The book incorporates the best of
- [HHS Provider Relief Fund Registration is Open and You Must Register](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/hhs-provider-relief-fund-registration-is-open-and-you-must-register) - If you have received the Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund payments of $10,000 or more, you must register in the Provider Relief Fund reporting portal. This is a new requirement that just started in January. Here is the link you will need to register: www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/reporting-auditing/index.html When you register, you will need the
- [TD & ADCPA Study Club Session #3 on March 2nd](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/td-adcpa-study-club-session-3-on-march-2nd) - Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members We had an amazing TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #2 on Tuesday, January 19th. I hope each & every one of you enjoyed it just as much as we did. TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #3 on ”10
- [The Employee Retention Credit – A Tax Credit That May Benefit You](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/the-employee-retention-credit-a-tax-credit-that-may-benefit-you) - When the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) first came out in 2020, the rule said that if you received PPP loan money, you were not eligible for the ERC. For most taxpayers, that made this tax credit a moot point as the PPP loan offered a much better benefit. With the new stimulus bill that passed
- [The Multnomah County Preschool for All Tax for 2021](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/the-multnomah-county-preschool-for-all-tax-for-2021) - Multnomah County has a new Preschool for All Tax that takes effect in 2021. The tax was approved by voters in November of 2020. Currently, Multnomah County is negotiating with the City of Portland to administer the tax program, so there are still some unknowns about the tax. However, we have learned enough to share
- [The City of Portland’s New Metro Individual and Business Income Tax for 2021](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/the-city-of-portlands-new-metro-individual-and-business-income-tax-for-2021) - The City of Portland has a new Metro Homeless Services tax (Metro) that impacts individuals and businesses starting in 2021. The tax was approved by voters in May of 2020. Now that we know how the City of Portland plans to administer the new tax, we wanted to provide more information about how the tax
- [Preparing for PPP Round 2 Application Process](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/preparing-for-ppp-round-2-application-process) - Most banks will be opening their portals to accept the second round of PPP applications early next week. If you are planning on applying, please make sure you have contacted your banker to find out their application process and documentation requirements. The deadline to apply is 3/31/21. Based on the amount of money Congress has
- [Thriving Dentist Study Clubs with Gary Takacs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/7388) - Exclusive Thriving Dentist & ADCPA Study Clubs for ADCPA Dentist Members We had an amazing TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #1 Tuesday, November 17th. I hope each & every one of you enjoyed it just as much as we did. TD & ADCPA exclusive study club session #2 on ”Mastering Dental Marketing &
- [Changes for Individual Taxpayers in the New COVID Relief Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/changes-for-individual-taxpayers-in-the-new-covid-relief-law) - Article Highlights Additional 2020 Recovery Rebates Educator Expense Unemployment Assistance Earned Income Tax Credit (Eitc) & Child Tax Credit (CTC) Cash Charitable Contributions for Non-Itemizers Cash Charitable Contributions for Itemizers Flexible Spending Arrangements Carryover Reduction in Medical Deduction AGI Floor Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Medical Responders Benefits Education Credits Phaseouts Consolidated Discharge of Qualified Principal
- [SBA PPP Loan Part II – You May be Eligible](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/sba-ppp-loan-part-ii-you-may-be-eligible) - Congress, in the latest COVID-19 relief bill, has established a new SBA PPP Loan Program and you may be eligible for additional money. The SBA recently released guidance for the new PPP loan, and we have the following details and analysis. Second Round of PPP Money (PPP2) The second round of PPP funding provides a
- [Business Meals Provided by Restaurants are 100% Deductible in 2021 and 2022](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/business-meals-provided-by-restaurants-are-100-deductible-in-2021-and-2022) - With the passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, there are several tax changes. One change we wanted to make you aware of is the deduction for business meals. Business meals from a restaurant are now 100% deductible. This increase in deductibility covers the tax years 2021 and 2022 only.
- [Congress Passes the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act – What This Means for You](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/congress-passes-the-emergency-coronavirus-relief-act-what-this-means-for-you) - On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 (ECRA) with the assumption it will be signed by the President and passed into law. We wanted to give a brief analysis of important points that we feel will affect the majority of our clients. Please keep in mind that there is
- [PPP Loan & HHS Provider Relief Fund Updates](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-loan-hhs-provider-relief-fund-updates) - Not only is this a busy time of the year with the holidays, but it is also busy with staying on top of updates regarding PPP loans and HHS Provider Relief Funds. Many of you have questions about the tax implications of the PPP loan, when to file for PPP loan forgiveness, and the next
- [An Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 – What Needs to Happen Next?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/an-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19-what-needs-to-happen-next-2) - We are hearing from clients almost daily on a positive test result in the office. We want to revisit Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave as well and what steps you need to take after a positive test case. We released a FFCRA blog in June 2020 that documented what you were required to
- [Do Not Be Misled About Annual Reports](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/do-not-be-mislead-about-annual-reports) - Workplace Compliance Services (W.C.S.) has started sending 2021 Annual Reports to Oregon companies. This renewal is not from the State of Oregon and is not required. W.C.S. is a private, for-profit, out-of-state company. If you receive this notice, please discard. Below is the information from the Secretary of State regarding these notices. Secretary of State
- [Provide Tax-Free Benefits in the Form of Disaster Relief Payments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/provide-tax-free-benefits-in-the-form-of-disaster-relief-payments) - When the President declared COVID-19 a national emergency, it was afforded disaster relief status with the Internal Revenue Code. This status generally allows for payment to employees for costs incurred in coping with the disaster. The expenses are deductible by the employer and non-taxable to the employee. Examples of expenses that can be reimbursed are
- [Urge Congress to Get to Work on a COVID-19 Relief Bill](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/urge-congress-to-get-to-work-on-a-covid-19-relief-bill) - The American Dental Association recently sent out the message below. We believe there is hope for a package to get passed before the end of the year and we encourage you to read the ADA message and to Take Action one more time before the end of 2020. Dear Advocate, Thank you for your
- [New COVID-19 Oregon OSHA Temporary Rules and Policies for Employees](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-covid-19-oregon-osha-temporary-rules-and-policies-for-employees) - Beginning on November 16, 2020, the new Oregon OSHA temporary rules regarding COVID-19 need to be followed. The complete temporary rules can be found at https://osha.oregon.gov/covid19/Pages/default.aspx. The new rules have various dates that all employers need to be aware of. Effective November 16, 2020 Physical distancing in the workplace Employers must ensure 6 feet of
- [Do Not Miss It: ADCPA & The Thriving Dentist Study Club Events with Gary Takacs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/do-not-miss-it-adcpa-the-thriving-dentist-study-club-events-with-gary-takacs) - The Academy of Dental CPAs (ADCPA) has partnered with Mr. Gary Takacs to present a series of 6 continuing education virtual study club events starting in the month of November and continuing every other month thereafter. These study clubs will be on a wide range of topics necessary for success in today's challenging dental environment. Please consider
- [CAT Registration](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/cat-registration) - As you know, Oregon has a new Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) that went into effect on 1/1/2020. The first step you need to take regarding the new tax is to register your practice with the state. Oregon rescinded the requirement to register annually, so if you have already registered for the CAT, you will not
- [HHS Grant Relief Fund - Phase 3](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/hhs-grant-relief-fund-phase-3) - Yesterday, (October 22, 2020) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) changed the rules to now include the loss of gross revenue during the pandemic. As a result of this change, we are encouraging clients to file for the additional funding under Phase 3 of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) if your gross revenue
- [NEW HHS FUNDING PHASE 3 PROVIDER RELIEF FUNDING & ORIGINAL HHS FUNDING UPDATES](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-hhs-funding-phase-3-provider-relief-funding-original-hhs-funding-updates) - A new HHS Funding Phase 3 opened on Monday October 5th. What follows are key items to know about this new round of funding along with HHS funding you may have already received. You may apply for this new round of funding even if you already received additional funding. a. If you did not receive
- [A Tremendous Loss](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/a-tremendous-loss) - It is with a heavy heart that we share the following news about the family of Jessica Randall, who is one of the partners at Fluence. Jessica’s oldest daughter, Brittany, was killed in an automobile accident on September 5th in Texas, where she was living. Jessica, her husband, Keith, their daughter, Courtney, and their family
- [IRS Provides Tax Relief Due to Oregon Wildfires](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/irs-provides-tax-relief-due-to-oregon-wildfires) - *This does not affect any previously filed tax returns or payments made.* On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the IRS announced tax relief for Oregon counties in which FEMA had declared disaster effected areas. This relief means that the IRS has postponed the deadline for certain filings that have deadlines falling between September 7, 2020, and
- [Social Security Tax Deferral – Effective September 1, 2020 – IRS Notice 2020-65 by Executive Order](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/social-security-tax-deferral-effective-september-1-2020-irs-notice-2020-65-by-executive-order) - Background On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed an Executive Order which would allow employees to defer paying in their share of Social Security taxes starting with payrolls that occurred between September 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. This Executive Order only applies to employees who make less than $100,000 annually. For employees who qualify,
- [An opportunity to offset some of your unemployment benefit charges in Washington due to COVID-19](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/an-opportunity-to-offset-some-of-your-unemployment-benefit-charges-in-washington-due-to-covid-19) - Washington has allotted 25 million to a COVID-19 unemployment account. Employers that pay taxes can apply to have this account offset some of their benefit charges instead of having them applied to their experience rating. This is available to all employers who laid off employees due to COVID-19 and the employees received unemployment benefits. The
- [An Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 – What Needs to Happen Next?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/an-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19-what-needs-to-happen-next) - Your office is open again and things are running smoothly, and then you get the news: an employee suspects they have COVID-19. What is next? The employee that suspects they have COVID-19 should be sent home immediately. The employee needs to seek medical treatment that includes being tested for COVID-19. If they are positive, they
- [UPDATE- DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE DENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CARES ACT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO  AUGUST 28, 2020](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/update-deadline-to-apply-for-the-dental-distribution-of-the-cares-act-has-been-extended-to-august-28-2020) - Over the last few weeks we have sent out a couple blogs on the opportunity for more dental practices to apply for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The original deadline to apply was July 24, 2020. Today the deadline has been extended to August 28, 2020. If you plan on applying, we encourage you to
- [How Well Are Dentists Doing Since Reopening?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-well-are-dentists-doing-since-reopening) - A lot of people are paying attention to how well dentists are doing since reopening. The New York Times even published an article on June 10, 2020, about how the success of dentistry is an important indicator of economic recovery. According to the article written by Sarah Kliff, entitled How’s the Economy Doing? Watch the
- [The ADA Clarifies Questions about HHS Funds for Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/the-ada-clarifies-questions-about-hhs-funds-for-dentists) - The ADA has released additional information about the HHS Provider Relief Funds for Dentists. One of the biggest concerns was that it appeared the practice could not balance bill if they received the grant. Fortunately, the ADA has worked with HHS to resolve the issue. The only time the practice cannot balance bill is when
- [COVID-Related Payroll Tax Credits and Relief – You May be Eligible](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/covid-related-payroll-tax-credits-and-relief-you-may-be-eligible) - Congress has provided multiple levels of assistance to small businesses and employees through the CARES Act and the Families First Act. Relief has included the PPP loan, which has helped many practice owners, in addition to paid leave for employees. Practice owners may also be eligible for additional relief in the form of payroll tax
- [PPP Loan Forgiveness Application – We Recommend You Wait](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/ppp-loan-forgiveness-application-we-recommend-you-wait) - Even though banks are making the PPP Loan Forgiveness application available to clients, our recommendation is to wait before filling out the application. There are a few reasons why we suggest waiting: The SBA and Treasury are in the process of completing the final guidelines on loan forgiveness. The timing on when the guidelines will
- [UPDATE - DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE DENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CARES ACT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO  AUGUST 3, 2020](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-deadline-to-apply-for-the-dental-distribution-of-the-cares-act-has-been-extended-to-august-3-2020) - Last week we sent out the below blog regarding an opportunity for more dental practices to apply for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The original deadline to apply was July 24, 2020. Today the deadline has been extended to August 3, 2020. If you plan on applying, we encourage you to file the application early
- [New Funds Available – CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Expanded to Include More Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-funds-available-cares-act-provider-relief-fund-expanded-to-include-more-dentists) - As of July 10, 2020, the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a new Provider Relief Fund for Providers. We have been supplied with General Information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). After a review of this information and collaboration over the weekend with the ADA and members from the ADCPA we believe
- [Important PPP Loan Forgiveness Guidance Released](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/important-ppp-loan-forgiveness-guidance-released) - On June 22nd, additional guidance was released for the PPP loan program. The new guidance provides important information about owner and self-employed compensation as it relates to loan forgiveness along with exemptions that are available if you cannot return your staff to pre-COVID levels (as of 2/15/20). What follows are important points to know regarding
- [Families First Coronavirus Response Act:](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/families-first-coronavirus-response-act) - Now that offices are starting to open, we wanted to provide additional guidance on the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). In a prior blog, we referenced employers with under 50 employees being able to document that they are exempt from providing the additional 10 weeks of FMLA leave. However, under FFCRA, employers with under
- [Additional Relief Funding Could Be Available For Dentists Who Provide Services to State Medicaid and CHIP Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/additional-relief-funding-could-be-available-for-dentists-who-provide-services-to-state-medicaid-and-chip-patients) - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Tuesday that they were going to provide an additional distribution from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) providers who participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. Dentists who qualify are able to apply for this funding, now, through
- [EIDL Repayment Update](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/eidl-repayment-update) - Fluence previously sent a blog about the EIDL Loan and some potential problems it might have for your and your business. https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-eidl-may-not-be-a-good-loan-for-the-practice If you have determined that you do not want to keep EIDL money, we have instructions on how to pay the EIDL money back to the SBA. This is done through the government
- [Important PPP Loan Update](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/important-ppp-loan-update) - We are excited to announce that on Wednesday, June 3rd, the Senate passed a bill allowing more flexibility with the PPP loan program. The House passed the same bill last week, and it is expected the president will soon sign the bill into law. These are the changes we were hoping to see, and this
- [Update on Attestation Deadline for HHS Stimulus Money for Physicians/Medical Practices](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/update-on-attestation-deadline-for-hhs-stimulus-money-for-physicians-medical-practices) - On May 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an additional 45 day extension for providers who received payments from the Provider Relief Fund to accept the Terms and Conditions through the online attestation portal. This means that providers now have a full 90 days from the date that they
- [The EIDL May Not Be a Good Loan for the Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-eidl-may-not-be-a-good-loan-for-the-practice) - We are glad to hear that the SBA has been busy notifying loan applications that their Economic Injury Relief and Disaster Loan (EIDL) has been approved. The question many of you have is whether or not to take the loan (please note the loan is different than the EIDL grant of up to $10,000 that
- [How to Maximize PPP Loan Forgiveness](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/how-to-maximize-ppp-loan-forgiveness) - Many of you have received PPP loans over the past few weeks, and we know you are eager for guidance regarding how to maximize loan forgiveness. The Treasury Department and Congress are still considering final regulations that may change some of the loan forgiveness rules, but at this point, nothing is final. While we wait
- [Why You Should Consider Filing a Business Interruption Insurance Claim](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/why-you-should-consider-filing-a-business-interruption-insurance-claim) - What is business interruption coverage? This type of coverage is known by several names: business interruption, loss of use, and loss of income are the most common descriptions. Often this coverage is part of a liability or commercial policy. Business interruption coverage provides loss of income following a disaster. The question is will this insurance
- [PPP Loan Funds Received, Now What?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/ppp-loan-funds-received-now-what) - We are excited for you if you have received your PPP loan proceeds. At this point, we still do not have the final guidance released on the loan forgiveness rules. We are hoping this will be released any day now. In the interim, we recommend the following for PPP loans: Deposit the PPP funds
- [If you are looking for PPE, Please see below email blast that was just sent out by Green Sail Transitions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/if-you-are-looking-for-ppe-please-see-below-email-blast-that-was-just-sent-out-by-green-sail-transitions) - PPE ORDERS AVAILABLE Green Sail Transitions Good morning, The PPE small order site is now available. You will find the link below. This e-commerce add-on to Handshake's website has been put together for you at breakneck speed. Please expect that there may be a few glitches. We hope you will
- [Common Questions for Practices That Are Reopening](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/common-questions-for-practices-that-are-reopening) - The good news is that Oregon dental practices can reopen on May 1 and their Washington colleagues after May 18th. We know you are eager to see patients and to take a step toward normalcy. We also know your team will have questions regarding their employment and safety. What follows are commonly asked questions followed
- [Updates Regarding the EIDL and PPP Loans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/updates-regarding-the-eidl-and-ppp-loans) - We are glad to hear that clients are starting to receive money from the SBA or learning that you will soon receive money. We also know you have questions about what to do next. What follows are updates regarding the EIDL and PPP loans along with links to an informative webinar and helpful spreadsheet. EIDL
- [Individual Rebate Credit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/individual-rebate-credit) - We hope that you are keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your community safe from COVID-19 (commonly referred to as the Coronavirus). Along with those paramount health concerns, you may be wondering about some of the recent tax changes meant to help everyone coping with the Coronavirus fallout. We want to update you on one
- [Apply or Wait- The Decision Every Doctor is Having to make Regarding the PPP loan](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/apply-or-wait-the-decision-every-doctor-is-having-to-make-regarding-the-ppp-loan) - Our office is receiving a lot of questions from clients about when to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program Loan. We understand this is the most critical question every practice has at the moment. Unfortunately, we won’t know the correct answer until July, and you need to make a decision now. We want to share our thought
- [SBA Application Process Has Been Defined](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/sba-application-process-has-been-defined) - As promised the SBA has released the final calculation and application for the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) 7(a) Loan. This morning banks are doing their best to be ready for processing, but many are not yet ready yet. Please be patient with your bank. Also, it is important that you apply for the PPP loan
- [The New SBA Loan is Almost Ready](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/the-new-sba-loan-is-almost-ready) - Fluence spent three hours last night on a phone conference with 79 CPAs that are part of the Academy of Dental CPAs. In our opinion this group is the best of the best. The purpose of the phone conference was to share knowledge surrounding the Paycheck Protection Plan (7a) (PPP) loan, which is set to
- [Update on Paid Leave, New SBA Loan, and Unemployment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-on-paid-leave-new-sba-loan-and-unemployment) - With each act of Congress that provides help during this challenging time comes a wave of questions. How does a specific act apply to your practice? What are the next steps to take with SBA loans? We understand your confusion and we share your frustration in trying to get answers. Therefore, we want to address
- [Tax Filing and Payment Due Date Updates](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-filing-and-payment-due-date-updates) - As you are aware from previous communications the Internal Revenue Service has extended both the filing deadline and payment deadline for 2019 to July 15, 2020. They also chose to extend the payment deadline for first quarter estimated tax payments to July 15, 2020 as well. The second quarter payment is currently still due June
- [Collaboration Between the ADA and the ADCPA About the SBA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/collaboration-between-the-ada-and-the-adcpa-about-the-sba) - Saturday was a full day for Fluence collaborating with the ADCPA and ADA legislators. Thanks to our affiliation with the ADCPA and partnership with the ADA we continue to stay on the forefront of the latest aspects of the CARES act and SBA loans. The below letter was a joint effort between the ADCPA and ADA.
- [Significant Update to Friday Email: Critical Update to EIDL Loan Application](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/significant-update-to-friday-email-critical-update-to-eidl-loan-application) - This is a significant update to our newsletter sent Friday. Please ignore the steps in that email and follow this process. Many clients have experienced challenges with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Application process. Because of these challenges, late Sunday evening the SBA has updated their website to make the process much easier, introducing a streamlined
- [CARES ACT Passes What You Need To Do Now](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/cares-act-passes-what-you-need-to-do-now) - As I’m sure you have heard the CARES Act has passed the Senate and House and has been signed into law by the President. We have some information about the act and the SBA loan options below. First, we have a quick summary of what your action items should be at this point. What you
- [SBA Loan Process - Keep a Copy of The Application But Don't Take The Money Yet](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/sba-loan-process-keep-a-copy-of-the-application-but-dont-take-the-money-yet) - If you are or have started the SBA loan process, the first thing, I’m sure, you have noticed is how gruesome and frustrating the application process is; assuming the website hasn’t crashed. As you work your way through the process, please get your application submitted, and make sure you keep a copy of the full
- [Student Loan Debt Relief](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/student-loan-debt-relief) - Student Loan Debt Relief The challenges of COVID-19-related shutdowns are made even worse by student loan debt. Fortunately, there are now options in place to suspend federal student loans and freeze accrued interest, and there may be additional help to follow. On March 13, as part of the President’s emergency declaration, he announced that student
- [Security Alert: Increased Phishing Attacks Related to COVID-19](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/security-alert-increased-phishing-attacks-related-to-covid-19) - Our IT company, Convergence Networks, sent the below information to all of their clients regarding increased security risks due to COVID-19. They were generous to let us share this with all of you - per Convergence Networks, we're all in this together. We know each and every one of you likely has lots on your
- [Disaster Action Plan for Your Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/disaster-action-plan-for-your-practice) - We know that with each blog post and news development you are likely overwhelmed about what to do next for your practice. What are the best steps to take while your practice is limited to emergency care only? Based on the most up-to-date news, this is what we recommend for your practice and team: Apply
- [New Federal Emergency Family and Medical Leave & Emergency Paid Sick Leave](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/new-federal-emergency-family-and-medical-leave-emergency-paid-sick-leave) - On March 18, 2020, a new law was passed for workers impacted by COVID-19. The law is called Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and it goes into effect in 15 days. All public and private employers with under 500 employees are covered by the Act. There are two parts of the law: federal emergency family
- [You Have Until July 15th to Make Tax Payments, Tax Returns Still Due April 15th](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/you-have-until-july-15th-to-make-tax-payments-tax-returns-still-due-april-15th) - Yesterday the IRS released Notice 2020-17 providing relief from tax payment deadlines due to the COVID-19 emergency. Please note this relief is for tax payments only. This notice does not provide an extension for filing of any tax or informational return. Personal tax returns are still due by April 15, 2020. The IRS Notice gives
- [What You Need to Know When the COVID-19 Crisis Impacts Your Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-you-need-to-know-when-the-covid-19-crisis-impacts-your-practice) - We understand the concerns you have for the health of your family, team members, patients, and community with the COVID-19 crisis. We also understand your worries about how a slowdown or shutdown can impact your practice and team. This is a challenging time that requires effective leadership and empathy. The purpose of this email is
- [Hire the Right Fit Instead of Hiring to Fill a Position](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/hire-the-right-fit-instead-of-hiring-to-fill-a-position) - There is a significant difference between hiring the right fit for your practice and hiring to fill a position. Joe Kraus, CEO of Lime, summed it up well when he said, “The cost of hiring someone bad is so much greater than missing out on someone good.” In order to avoid the cost of hiring
- [Planning for a Successful 2020](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/planning-for-a-successful-2020) - What needs to happen with your dental practice and team over the next year for 2020 to be considered a great success? As you consider what you would like to accomplish this year, remember you need more than just goals. As Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
- [Guide More Patients to Schedule for Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/guide-more-patients-to-schedule-for-treatment-2) - The following scenario occurs far too often in dental practices. You diagnose treatment and spend an appropriate amount of time explaining your recommendations, and you leave the operatory certain the patient will soon show up in your schedule. But then you learn the patient left without scheduling. How could that happen? One of the biggest
- [Avoid Disclosing Protected Health Information on Social Media](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/avoid-disclosing-protected-healthy-information-on-social-media) - While it may sound like common sense to not disclose protected health information (PHI) on social media, this important HIPAA guideline may be overlooked while responding to online reviews or posting to the practice’s Facebook page. To understand what can lead to a HIPAA violation, let’s first review what constitutes PHI. Protected Health Information includes
- [Utilizing Perio Code D4346 Effectively](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/utilizing-perio-code-d4346-effectively) - Starting with the CDT code update in 2017, a new perio code was created: D4346. This code is for scaling in the presence of generalized moderate or severe gingival inflammation. Just because there is a new code does not mean that hygiene teams know how to utilize it. How effective is your hygiene team at
- [Steps to Take When the Schedule is Slow](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/steps-to-take-when-the-schedule-is-slow-2) - How do you respond when you look at the schedule and see huge openings? While it is normal to be concerned, it is important to not become consumed with worry. There is an old saying that outlines the best response: “If you’re going to panic, panic constructively.” That means turning your worry into steps that
- [Deterring Embezzlement](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/deterring-embezzlement) - Imagine for a moment that a generous person placed $1,000 in cash on your desk as a gift, but with the gift came a warning: “There is a 50% chance that someone will swipe that money off your desk unless you put the cash away somewhere secure.” What would you do? Given the odds, you
- [State Audit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/state-audit) - The State of Oregon is stepping up their income analysis audit techniques. Recently we have seen state agencies, including the State of Oregon, increase their use and scope of the “Bank Deposits” method of verifying income when performing an audit. What does this mean for you? This means that auditors are closely examining bank statements
- [Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/oregons-workplace-fairness-act) - The Oregon Workplace Fairness Act was signed into law earlier this year and grows out of the #MeToo movement. It is a broad change and covers all employers in Oregon. What do you need to know? All Oregon employers must have a written policy aimed at reducing and preventing discrimination and harassment. Employers are required
- [When Do You Have to Pay Employees for Travel Pay?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/when-do-you-have-to-pay-employees-for-travel-pay) - There are multiple costs associated with meetings and continuing education involving a dental team. First, there is the total cost for the meeting or educational event, which includes meals and travel expenses for everyone. Second, as discussed in a previous blog, there is compensable time for the team during the meeting and educational event. There
- [Law Update: Rest Periods for Expression of Breast Milk](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/law-update-rest-periods-for-expression-of-breast-milk) - The Oregon Legislature has expanded the protections for employees with a need to express breast milk. The expanded protections started on September 29, 2019. Oregon employers are required to allow employees to express milk each time the employee has a need to do so. Employers should expect that nursing mothers will take a break every
- [When Do You Have to Pay Employees for Meetings and CE?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-do-you-have-to-pay-employees-for-meetings-and-ce) - When meetings and continuing education are scheduled, dentists and teams sometimes forget the rules regarding compensable time. The first rule to remember is if you require the team to attend a meeting or training, their time is compensable. If the practice is hosting an open house, for example, and the team is required to be
- [Breaking News: New Overtime Rule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/breaking-news-new-overtime-rule) - After a blocked Obama-era rule which would have doubled the threshold, the five-year fight to expand overtime pay to millions of workers is over. The Department of Labor released the final rule on September 24, 2019. These changes will affect all employees currently classified as exempt. Employees classified as exempt must pass the salary and
- [Oregon Pregnancy Accommodation Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/oregon-pregnancy-accommodation-law) - Beginning January 1, 2020, Oregon employers with at least 6 employees must provide reasonable accommodations to employees and job applicants who have limitations related to pregnancy, unless doing so would impose undue hardship. The law makes it unlawful for an employer to: Deny employment opportunities to an applicant or employee based on the need to
- [Weeding Out “Difficult” Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/weeding-out-difficult-dental-patients-2) - Do you have to be everyone’s dentist? While you may wish that you connected well with every patient in your chair and that everyone wanted you as their dentist, there are some patients who are just not a good fit for your practice. Maybe the difficult patient is consistently rude to you and your team
- [Should You Interview People with Gaps in Their Employment History?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/should-you-interview-people-with-gaps-in-their-employment-history) - If you are eager to find a great clinical or front office team member for your dental practice, you typically want to receive resumes that show longevity and achievement. However, in a tight labor market, you may not get many resumes at all, and the resumes you receive may not initially motivate you to call
- [Show Your Dental Team That You Appreciate Them](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/show-your-dental-team-that-you-appreciate-them) - “Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Dental teams have a great emotional need to feel appreciated. When the team feels appreciated, they are more invested in the practice, which translates into stronger teamwork, positive patient experiences, and better overall practice performance. There are a number of
- [It’s Not Just a Cleaning](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/its-not-just-a-cleaning-2) - Many times when dental patients call to cancel a hygiene visit, they will say, “But it’s just a cleaning.” While you may get frustrated at patients for devaluing important preventive care, keep in mind you have a great opportunity to change their attitudes. When people understand how a service benefits them, they value it; therefore
- [Strategies for Paying Off Your Dental Student Loan Debt  – The Art of Dental Finance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/strategies-for-paying-off-your-dental-student-loan-debt-the-art-of-dental-finance) - One of the many benefits of belonging to the Academy of Dental CPAs (ADCPA) is that the Fluence team gains insights from dental CPA firms from across the country. Just as dentists benefit from active involvement in study groups, we reap the rewards of belonging to a like-minded organization that stays on top of dental
- [Getting Google Reviews with Review Wizards](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/getting-google-reviews-with-review-wizards-2) - If you are not generating as many positive Google reviews as possible, you are at a competitive disadvantage since potential new patients rely on reviews to judge your practice. When new patients see that your practice has zero or very few Google reviews while dentists nearby have thirty or more positive reviews, those new patients
- [Effective Leadership Styles](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/effective-leadership-styles) - Dentists who are effective leaders develop leadership styles that guide the team and practice to achieve desired goals. Since there is not one leadership style that is perfect for all situations, strong leaders use different styles depending on the situation. What follows are three of the most effective leadership styles to consider: Coaching. Leaders who
- [Tax Issues Related to Divorce](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/tax-issues-related-to-divorce) - Divorce is a traumatic event in anyone’s life, and the tax aspects are frequently overlooked, which can add to the distress. The following is an overview of many of the commonly encountered tax issues associated with divorce. Family Court – All too often, family law courts make rulings that contradict federal tax law, causing
- [Gift Tax Treatment of Tuition Plans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/gift-tax-treatment-of-tuition-plans) - Qualified tuition plans (QTPs) provide a means for family members and others to save for the future educational needs of children. Investment earnings within a QTP account are tax deferred and not taxable when withdrawn if used to pay qualified tuition and certain other expenses. Each individual’s contribution to a QTP (also sometimes referred to
- [Electric Vehicle Credit on the Decline](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/electric-vehicle-credit-on-the-decline) - Back in 2009 Congress created a tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles as a stimulus for car companies to manufacture “green” vehicles and as an incentive for consumers to purchase electric vehicles. Although there is no specific date in the future when this credit will expire, there is a limit to the number
- [How Can a Negative Review be a Good Thing?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-can-a-negative-review-be-a-good-thing-2) - Is there a way to avoid criticism? The writer Elbert Hubbard once said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Since your dental practice is in the business of doing something, something very beneficial for patients, you can expect criticism. A bad review is part of doing business, and fortunately the criticism
- [Show Patients You Care with Effective Handoffs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/show-patients-you-care-with-effective-handoffs) - Have you ever had to repeat health-related concerns to multiple members of a healthcare team? Having to repeat yourself can prove extremely frustrating, especially if you or someone you love is in discomfort. How much trust is built between you and the clinical team when it seems no one is listening? Contrast this to appointments
- [When Team Members Are Not Getting Along](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-team-members-are-not-getting-along-2) - What do you do when members of your dental team are not getting along? Do you run the other direction in hopes that everything will work itself out? Typically, conflict does not work itself out without your involvement. As the leader of the practice, you have an important role in helping to unravel the source
- [Where Does the Time Go?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/where-does-the-time-go-2) - Are you effective at managing your time? Many of us may not be as effective as we think, as discussed in the excellent book Deep Work by Cal Newport. For example, in 2013 the British TV licensing authority surveyed television watchers about their viewing habits. People aged 25 – 34 estimated about 15 – 16
- [How Well Can You Read Your Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-well-can-you-read-your-patients-2) - It is rare that dental-related issues slip by an experienced dentist and team. Tens of thousands of hours of experience and training ensure that even the faintest of concerns on an x-ray receive the appropriate attention. While x-rays, intra-oral photos, and chart notes are expertly scrutinized, there is not always enough effort dedicated to reading
- [End the Exam Tug-of-War](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/end-the-exam-tug-of-war) - A dentist is typically pulled multiple directions during the day, and this is especially true when it is time to do exams. Typically, the dentist is right in the middle of treatment while the hygiene team waits for her to get up for an exam. Or, an assistant is letting the dentist know an emergency
- [Increased Business-Vehicle Deductions Due to Tax Reform](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/increased-business-vehicle-deductions-due-to-tax-reform) - The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 and other tax reforms have brought about significant changes in the way that vehicle use is deducted for business purposes. Before getting into these changes, it is appropriate to first provide a review of the two methods for deducting the use of a business vehicle. It is
- [The Art of Dental Finance Podcast](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-art-of-dental-finance-podcast) - One of the many benefits of belonging to the Academy of Dental CPAs (ADCPA) is that the Fluence team gains insights from dental CPA firms from across the country. Just as dentists benefit from active involvement in study groups, we reap the rewards of belonging to a like-minded organization that stays on top of dental
- [IRS Giving a Break to Some Taxpayers Who Under-Prepaid Their 2018 Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/irs-giving-a-break-to-some-taxpayers-who-under-prepaid-their-2018-taxes) - Taxpayers are required to pre-pay their taxes for any tax year through payroll withholding, estimated tax payments or a combination of the two. Employees and retirees generally accomplish this through withholding, and self-employed individuals and those with investment income by paying quarterly estimated payments. The late-2017 passage of tax reform that became effective for 2018
- [Big Tax Changes for Divorce Decrees after 2018](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/big-tax-changes-for-divorce-decrees-after-2018) - Welcome to 2019 and a delayed provision of the tax reform, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). For divorce agreements entered into after December 31, 2018, or pre-existing agreements that are modified after that date to expressly provide that alimony received is not included in the recipient’s income, alimony will no
- [Don’t Be a Victim of Cybercrooks](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dont-be-a-victim-of-cybercrooks) - Article Highlights: Well, here it is: 2019. The holiday season is over, and the season for preparing tax returns is about to begin. But unfortunately, it is also the season for scammers who are out to steal your identity, swindle you out of your money and even file tax returns in your name. All of
- [New Year Plan of Action](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/new-year-plan-of-action) - The start of a New Year brings an opportunity to make your dental practice and team even stronger. As you consider what you would like to accomplish this year, remember you need more than just goals. As Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” If you want this
- [W-4: Are employers required to have employees complete a new W-4 each year?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/w-4-are-employers-required-to-have-employees-complete-a-new-w-4-each-year) - As an employer your responsibility regarding Form W-4 is to remind employees to fill out a new W-4 at the end of each year or before your first payroll of the year. It isn’t necessary that an employee fill out a new W-4 each year. The most recent form you have on file will remain in
- [2019 Standard Mileage Rates Announced](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/2019-standard-mileage-rates-announced) - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) computes standard mileage rates for business, medical and moving each year, based on a number of factors, to determine the standard mileage rates for the following year. As it does annually around the end of the year, the IRS has announced the 2019 optional standard mileage rates. Thus, beginning on
- [Last-Minute Tax Strategies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/last-minute-tax-strategies) - Just a reminder that the last day you may make a tax-deductible purchase, pay a tax-deductible expense, take advantage of tax credits, or make tax-deductible chari-table contributions for 2018 is Dec. 31. Every taxpayer’s situation is unique, and the suggestions offered here may not apply to you. The best way to ensure that you are
- [Securing Your Patients’ Credit Card Information](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/securing-your-patients-credit-card-information-2) - You are most likely aware that credit cards are moving toward secure payments using chip technology. The secure technology is known as EMV (Euro, MasterCard, Visa), and since EMV will impact your dental practice, it’s important to be prepared. In the past when a patient paid with a credit card, you simply swiped the magnetic
- [Team Meetings Where You Make Ideas Happen](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/team-meetings-where-you-make-ideas-happen) - How effective are your team meetings? You may feel like Dave Barry who once said, “If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings’.” Fortunately, you can transform meetings into opportunities to make the team
- [Practice Action Plan](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/practice-action-plan) - Just like you, we love it when a plan comes together, but not everyone knows how, or where to begin, when creating that plan. Or perhaps a plan was created, but now it’s filed away lost to the day to day running of your practice. Creating, and revisiting your plan is essential to the success
- [Take Advantage of a Home Office Reimbursement](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/take-advantage-of-a-home-office-reimbursement) - If you have a home office and are looking for ways to maximize your tax savings maybe it’s time to look into the home office reimbursement. This reimbursement method allows a corporation to reimburse an employee for incurred business expenses, which includes those stemming from your home office. With a little up front implementation and
- [Assertive Leadership](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/assertive-leadership) - What defines effective leadership? John Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” One important leadership trait that demonstrates the ability to know the way, go the way, and show the way is assertiveness. Assertive leaders clearly express what is needed in the right manner
- [Big Changes to College Savings Plans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/big-changes-to-college-savings-plans) - Tax reform added some new taxpayer-advantageous changes to college savings plans. These plans are also known as qualified tuition programs (QTPs) or Sec. 529 plans, named after the part of the Internal Revenue Code that established them. Background: Sec. 529 plans allow taxpayers to put away larger amounts of money than other tax-advantaged education savings
- [Washington Paid Family Leave](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/washington-paid-family-leave) - Washington has passed a Paid Family and Medical Leave law which provides eligible employees paid leave for their own serious health condition (medical leave) or for family care (family leave). Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave is an insurance program. Employees and employers will pay premiums each paycheck to fund the program. Small employers (with
- [Rejoice – Business Meals Are Still Deductible](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/rejoice-business-meals-are-still-deductible) - If you are a business owner who is accustomed to treating clients to sporting events, golf getaways, concerts and the like, you were no doubt saddened by the part of the tax reform that passed last December that did away with the business-related deductions for entertainment, amusement or recreation expenses, beginning in 2018. You can
- [Meals and Break Periods in Oregon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/meals-and-break-periods-in-oregon-2) - Do I have to give employees meal and break periods? How can I do that in an environment where we see patients and need to be available? Why can’t I just pay the employee for the time instead of giving the meal or break period? We get asked these questions all the time. The rules
- [Children are Prime Targets for Identity Theft](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/children-are-prime-targets-for-identity-theft) - One of the most surprising statistics about identity theft is that more than one million children were victims of identity theft and fraud last year (according to Javelin Strategy and Research). Fraud against children totaled $2.6 billion in 2017 with two-thirds of victims age seven or younger. Why are children sought after targets for criminals?
- [Cyber Security – Protect Your Practice against Phishing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/cyber-security-protect-your-practice-against-phishing) - While you may be aware that cybercriminals want to break through the defenses of your computer, you may not realize the most popular form of attack involves phishing, or the sending of disguised email (“phish” is pronounced “fish”). Phishing is popular among cybercriminals because it is much easier to trick an email user to click
- [How to Frame Change](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-frame-change-2) - Rick Goodwin once said the following about change: “One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain.” How many times have you brought new ideas to your dental team only to meet with heavy resistance as people focused on what they
- [Coaching is Like Preventive Dentistry](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/coaching-is-like-preventive-dentistry) - One of the most challenging situations for a dentist is how to respond when the team makes mistakes. When the health history is not reviewed chair-side or charges for the day are not posted correctly, what is the most effective way to respond? Or do you just let it go? One-time mistakes, especially when you
- [Challenging Situations Chairside Improve Communication and Leadership Skills](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/challenging-situations-chairside-improve-communication-and-leadership-skills) - An African Proverb states, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” Just as turbulent seas craft skillful sailors, challenging situations chairside give dentists and teams an opportunity to improve communication and leadership skills. Here are three common scenarios. After treatment options are reviewed, you ask if the patient has any questions. How many times, though,
- [SALT Deduction – Battle Lines Have Been Set and Swords Have Been Drawn](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/salt-deduction-battle-lines-have-been-set-and-swords-have-been-drawn) - Tax reform has limited the federal itemized deduction for state income and local government taxes (including property taxes), collectively referred to as the SALT deduction, to $10,000 a year. This set off a firestorm of protests from the capitals of states with high state income and property taxes. Many called it political retribution by the
- [Kiddie Tax No Longer Based on Parents’ Tax Rate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/kiddie-tax-no-longer-based-on-parents-tax-rate) - Some years back, it was not uncommon for parents to put their investments in their dependent children’s names to take advantage of their children’s lower tax rates. Although the Uniform Gift to Minors Act legally made a child the owner of money put into his or her name, this didn’t stop parents from routinely putting
- [Growing the Recall Patient Base](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/growing-the-recall-patient-base) - For dental practices that want to grow, adding new patients is very important; however another measure that is equally important is the growth of the recall patient base. Just because you add new patients each year does not mean the recall patient base is growing. Patients leave each year due to insurance, moving, cost, dissatisfaction,
- [Tax Reform Eases the Alternative Minimum Tax – But It's Still There](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-reform-eases-the-alternative-minimum-tax-but-its-still-there) - To repeal the alternative minimum tax (AMT), they failed to do that when they passed tax reform in 2017. Instead, they lessened the effects of the AMT by increasing AMT exemptions (an amount of income exempt from AMT taxation) and raising the income thresholds for when the exemptions are phased out. These two steps and
- [Why Should You Have a Strong Harassment Policy?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/why-should-you-have-a-strong-harassment-policy) - As the spotlight continues to grow on workplace sexual harassment, it is more important than ever for companies to have a strong harassment policy. In 2016, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) had more than 6,700 charges alleging sex-based harassment. Your policy should help prevent or defend against sexual harassment claims. An effective policy gives
- [Reducing Staff Costs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/reducing-staff-costs-2) - Not only is it challenging to recruit and retain a great dental team, but it is also challenging to keep staff costs under control. Your greatest asset, your team, is also your greatest expense. The balancing act involves offering competitive pay and benefits while also keeping dental staff costs under control. How do you do
- [Unwelcome Surprises with Extra Treatment Costs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/unwelcome-surprises-with-extra-treatment-costs) - Let’s assume your dental patient has been properly informed about treatment and agreed in writing to estimated out-of-pocket costs. Now the patient is receiving treatment for a crown; however an additional cavity is noted on an adjacent tooth that was not obvious in the x-ray. The patient is informed about the additional filling and agrees
- [Health Savings Accounts Fill Multiple Tax Needs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/health-savings-accounts-fill-multiple-tax-needs) - The Health Savings Account (HSA) is one of the most misunderstood and underused benefits in the Internal Revenue Code. Congress created HSAs as a way for individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to save for medical expenses that are not covered by insurance due to the high-deductible provisions of their insurance coverage. However, an HSA
- [Qualifying Language Does Not Motivate Patients to Schedule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/qualifying-language-does-not-motivate-patients-to-schedule) - Since patients seek direction from their dentist, giving clear guidance about treatment needs is critical. If patients do not understand the importance of treatment, they are far less likely to schedule. Treatment recommendations are commonly “watered down” by the use of qualifying language. Consider the following examples. Example 1: “John, your back tooth has a
- [How to Catch Up on Past Due Accounts Receivables](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-catch-up-on-past-due-accounts-receivables) - Your practice can lose sight of past due accounts receivables during periods of staff transition, practice growth, and/or ineffective account follow through. When the problem is finally identified, past due accounts have typically ballooned into a substantial issue, and the sight of an accounts receivable report that goes on for page after page creates another
- [Has Tax Reform Taken Away Your Home Mortgage Interest Deduction?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/has-tax-reform-taken-away-your-home-mortgage-interest-deduction) - The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, more commonly referred to as tax reform, substantially altered the itemized deduction for home mortgage interest and affects just about everyone who has been deducting their home mortgage interest as an itemized deduction on their tax returns. Background: To fully understand the impact of the law changes,
- [Setting a Timeframe for Dental Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/setting-a-timeframe-for-dental-treatment-2) - If you are like most people, when you make an important recommendation, you often put a timeframe around it; otherwise your suggestion does not carry as much weight. The same goes in dentistry. You can deliver an effective treatment presentation, but when you fail to make a recommendation about when patients need to schedule, your
- [Resolving Conflict Caused by How We Communicate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/resolving-conflict-caused-by-how-we-communicate) - Wayne Dyer once said, “Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” While you may not be directly responsible for an unresolved disagreement among team members, you may still have a role by not addressing the conflict effectively. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure conflict does survive long in your practice. While it’s natural
- [Testing Employees for Drugs or Alcohol](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/testing-employees-for-drugs-or-alcohol) - An employee shows up to work and appears to be intoxicated. You want to send them for drug testing to see if your assumption is correct and terminate them if it is. Is this legal? In Oregon you should proceed cautiously and if you don’t have a clear drug and alcohol policy that you enforce
- [Good and Bad News About The Home Office Tax Deduction](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/good-and-bad-news-about-the-home-office-tax-deduction) - “Home office” is a type of tax deduction that applies to the business use of a home; the space itself may not actually be an office. This category also includes using part of a home for storing inventory (e.g., for a wholesale or retail business for which the home is the only fixed location); as
- [TAX ALERT- Are your new 2018 withholdings sufficient to cover your tax liability?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/tax-alert-are-your-new-2018-withholdings-sufficient-to-cover-your-tax-liability) - In March of 2018 the IRS adopted new withholding tables for wages and retirement distributions. These tables were designed to adjust the withholdings for the new tax laws that will be effective for 2018. Unfortunately these withholding tables appear to be a “best guess” by the IRS on how the new tax law affects our
- [Big Changes to the Kiddie Tax](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/big-changes-to-the-kiddie-tax) - Years ago, to prevent parents from transferring their investment accounts into their children’s name to avoid taxes, Congress created what is referred to as the kiddie tax. This counteracted the strategy of taking income from the parents’ higher tax bracket and shifting it to their children’s lower tax bracket. The kiddie tax plugged that tax
- [Build Trust with Effective Hand-Offs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/build-trust-with-effective-hand-offs) - One of the most frustrating experiences for patients is repeating key points about health history and treatment needs to multiple members of the clinical team. Patients may wonder if the team is on the same page or if the practice is just too busy to care. How can you build trusting relationships with patients if
- [So Long To The Tax Deduction For Investment Expenses](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/so-long-to-the-tax-deduction-for-investment-expenses) - Under the new tax reform law, investment expenses are no longer deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. This means, for example, that if you have an investment account and are paying fees to have it managed, those fees are no longer deductible. This also means IRA and other types of retirement account fees that are
- [Solar Tax Credit: The Dark Side](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/solar-tax-credit-the-dark-side) - There are TV ads, telemarketing phone calls and sales people at your front door all promoting the benefits of solar power, and one of the key considerations and a frequently mentioned benefit is the 30% federal tax credit. What isn’t included in the ads—and something most potential buyers are unaware of—is that the solar credit
- [Taxes and Divorce](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/taxes-and-divorce) - If you are recently divorced or are contemplating divorce you will have to deal with or plan for significant tax issues such as asset division, alimony, and tax-return filing status. If you have children, additional issues include child support; claiming of the children as dependents; the child, child care, and education tax credits; and perhaps
- [Can You Endorse Your Associate?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/can-you-endorse-your-associate) - Assuming you are busy enough and have appropriate cash flow to add an associate dentist, how do you know if you are hiring the right associate? The right associate is not just a dentist who is willing to work for you, not just someone with a dental license. The right associate is someone you and
- [Tax Reform Changes How Alimony Is Treated](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-reform-changes-how-alimony-is-treated) - Alimony is the term used for payments to a separated spouse or ex-spouse as part of a divorce or separation agreement. Since 1985, to be alimony for tax purposes, the payments: Must be in cash, paid to the spouse, ex-spouse, or a third party on behalf of a spouse or ex-spouse; Must be required by
- [Not-Being-Insured Penalty Eliminated](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/not-being-insured-penalty-eliminated) - Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, imposed what a “share-responsibility payment” on taxpayers who did not sign up for minimum essential health coverage. This payment is essentially a penalty for not being insured. The penalty was phased in during 2014 and 2015, and it became fully effective in 2016. The
- [Tax Reform Adds Education Benefit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-reform-adds-education-benefit) - Tax law provides two tax-advantaged savings plans for the Qualified State Tuition Plan (commonly referred to as a 529 Plan). They are similar in that contributions to the plans are not tax deductible (although some states do allow a deduction for contributions to their plans) and the earnings are tax deferred and tax free if
- [Openings in the Schedule Can Create Opportunities](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/openings-in-the-schedule-can-create-opportunities) - How do you and your team utilize time when there are openings in the schedule? While openings throw off the rhythm of a team used to seeing patients, if you plan appropriately, this time can be used to create opportunities. One of the best ways to use open time in the hygiene schedule is to
- [Tax Reform Limits Exchanges to Defer Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/tax-reform-limits-exchanges-to-defer-taxes) - Article Highlights: Deferring Tax with Like-Kind Exchanges Changes Made by Tax Reform Impact on Trade-ins Whenever you sell business or investment property and have a gain, you generally have to pay tax on the gain at the time of sale. In the past, the tax code provided an exception and allowed you to postpone paying
- [Three Important Phrases That Increase Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/three-important-phrases-that-increase-treatment-acceptance) - One of the most frustrating aspects of dentistry is to go to great lengths to explain treatment needs only to have patients walk out the door without scheduling. Dentists and teams often wonder what else is needed. The answer is that most practices can do better with less: less meaning less time spent explaining treatment
- [Personal Casualty Losses Axed by the New Tax Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/personal-casualty-losses-axed-by-the-new-tax-law) - A casualty loss occurs when there is property damage from a sudden, unanticipated event, not from gradual, progressive damage. Examples of events qualifying as a casualty include: acts of nature like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, storms, and volcanic eruptions; shipwrecks; sonic booms; vandalism; fires; car accidents; theft; and terrorist attacks. For tax years 2018 through 2025,
- [Employee Business Expenses & Tax Reform](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/employee-business-expenses-tax-reform) - If you are an employee (i.e., a W-2 wage earner) with substantial work-related business expenses, the Act was not kind to you. It suspended (and effectively repealed), for 2018 through 2025, all miscellaneous itemized deductions, which were previously only subject to a floor of 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Employee business expenses are included
- [Surprise! Extender Bill Passed: Do You Benefit:](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/surprise-extender-bill-passed-do-you-benefit) - Congress passed the Budget Bill last Thursday night, and the president signed it on Friday. To the surprise of many, the bill included a number of extenders that retroactively apply to 2017 returns. Were you lucky enough to benefit? Needless to say, these last-minute changes may create a problem for taxpayers who have already filed
- [Tax Reform Cracks Down on IRA Recharacterizations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/tax-reform-cracks-down-on-ira-recharacterizations) - If you have been or are anticipating converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you should be aware of a tax trap that Congress built into the Act. Background: There are two types of IRA accounts: Traditional IRA – Is a retirement plan that generally provides a taxpayer with a tax deduction when a
- [Have Business Income? If So, You Score Big With The New Tax Reform](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/have-business-income-if-so-you-score-big-with-the-new-tax-reform) - As part of the Act, Congress changed the tax-rate structure for C-corporations to a flat rate of 21% instead of the former graduated rates that topped out at 35%. Needing a way to equalize the rate reduction for all taxpayers with business income, Congress came up with a new deduction for businesses that are not
- [Medical Deductions & The New Tax Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/medical-deductions-the-new-tax-law) - Article Highlights: Medical Deductions Retained by the Tax Reform Law Adjusted Gross Income Floor Dropped to 7.5% The Standard Deduction Bunching Medical Deductions Unusual Medical Deductions Medical Dependents Divorced Parents Note: The is one of a series of articles explaining how the various tax changes in the GOP’s Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (referred to
- [Jumpstart Your Day with a Great Morning Huddle](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/jumpstart-your-day-with-a-great-morning-huddle) - If constructed the right way, morning huddles can help jumpstart your day by improving teamwork and the overall flow of the day. In addition, patients benefit because the dentist and team are better prepared to meet each patient’s individual needs. However, if you want to have a great morning huddle, you need to avoid the
- [Will Your 2018 Withholding Be Right?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/will-your-2018-withholding-be-right) - One of the first trouble spots of the new tax reform is the W-2 withholding for 2018. Passage of the new law in late December hasn’t given the IRS much time to develop new withholding tables. This can be a big issue, as the recent Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) substantially altered the tax
- [Getting Google Reviews with Review Wizards](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/getting-google-reviews-with-review-wizards) - If you are not generating as many positive Google reviews as possible, you are at a competitive disadvantage since potential new patients rely on reviews to judge your practice. When new patients see that your practice has zero or very few Google reviews while dentists nearby have thirty or more positive reviews, those new patients
- [New Tax Law Cracks Down on Home Mortgage Interest](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/new-tax-law-cracks-down-on-home-mortgage-interest) - For years, taxpayers have been able to deduct home mortgage interest on their primary and second homes as an itemized deduction, subject to certain limitations. The interest deduction was limited to the interest on up to $1 million of acquisition debt and $100,000 of equity debt. Acquisition debt is debt incurred to purchase, construct or
- [Effective Transitions Make for a Great Dental Patient Visit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/effective-transitions-make-for-a-great-dental-patient-visit-2) - Just as transitions are critical for the continuity of presentations we hear or articles we read, transitions are also important for the patient experience. Effective dental teams know how to seamlessly transition at key points during an appointment. The first transition occurs when patients arrive. While the front team often communicates to the back that
- [What to keep in employee personnel files](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-to-keep-in-employee-personnel-files-2) - No one enjoys dealing with paperwork, but the time spent to create and maintain personnel files will pay off over time. A personnel file that is created and maintained over time will give you all of the important documents about an employee in one place making it each to make decisions regarding promotions and terminations.
- [Steps to Take When the Schedule is Slow](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/steps-to-take-when-the-schedule-is-slow) - How do you respond when you look at the schedule and see huge openings? While it is normal to be concerned, it is important to not become consumed with worry. There is an old saying that outlines the best response: “If you’re going to panic, panic constructively.” That means turning your worry into steps that
- [Tis the Season to Change Passwords](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/tis-the-season-to-change-passwords) - Since this is the season for saying goodbye to the old as we welcome in the new, it may be the perfect time to change your passwords. Having a secure dental practice includes having passwords that are as strong as possible. What makes for a weak password? Security experts list the following: Passwords that use
- [2017 last-minute year-end moves in light of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/2017-last-minute-year-end-moves-in-light-of-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act) - Congress is enacting the biggest tax reform law in thirty years, one that will make fundamental changes in the way you, your family and your business calculate your federal income tax bill, and the amount of federal tax you will pay. Since most of the changes will go into effect next year, there's still a
- [No Need to Run from Conflict](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/no-need-to-run-from-conflict) - It is a common response to want to put on your running shoes whenever you hear about conflict. Wanting to get as far away from the challenge is understandable, although it’s far from an effective response. Before you get into a sprinter’s stance the next time your team wrestles with conflict, consider how a more
- [Using Online Agents to Rent Your Home Short Term? You May Be Surprised at the Tax Ramifications](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/using-online-agents-to-rent-your-home-short-term-you-may-be-surprised-at-the-tax-ramifications) - If you are among the many taxpayers renting your first or second home using rental agents or online rental services that match property owners with prospective renters, such as Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway, then you should know the IRS has special rules related to short-term rentals. When property is rented for short periods, special (and
- [Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/oregon-equal-pay-act-of-2017) - The Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017 was signed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown earlier this year. The law extends pay equity to a variety of protected classes and prohibits employers from asking for applicants’ salary history. Effective October 6, 2017 employers are prohibited from seeking the pay history of an applicant or employee from
- [Oregon Sick Leave Law Amendment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/oregon-sick-leave-law-amendment) - Oregon is amending the Sick Leave Law as of January 1, 2018. The goal of the amendments is to provide further clarification. The law requires that employers provide paid or unpaid leave to employees working in Oregon. Employers must provide paid sick leave if they either employ at least 10 employees working anywhere in Oregon
- [How Much Production Are You Losing to Write Offs?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-much-production-are-you-losing-to-write-offs) - Let’s say your practice bills out $5,000 of production today. How much of that production would you expect to collect? There are typically differences between what is produced and collected, and the reasons for the differences can be found in write offs (also known as adjustments). Keeping a pulse on your practice includes understanding why
- [Sold Your Home This Year? Thinking of Selling? Read This!](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/sold-your-home-this-year-thinking-of-selling-read-this) - Article Highlights: Home Sale Exclusion 2 out of 5 Rule Business Use of the Home Gain or Loss from a Sale Previous Use as a Rental Records If you sold your home this year, or if you are thinking about selling it, you should be aware of the many tax-related issues that could apply to
- [Important Questions for Performance Reviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/important-questions-for-performance-reviews-2) - One of the most common questions dentists have about performance reviews (after covering wage-related questions) involves what to cover during the meeting. Performance reviews are ideal opportunities to learn more about your team, and by taking the time to gather insights about the person sitting across from you, you will make your team and practice
- [Big Treatment Plans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/big-treatment-plans) - When patients have a lot on their treatment plans, they are typically the most in need of great dental care; however it is commonly a struggle to get these patients to schedule. The cost of care along with dental phobias are the usually the biggest barriers. Fortunately, there are strategies you can follow to greatly
- [Washington Paid Sick Leave Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/washington-paid-sick-leave-law) - Washington Initiative 1433 requires employers with one covered employee to provide paid sick leave to most employees beginning on January 1, 2018. All employees covered by the Washington Minimum Wage Law must accrue paid sick leave at a minimum rate of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked and there is
- [Are You Accidentally Turning New Dental Patients Away?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/are-you-accidentally-turning-new-dental-patients-away-2) - How many new dental patients do you turn away each month? Almost every dental team would say that new patients are never turned away, especially given how hard most practices work at attracting new patients. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of those answering the phone, new patients are lost each month due to easy-to-fix missteps.
- [Charitable Contributions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/charitable-contributions) - As we approach the end of the year it’s common for taxpayers to start looking at making charitable donations to minimize their tax bill. Depending on the size of the donation there are certain requirements the IRS has for documentation, such as: Taxpayers who make single donations of $250 or more to a charity
- [How to Have Effective Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-have-effective-meetings) - Someone once said, “A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost.” If your staff meetings seem like events where hours are lost and little is accomplished, please consider the following ideas for making your meetings much more effective. Since most dental practices struggle to have consistently productive
- [Qualifying Language Undermines Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/qualifying-language-undermines-treatment-acceptance-2) - What you say matters, especially if you are talking to dental patients. If you want to understand how qualifying language can undermine your diagnosis and call to action, consider the following two examples. Example 1: “John, your back tooth has a cavity, and I recommend that you schedule for a crown. I suggest scheduling in
- [Expense Series Part 5](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/expense-series-part-5) - Behind staffing costs, direct costs are typically the second largest expense category for dental practices. In the Portland area, a general dentist typically spends 12.3% of their collections on dental supplies and lab fees. With such a big portion of the practices collections going to one specific expense category, it is important to review these
- [How Can a Negative Review be a Good Thing?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-can-a-negative-review-be-a-good-thing) - Is there a way to avoid criticism? The writer Elbert Hubbard once said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Since your dental practice is in the business of doing something, something very beneficial for patients, you can expect criticism. A bad review is part of doing business, and fortunately the criticism
- [They Are Phishing You. Don’t Take the Bait!](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/they-are-phishing-you-dont-take-the-bait) - You are probably as tired of hearing about ID theft, phishing, phone scams and other schemes as you are of the political infighting in Washington. However, for most people, protecting themselves against these fraudsters is a far more serious issue than the congressional rhetoric we have to endure. Just about every day the IRS issues
- [Expense Series Part 4](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/expense-series-part-4) - Do you often send out hundreds of mailers and ask yourself “Am I paying too much to advertise, and is this even working?” If so, you are not alone. Advertising and promotional expenses are a key operating expense that should be evaluated regularly. As an average, a general practice will have advertising and promotional expenses
- [Expense Series Part 3](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/expense-series-part-3) - In the previous post of this series we discussed staffing costs and how to analyze them, along with questions to ask yourself if your costs are below market averages. In this post, we will review the staff cost analysis and address questions to ask for costs above the market average. As a quick refresher, for
- [Expense Series Part 2](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/expense-series-part-2) - Without a doubt, the costs associated with employing staff and hygienists are the single biggest operating expenses that a practice will have, in fact, staff and hygiene costs on average are just about 31% of collections for a general dentist in the Portland area. So how do you know if your staff costs are in
- [Why Isn’t Your Hygienist Getting Busier?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/why-isnt-your-hygienist-getting-busier) - If you are consistently adding at least twenty new patients each month per full time dentist in your practice, your hygiene team will gradually get busier with seeing new and continuing care patients. If this is not happening, it is important to understand why. Start with your hygiene schedule. How long does it take for
- [Expense Series Part 1](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/expense-series-part-1) - “How are my expenses looking?” is one of the most common questions we hear from our clients. Many doctors review the production and collection numbers and can instantly tell you whether their goals and benchmarks for that period were reached or not. However, if a statement of expense were placed in front of them, many
- [How to Look Less Attractive to an Embezzler](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-look-less-attractive-to-an-embezzler-2) - If you want to minimize the likelihood of experiencing embezzlement, you need to think for a moment like an embezzler. Embezzlers want control and autonomy, they do not want anyone looking over their shoulder, and they hate being away from their job because someone may discover their scheme. Once you understand how an embezzler thinks,
- [Effective Communication will Show You Care](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/effective-communication-will-show-you-care) - A recent survey by the practice management firm Solutionreach indicated nearly one-third of patients consider switching dentists because they do not feel they are having great experiences. One of the main concerns expressed by patients is that they do not feel cared for by dentists and their teams, and a lot of that has to
- [Make Your Vision Your Action](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/make-your-vision-your-action-2) - Malcolm Gladwell once said, “The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.” If you were going to start with a clean sheet of paper, how would you re-imagine your dental practice and team? What would you like to do? You may want to start with thinking about what matters most
- [Leaders Show the Way](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/leaders-show-the-way-2) - What does it take to fine-tune your leadership skills? Consider what John Maxwell once said about the subject. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” How can your leadership skills show the way for your dental team? First, evaluate how your team starts the work day. Are
- [Where Does the Time Go?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/where-does-the-time-go) - Are you effective at managing your time? Many of us may not be as effective as we think, as discussed in the excellent book Deep Work by Cal Newport. For example, in 2013 the British TV licensing authority surveyed television watchers about their viewing habits. People aged 25 – 34 estimated about 15 – 16
- [Dentists and Payment Arrangements](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/dentists-and-payment-arrangements-2) - Who is the best person in your practice for making payment arrangements? It’s rare when the answer is the dentist; however dentists can easily get caught up in inquiries about money whenever treatment options are discussed. How then can you effectively handle cost-related discussions chair-side? To start, you need to consider the patient’s perspective. Asking
- [Addressing Conflict with Questions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/addressing-conflict-with-questions-2) - The Dalai Lama once said, “Dialogue is the most effective way of resolving conflict.” However, it is very common to react to a situation involving conflict or to move away and not address what is happening. Neither response leads to the dialogue you need to resolve conflict with dental patients or your team. The next
- [What Makes a Dental Practice Valuable?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-makes-a-dental-practice-valuable-2) - What drives the value of a dental practice? The answer goes beyond the assets you can see: the new technology, the recent remodel, and the updated software. Your most important asset in an intangible, a relationship you have with patients, which we refer to as goodwill. When your goodwill is strong, patients trust you, and
- [Are You Considering Converting Your Home Into A Rental?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/are-you-considering-converting-your-home-into-a-rental) - Article Highlights: Home Sale Gain Exclusion Home Sale Loss Rule Mortgage Interest Deductions When individuals buy new homes, they often consider turning their old homes into rentals rather than selling them. All too often, that decision is made without considering the tax implications. Converting a former residence into a rental may also happen when two
- [When Challenged Do You Fear the Worst or Just See Roses?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-challenged-do-you-fear-the-worst-or-just-see-roses) - Douglas Everett, a British chemist and author, once said, “There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” When challenges come up in your practice, whether with patients who are unhappy, staff who cannot get along,
- [New Form I-9](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/new-form-i-9-2) - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the Revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). The new Form I-9 is available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. By September 18, 2017 all employers should be using the new form. You do not need current employees to complete the new I-9 as long as you have a properly
- [Tracking Failed and Cancelled Appointments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/tracking-failed-and-cancelled-appointments) - You know how disruptive and costly it is when patients fail to show up for dental appointments and you are left with big holes in your schedule. It’s equally frustrating when patients cancel without giving appropriate notice. How widespread is the problem in your practice and are the trends getting better or worse? Now you
- [Get More Referrals by Giving Patients What They Want](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/get-more-referrals-by-giving-patients-what-they-want) - Why do friends and family referrer. Dentists think it is because of technology, but we know it is due to how the dentists make their patients feel.
- [Let Go and Delegate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/let-go-and-delegate) - Delegate. In order to succeed you have to give up control. It takes training and trust.
- [Leadership Starts with What You Say](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/leadership-starts-with-what-you-say) - We have all heard the adage “you lead by example.” Well, that “lead” starts with what you say. Don’t worry so much about creating your own version of a Vince Lombardi speech to rally your dental team to new heights; instead focus more on avoiding the statements that will undermine your leadership within the practice.
- [The Truth Behind Section 179](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-truth-behind-section-179) - Yes, you are about to read a blog discussing an internal revenue code section; try to contain your excitement. Chances are you have heard of code section 179 from a sales person telling you what a great deal it is to be able to take advantage of 179. They will show you that the $50,000
- [When Is It Time to Sell Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-is-it-time-to-sell-your-dental-practice) - Selling your dental practice is a tough decision. Be prepared. Make a plan for selling and for after the sale.
- [Unwrap the Gift of Gratitude](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/unwrap-the-gift-of-gratitude) - Show gratitude, don't hide it. Thank others as necessary.
- [Understanding Tax Brackets](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/understanding-tax-brackets) - Tax practitioners are often asked what will happen with regard to changes in tax law in 2013. Rather than try to predict what will happen, a concrete example of how tax brackets apply to ordinary income may be more appropriate. The brackets provide for a progressive system of taxation, where a rate is applied to
- [No Time Like the Present to Plan](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/no-time-like-the-present-to-plan) - Planning for your staff leads to success. Create job descriptions, training plans and goal setting. Plan for success.
- [Common Courtesy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/common-courtesy) - With the holidays, remember common courtesy towards others.
- [The PPO Dilemma](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-ppo-dilemma) - Considering taking PPO plans. Help fill your empty chairs and grow your practice.
- [Benchmark for Success: New Patient Calls](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/benchmark-for-success-new-patient-calls) - Rainfall, football, presidential campaigns…there are statistics for everything and benchmarks that can be used to measure many different successes and failures. Dentistry is no different. Whether you are trying to grow your practice or maintain your current level of success, there are key statistics that every dentist benefits from tracking. New patient phone calls. How
- [Billing for “Difficult” Dental Cleanings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/billing-for-“difficult”-dental-cleanings) - One of the most common challenges with past-due dental patients is the expectation that everything can be accomplished with one visit. Necessary x-rays, the exam, and the cleaning all in one hour even though it’s been years since the last dental visit. At least that’s the expectation. But what if the patient cannot be finished
- [Hire Team Members Who Are Coachable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/hire-team-members-who-are-coachable) - A coachable team member is invaluable. Take time to listen during the interview. Are they thinking of new ideas or set in their ways?
- [Do Not Start a Budget](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/do-not-start-a-budget) - Instead of starting a budget, you should start a money management system. Seriously. The word budget sounds like a bad word. It makes people think of restriction, constraints, and rules. A money management system sounds like it has a little more freedom; it sounds more peaceful and less rigid. As we approach the end of
- [Tax Overhaul Likely Coming Soon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-overhall-likely-coming-sometime-soon) - Change is tax law is coming. Look for reform now that the election is over
- [Sharing When It Matters Most](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/sharig-when-it-matters-most) - It is the small things that make a large difference - small acts can create patients and advocates for life
- [Empower Your Team to Go Beyond Job Descriptions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/empower-your-team-to-go-beyond-job-descriptions) - Do not shackle your team into just their job description, empower and challenge them to go above and beyond
- [Documenting Employee Issues](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/documenting-employee-issues) - When documenting employee issues, documentation is the the key.
- [Unclaimed Property](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/unclaimed-property) - You have heard the phrase “you snooze, you lose”, well apparently it is not true with the Department of State Lands. If a patient over-pays their account they will have a credit balance in your accounts receivable system. You will issue the patient a refund check, but what happens if they don’t cash the refund
- [What is Your Frustration Really Telling You?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/what-is-your-frustration-really-telling-you) - The motivational speaker Tony Robbins once said, “I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.” What is your frustration really telling you? Let’s assume that you and your hygienist are out of sync.
- [Choose Understandable Language When Talking with Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/choose-understandable-language-when-talking-with-dental-patients) - One of the challenges consistently faced by dentists and teams is trying to guide patients to do what’s best for them. And one of the reasons this is such a challenge is the failure to communicate. George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer and former Nobel Prize winner, once said, “The single biggest problem in communication
- [Don’t Mess with Isaac Newton](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/don’t-mess-with-isaac-newton) - Sometimes we all get stumped. Even the great scientist Isaac Newton once met an opponent that almost bested him. In 1695, it was discovered that a massive amount of phony currency was in circulation in England. The Royal Mint couldn’t solve the crime, so they turned to Isaac Newton for help. Newton easily conquered the
- [Your Balance Sheet and You](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/your-balance-sheet-and-you) - Did you know you have a balance sheet? If you are a small business owner, then you do have a balance sheet. What is a balance sheet? Most dentists don’t pay much attention to their balance sheet so I thought I would explain what it is and what it communicates. We will start at the
- [Identity Theft and Your Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/identity-theft-and-your-taxes) - We are seeing a lot more instances of refunds being put “on-hold” until the government can figure out possible Identity Theft issues. This can become very frustrating for our clients. Not surprising at all is that the IRS identified 1.2 million incidents in 2011, double that reported in 2010. These include thieves filing false tax
- [Don’t Mistake Longevity for Loyalty](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/don’t-mistake-longevity-for-loyalty) - Just because someone has been part of your dental team for years, doesn’t necessarily mean that person is a pillar of your practice. Too many times when initially assessing their teams, dentists confuse longevity for loyalty. A long-term team member who does just enough to get by and who does not demonstrate respect for the
- [Take Time to Ask Why](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/take-time-to-ask-why) - When you reach your performance goals for a particular month, do you simply check it off your list or do you take the time to ask why? You and your team spend considerable time and energy working on the skills needed to maximize performance, and when you finally achieve your goals, it’s important to recognize
- [Standing the Test of Time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/standing-the-test-of-time) - The work you do as a dentist may end up having a much longer life than you originally intended. The scientific journal PLOS One recently published an article which claims to have found one of the earliest known examples of dentistry. A 6,500 year old jaw bone was found near Trieste, Italy which included a
- [Your Cash World, Our Tax World](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/your-cash-world-our-tax-world) - For some doctors it feels like they are on a different planet as their accountant and advisor. One of the reasons for this feeling is because the business owner lives in the cash world and accountants live in the tax world. Let us take a look at these two related but different worlds. In the
- [Dental Teams Plan to Succeed](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-teams-plan-to-succeed) - A.A. Milne, English humorist and creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, once said, “Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” Knowing what you need to do before you do it helps ensure that things flow smoothly. This is especially true in a dental practice,
- [Unlocking Our Potential](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/unlocking-our-potential) - We are often asked to consider what we are capable of achieving. And inspirational stories encourage us to look beyond our perceived barriers to reach the “next level.” But do we really have a hidden genius inside of us? Just ask Jason Padgett. Padgett never finished college. He was much more interested in partying than
- [Simple Oversights Can Lead to Hot Water](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/simple-oversights-can-lead-to-hot-water) - What if your dental team comes to you with an idea for the summer: “Let’s shorten Thursday by one hour and then work straight through lunch.” Would you follow their suggestion if it would not harm production? By giving everyone more time to enjoy the nice weather, you could unfortunately step right into hot water.
- [Understanding Federal Tax Brackets](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/understanding-federal-tax-brackets) - Through my 12 years as an accountant and tax advisor, I have found that most people do not fully understand how the federal tax brackets work. Typically people’s perception of how they work is far worse than they actually are. First let’s take a look at the 2012 federal tax brackets. For purposes of this
- [Tongue Piercing Leads to Innovation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/tongue-piercing-leads-to-innovation) - Dentists and teams understandably express concern when they see patients with tongue piercings. And parents sometimes view tongue piercings as a show of rebellion. But did you know that tongue piercings are revolutionizing some people’s lives. Professor Maysam Ghovanloo and his team at Georgia Tech have developed what they call the Tongue Drive System, which
- [The Willpower to Succeed](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-willpower-to-succeed) - Could a written plan of action help you recover faster from surgery? Could it help you complete a task you find difficult? Research suggests it can. In the early 1990’s, a British psychologist conducted research in two Scottish hospitals on patients who had just received hip replacement surgery. The psychologist recruited elderly patients who were
- [Tax Tips for the Recently Married](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-tips-for-the-recently-married) - As late spring and summer are the most popular time for weddings, if you are part of this year’s newlyweds have you considered your financial affairs? Following are some items that you should keep in mind in preparing for your new life from the tax and financial side. Notify the Social Security Administration: It is
- [One Way to Save on Staff's Health Insurance Coverage](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/one-way-to-save-on-staffs-health-insurance-coverage) - There has been much debate during the last few years about the recent healthcare reform known as The Affordable Care Act. Politicians and pundits from both sides of the aisle have poked and prodded at the law, even challenging its constitutionality in the United States Supreme Court. Now that it seems the law is here
- [A Good Problem to Have](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/a-good-problem-to-have) - Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” When dentists embody those words, they learn from past mistakes, work hard, and watch their practice grow. But what happens when too much of a good thing crowds out your schedule? What happens
- [Emergency Exams Should Not Create Emergencies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/emergency-exams-should-not-create-emergencies) - Emergency exams are part of dentistry. Patients have a tooth ache or a crown comes loose and they need to see you. And dentists and teams love to help. But how many times do your good intentions reeve havoc on your schedule, creating other emergencies? Part of the reason emergency exams create challenges is you
- [The Corporate Automobile](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/the-corporate-automobile) - One of the benefits of a corporation is the possibility of putting your car into the corporation. When a car is in a corporation, the corporation is responsible for paying for all the expenses associated with the car. In order to make things fair and legitimate with the IRS, there must be a personal reimbursement
- [Life Lessons From The Real Indiana Jones](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/life-lessons-from-the-real-indiana-jones) - What is it that separates the normal, more common, human beings from those who excel and go down in history as someone unique or exceptional? Certainly there are many of us that strive to be someone who history will look back on favorably, or at the very least make mention of. However few will go
- [Should You Buy the Accounts Receivable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/should-you-buy-the-accounts-receivable) - A common question that dentists ask, before purchasing a practice, is if they would benefit from purchasing the accounts receivable. The answer will sound like it’s coming from a lawyer. It depends. Making the decision to purchase accounts receivable depends on many factors. First and foremost the purchasing dentist needs to determine how effectively the
- [Shedding Old Habits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/shedding-old-habits) - Why is it so hard to implement good habits? Part of the reason is our brain cannot tell the difference between good and bad habits. According to researchers, bad habits are always “lurking” and waiting for the right cues to drive our behavior. During a study at MIT, rats were trained to run a specific
- [Consider Conflict for Generating New Ideas](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/consider-conflict-for-generating-new-ideas) - Are you struggling to find innovative ideas for your practice and team? Maybe what you need is a little conflict. This is not the same conflict that keeps you up and night and undermines the success of the practice. Instead, I’m encouraging you to consider how differences of opinion could be the best thing for
- [The Clash over Full-Mouth Debridements](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-clash-over-full-mouth-debridements) - Few dental procedures cause more controversy between front and back teams than full mouth debridements. Not only is the procedure difficult to say, it’s also challenging to get insurance companies to pay for the treatment unless you follow certain steps. Clinical teams typically recommend debridements to new patients who arrive with heavy amounts of calculus
- [Top Ways Dentists Get Into Trouble](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/top-ways-dentists-get-into-trouble) - One of the most effective ways to stay out of trouble with the Board of Dentistry, American Dental Association (ADA), and dental insurance companies is to understand some of the top reasons why dentists get into hot water. The ADA published a list of what causes dentists the greatest liability when it comes to record
- [Protecting Your Petty Cash](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/protecting-your-petty-cash) - Imagine a small unlocked box full of cash sitting out of sight from its owner. What are the chances someone might see this as an opportunity to just take a little money? I would guess that there is a good chance someone might be tempted and in fact most studies today indicate that at least
- [Consider Your Legacy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/consider-your-legacy) - What do you plan to do when you’re 97 years old? If you’re like John Dobson, you’ll travel the country helping people connect with the cosmos. As reported in the current issue of Mental Floss magazine, John Dobson has been helping amateur astronomers create top notch telescopes since the late 1960’s. The barrier for most
- [Your Best Defense in a Dental Insurance Audit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/your-best-defense-in-an-insurance-audit) - What would an insurance audit uncover in your dental practice? Even if you have nothing to hide, you may still have potential liability. Learn more.
- [Management Lessons from the Underground Railroad](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/management-lessons-from-the-underground-railroad) - So you think you have management headaches. Imagine trying to orchestrate the transfer of slaves to freedom prior to the Civil War. Men, women, and children, most of who were frightened out of their mind, and any unnecessary move or sound threatened to blow the entire operation. And imagine coordinating this effort while you had
- [Personal Expenses and the Corporate Account](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/personal-expenses-and-the-corporate-account) - Commingling personal expenses and business expenses is a bad idea for multiple reasons. A prudent business owner needs keep the expenses separate and it is important to understand that even if you are the only owner of your business, you need to keep personal expenses out of the business. There are three main reasons to
- [Planning in 2012 for 2013 Tax Law Changes (Part I)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/planning-in-2012-for-2013-tax-law-changes-part-i) - With the recently “upheld” Health Care Reform Act (HCA) and the “Bush Tax Cuts” (BTC) expiring, we are expecting some big tax changes for 2013. This presents some tax planning opportunities that you can be used to minimize the overall tax outlay. In this blog series, we are going to discuss the tax changes and
- [No Good Deed Goes Unpunished](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/no-good-deed-goes-unpunished) - How do you handle situations where dental patients refuse x-rays? Do you see the patients anyway? How about when patients need treatment for gum disease, yet they insist on having a basic cleaning. Do you give-in to the patient with the idea that a cleaning is better than nothing? Every dental practice has faced the
- [3 Tips for Making Stronger Connections with Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/3-tips-for-making-stronger-connections-with-patients) - Making a strong connection with your dental patients is vital for improving treatment acceptance and practice performance. Fortunately, the path to making a stronger connection is easy to master if you remember the following three tips. The first tip is to make eye contact, especially when you are meeting the patient at the start of
- [How to Permanently Plan for Temporary Disability (Part II)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-permanently-plan-for-temporary-disablity-part-ii) - During many difficult situations we encounter in life, it is often our friends and colleagues that help us weather the storm of uncertainty and doubt, and get us back up on our feet again. Why is this usually the case? Is it because they are better situated to know what you really need in your
- [Bet on your Staff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/bet-on-your-staff-2) - After you expend the time and resources to hire someone, how do develop your new team member to ensure she/he meets your expectations? Just because a new hire has experience doesn’t mean that person understands your practice. Team development is critical. Consider these words of wisdom from Larry Bossidy, former Honeywell CEO. “I am convinced
- [Resolve Conflict by Focusing on Needs and Interests](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/resolve-conflict-by-focusing-on-needs-and-interests) - Few of us enjoy conflict. But instead of hiding from it, consider how you can manage it more effectively. Max Lucade once said, “Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.” Hopefully we can all avoid charging at team members with battle axes or light sabers; however it’s certainly tempting when team members derail a solution
- [It's All in Our Brain Chemistry](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/its-all-in-our-brain-chemistry) - Are you a slave to your brain chemistry? At times we all are as Kent Greenfield illustrates in his book The Myth of Choice. For example, when men do not feel satisfied with their lives and their incomes they are quick to seek instant gratification, in the form of alcohol, whenever they see attractive women.
- [Know the Rules before Rewarding Patients for Referrals](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/know-the-rules-before-rewarding-patients-for-referrals) - How do you acknowledge dental patients when they refer friends and family to your practice? Hopefully you always send a thank you note to the referring patient—something personalized and not just a form letter. A personalized thank you is always appreciated, and it typically motivates patients to tell even more people about your dental practice.
- [Doctor: The Small Business Owner](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/doctor-the-small-business-owner) - Generally speaking, you are a doctor because you enjoy science, medicine, helping people and even the artistic component in sculpting teeth and creating a beautiful smile. You did not become a doctor so that you could read profit and loss reports, understand statements of cash flow and oversee your internal controls to prevent embezzlement. However,
- [Giving OHP a Second Look](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/giving-ohp-a-second-look) - It is common for dentists and their teams to not want to accept patients from the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). But is that the best course of action, especially since there are over 600,000 OHP patients—a number that is expected to grow even larger. To make the best decision for your dental practice, you need
- [Tools for Deterring Embezzlement](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/tools-for-deterring-embezzlement) - Since fraud and embezzlement are major problems in dental practices, it’s nice to know you have a tool to potentially identify check fraud. Positive Pay is an automated fraud detection service offered by most banks. Positive Pay matches checks presented for payment to the information you upload to the bank, typically from your QuickBooks file
- [How to Permanently Plan for Temporary Disability (Part I)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/how-to-permanently-plan-for-temporary-disability-part-i) - Some of the most important planning in business relates to making preparations for the unexpected. The businesses that have protections and safeguards in place to weather unforeseen circumstances are more often than not, going to be able to come out of that hardship and get back to what they do best. Unfortunately one of the
- [How Does Your Team Want to Receive Feedback](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/how-does-your-team-want-to-receive-feedback) - Someone once posted the following, “What is the shortest word in the English language that contains the letters: abcdef? The answer is feedback. Don’t forget that feedback is one of the essential elements of good communication.” I doubt many would dispute the observation. But the other thing we need to consider is how people want
- [When Values Become Roadblocks](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/when-values-become-roadblocks) - Have you ever considered if the values you instill in your team ever create roadblocks? For example, at the now-defunct and infamous WorldCom, management instilled the value of optimism at all times. The culture at WorldCom discouraged dissent, which is why so many managers remained silent as bad decision after bad decision sent the company
- [Don’t Hide Your Value](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/don’t-hide-your-value) - Someone once said, “It’s not enough to give the customer excellent service. You must subtly make him aware of the great service he is getting.” How effective are you at making your dental patients aware of the great service they are receiving? When patients receive treatment, how do you reinforce the value of the services
- [Dealing With the Rising Cost of Health Care](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/dealing-with-the-rising-cost-of-health-care) - As we continue to see the cost of health care increase and outpace inflation, it is important for employers to make sure they have a health plan that is best for them. Many changes have occurred in the employee benefit arena and it may be a good time to review your current situation and see
- [When We Are Pushed to Our Limits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/when-we-are-pushed-to-our-limits) - Have you ever wondered what you are capable of doing if you were really pushed to your limits? Teenager Tony Cavallo may not be alive today if his mom had not tapped into her full potential. The year was 1982, and Cavallo was working on his car in the driveway when the jack collapsed. The
- [The Mental Stretch of Innovation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-mental-stretch-of-innovation) - You never know when a different way of looking at things may turn into a key innovation. Consider the findings of Virginia Apgar, anesthesiology professor at Columbia Medical School. In 1952, Virginia Apgar claimed that a newborn baby’s survival was related to its condition just after birth. This was a revolutionary idea at the time,
- [Waiving Dental Deductibles and Co-payments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/waiving-deductibles-and-co-payments) - Dentistal practices sometimes provide dental treatment for just what the insurance pays. They waive co-payment or deductibles. Learn if this is legal.
- [Forgiveness](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/forgiveness) - What is forgiveness? Look no further than a bumper sticker to find a fitting definition. “Forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past.” Imagine how much time we would save by giving up all hope for a better past; time we currently waste dwelling on mistakes and events we can’t change. While the
- [Innovation is the Catalyst for Solving Big Issues](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/innovation-is-the-catalyst-for-solving-big-issues) - Big problems often call for innovative ideas. This is especially true when your task is to fight malnutrition. Howarth Bouis, an economist at the International Food Policy Research Institute, was determined to help impoverished people add more nutrition to their diet. In many places in Africa and South Asia, people suffer from severe nutritional deficiencies.
- [Strategic Hiring](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/strategic-hiring) - When you need to fill a position on your team, do you hire people who share your personality? The common tendency is for a dentist and/or the team member in charge of hiring to find candidates with similar personalities. While on the surface this may seem like an appropriate line of reasoning, it can create
- [How to Handle a Clash of New Patient Expectations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/how-to-handle-a-clash-of-new-patient-expectations) - One of the worst-case scenarios for a dentist is to find significant decay on a new patient who expects everything is fine. How do you break the bad news without making the patient think you need the proceeds to buy a new boat? Some dentists try to soften the blow by making their recommendations so
- [Have Your Eyes Open for Talent](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/have-your-eyes-open-for-talent) - When is a good time to start recruiting for the next opening in your practice? It might surprise you to learn that right now is the ideal time, even if your current team is strong. The challenge of filling an opening in your dental practice is the best talent may not be looking when you
- [Whithout Trust You Do Not Have Teamwork](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/whithout-trust-you-do-not-have-teamwork) - One of the main reasons for team conflict is the lack of trust. If you ask your team members if they trust each other, many will initially say “yes.” But when you dig a little deeper, you often find that trust is at best conditional. Trust typically breaks down because of broken promises, lack of
- [You Speak English and Body Language](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/you-speak-english-and-body-language) - When people work on improving communication skills, they naturally focus on what they are trying to say. What’s even more important, thought, is how you say it. The entertainer Mae West once said, “I speak two languages, Body and English.” As Mae West suggests, our gestures, facial expressions, tone, and posture combine to communicate in
- [Win Your Patients Over With Prompt Follow-Up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/win-your-patients-over-with-prompt-follow-up) - We have all experienced situations where we expected a healthcare provider or a vendor to follow-up on our questions; however they never called. What kind of impression did that make? In many cases, we likely chose to take our business elsewhere. How prompt is the follow-up with your dental patients? Let’s assume a confused patient
- [How Open Are You to New Ideas?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/how-open-are-you-to-new-ideas) - How open-minded are you to new ideas? Charles Kettering, the American engineer who invented the electric starter, once said, “People are very open-minded about new things—as long as they are exactly like the old ones.” Do you close the door on new ideas in favor of recycling the familiar? I encourage you to put yourself
- [Are Cancellation Fees Effective?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/are-cancellation-fees-effective) - Many dental practices attempt to curb cancellations by charging a fee. But is this effective? Cancellation fees, coupled with appropriate phraseology, work well as a deterrent against patients who call to cancel dental appointments without appropriate notice. Many times I have witnessed patients experience a sudden change of heart when they learn about a cancellation
- [Curbing Last-Minute Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/curbing-last-minute-cancellations) - Few things are more irritating to a dentist and team than patients who cancel at the last-minute, leaving big gaps in the schedule. And it’s normal for dentists and teams to want to march the offending patients out to face a firing squad for their “grievous” offense. Once cooler heads prevail, the question always comes
- [Growth Starts with Patient Comfort](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/growth-starts-with-patient-comfort) - Dentists understandably wonder how to grow their practice. Should they focus on direct mail or a better website or a new banner out front? How about starting with patient comfort. Ivan Misner, a renowned business networker, once said, “Referrals aren’t given easily. If you don’t take time to establish credibility, you’re not going to get
- [Sharing Praise](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/sharing-praise) - Do you enjoy receiving praise? You’re not alone. Most of us appreciate sincere positive feedback, and when we receive it we immediately perk up. At a recent meeting with a dentist, I shared some praise that I had heard from his partner. The dentist smiled and said that was good to hear, and then he
- [Getting the Most Out of Feedback](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/getting-the-most-out-of-feedback) - Management guru Ken Blanchard once said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” But what if the feedback is tough to swallow? The current issue of Inc. magazine has an excellent article about how to handle tough feedback, entitled “Workplace Feedback: 8 Essential Questions.” Since dentists receive feedback from patients and staff, it’s important to know
- [Stay Out of Trouble with Discounts and Credits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/stay-out-of-trouble-with-discounts-and-credits) - One of the fundamental concepts about dental insurance billing is often missed by practices, and even though the oversights are typically innocent in nature, the consequences can be significant. The fundamental concept is to bill an insurance company for the actual cost of dental treatment. Sounds simple enough. But what if you offer the patient
- [Speaking the Patient's Language](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/speaking-the-patients-language) - Imagine if an exterminator informed you, after inspecting your house, that you had isopterans. What would you ask next? Let’s assume the exterminator noticed a puzzled look on your face, so he explained in detail the taxonomy subclass of gnathamitermes magnoculus. Would you now feel less confused and possibly motivated to take action? Or, would
- [The Sweet Sound of Our Own Name](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-sweet-sound-of-our-own-name) - Dale Carnegie once said, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.” As you consider how to make stronger connections with those creatures of emotion—the patients who occupy your dental chairs—start by remembering their names. There is nothing sweeter than the sound of our own name—another
- [Opportunity in the Mud](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/opportunity-in-the-mud) - Opportunity is sometimes right in front of us and we don’t even know it. In 2008, naval engineering companies asked fuel-cell researcher Keegan Cooke to find an easier way to produce power for their instruments, which are often at the bottom of the ocean. The answer…mud. As reported in the current issue of Mental Floss
- [3 Traits of Successful Leadership](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/3-traits-of-successful-leadership) - During a recent meeting with a dentist, we reviewed notable improvements in a variety of practice performance measures, and we discussed how his financials looked so much healthier than the year before. Certainly there were many aspects to his success, but the driving force was stronger leadership. In the past, we spent considerable time unraveling
- [Know What You're Getting Into Before You Hire Someone](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/know-what-youre-getting-into-before-you-hire-someone) - Whenever we discuss embezzlement prevention, we always include the following in our discussion: protect your practice by not hiring embezzlers. Whenever I communicate this to a group of dentists, I always see a bunch of smiles. If only it was that easy, right. Certainly if embezzlers wore black hats like the bandits in an old
- [Why Paying for a Bookkeeper Will Help Generate Wealth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/why-paying-for-a-bookkeeper-will-help-generate-wealth) - When it comes to preparing the bookkeeping for your business it can often be a hard decision to either prepare it yourself, or to pay a bookkeeper to prepare it for you. At first this decision may seem like trying to pick between the lesser of two evils. Much like taking your car into the
- [Inspiration from Inside of a Garage](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/inspiration-from-inside-of-a-garage) - How determined are you in the face of setbacks? Microbiologist Eri Gentry grew weary of the red tape surrounding cancer research and treatments, and in 2009 she created a lab in her garage. Yes, her garage. As reported in this month’s Mental Floss magazine, Gentry studied the body’s ability to kill cancer cells after learning
- [Show and Tell](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/show-and-tell) - Since we were kids, we have learned through show and tell, which engages our senses and motivates us to listen to what comes next. Unfortunately, the power of show and tell is sometimes forgotten when we reach adulthood. I commonly witness this when I help dentists fine-tune their treatment presentation skills. What is often lost
- [Patient Push-Back Does Not Signal Retreat](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/patient-push-back-does-not-signal-retreat) - The French Mathematician Rene Descartes once said, “The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.” If Descartes was alive today and in your dental chair, he would certainly push back after you recommended treatment. And not because he thought you were wrong.
- [What Matters Most to Your Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-matters-most-to-your-dental-patients) - One of the most important aspects of increasing treatment acceptance is to give your dental patients what they want. When I work with dentists and teams on fine-tuning their overall patient experience, one of the common areas out of alignment is that no one asks what matters most to the patient. This is especially true
- [Getting the Most Out of Plan B](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/getting-the-most-out-of-plan-b) - The mathematician James Yorke once said, “The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B.” How effective are you at shifting gears when things do not go as expected? If you want to find a group that knows how to succeed at Plan B, look no further than those who help impoverished
- [Motivation is Contagious](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/motivation-is-contagious) - Since you are a leader, you often faced with how to motivate your team. But how do you motivate yourself? The philosopher William James once said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” Therefore, one of the best ways to motivate yourself is to engage in activities that are aligned with
- [Practice Transitions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/practice-transitions) - When a dental practice is sold there are two options for structuring the deal; as a stock sale or as an asset sale. It is very important to understand the differences prior to entering into an agreement to buy or sell a practice. A stock sale is the most beneficial to the selling doctor as
- [The Personality of a Good Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-personality-of-a-good-team) - If you do not like everyone on your dental team, is that a bad thing? It depends on the reasons for your feelings. If you struggle with the personality types on your team, step back for a moment and consider if the differences are actually a good thing. For example, you may have a dental
- [Building Consensus with Martin Luther King, Jr.](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/building-consensus-with-martin-luther-king-jr) - Martin Luther King, Jr. was not only a great civil rights leader; he also knew a thing or two about leadership. He once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.” Building consensus is part of the art of great leadership. The writer, Katie Morrell, wrote an interesting
- [Overcoming Real Adversity](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/overcoming-real-adversity) - Have you ever wondered how well you would stand up to real adversity? I mean the real stuff. Imagine, for example, that you survived a plane crash, and you are now in a life raft floating all alone in the middle of the South Pacific. Well, you’re not completely alone. As you sit in this
- [Placing Value on Pain Relief](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/1560) - Do you think a dental patient is happy when you relieve that person’s pain or alleviate some type of discomfort? Of course your patient is happy. Why then do so many dentists fail to charge appropriately for this service? Certainly dentists charge for root canals, extractions, and other restorative work that restores teeth back to
- [Making the Most of CAD/CAM Technology](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/making-the-most-of-cadcam-technology) - If Santa brought your dental practice a CEREC or an ED4, it’s important to keep several things in mind. Your front office team will most likely have questions about how to bill crowns, veneers, onlays, etc. made with this CAD/CAM technology. Do you use separate billing codes? No. Remember to use codes that correspond to
- [Helpful Tips from the Highly Productive](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/helpful-tips-from-the-highly-productive) - Someone once said, “Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute.” But what if you want to avoid the stress of the last minute and consistently utilize better habits. This month’s edition of Inc. has a helpful article entitled “7 Things Highly Productive People Do.” Here are three of the tips. First, work
- [Outsourcing Your Payroll: One of the Keys to Happiness](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/outsourcing-your-payroll-one-of-the-keys-to-happiness) - As a business owner, one of the keys to your happiness is to outsource whenever you can. Outsourcing your payroll will save you money, headaches and time. Payroll limits and rules are constantly changing; staying on top of all the rules, regulations and requirements is a full-time job. In addition, the benefit of direct deposit,
- [Getting the Most from a Rejection](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/getting-the-most-from-a-rejection) - How do you get past the fear and discomfort that comes with rejection? It’s not easy. However, we can’t give up in the face of a setback or allow it to stifle our growth. Harvey Mackay, who has written several bestsellers including Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, has a helpful article in
- [Resistance to Change Might Be a Good Thing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/resistance-to-change-might-be-a-good-thing) - Sometimes resistance to change is a good thing. Yes, a good thing. The key is to keep an open mind as you learn what is behind the resistance. I once met with a dentist and his team and we discussed if the practice was busy enough to add more days of hygiene. I learned that
- [Don’t Be Mistaken for the Grinch](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/don’t-be-mistaken-for-the-grinch) - The Grinch isn’t just a holiday character. When giving team members feedback, some people sound like the Grinch year round. So how do you give effective feedback? First, it’s important to realize the value of positive feedback. Most of us give far too little positive feedback to each other, especially positive comments that are straightforward
- [Setting Your ODS Fees](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/setting-your-ods-fees) - If you want to maximize the increase of your ODS fees to keep your dental practice healthy, make sure you have the right strategy from the start. Your first fee submission to ODS needs to “fail” in order for you to maximize your success. Let me explain. Dentists who participate in the ODS Premier program
- [Keep Your Supplies Under Control](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/keep-your-supplies-under-control) - Keith Davis was an NFL player turned inspirational and motivational speaker. When talking about budgets he once said: “We didn't actually overspend our budget. The allocation simply fell short of our expenditure.” While it is a bit humorous, I think actively taking steps to make sure you can fall within your budget is a better
- [Trigger a Good Habit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/trigger-a-good-habit) - Robert Puller once said, “Good habits, once established are just as hard to break as are bad habits.” A challenge for every leader is how to instill good habits. Peter Gollwitzer, a physiologist at New York University, has done some groundbreaking research in how to instill positive habits. Gollwitzer’s research has centered on the effectiveness
- [Following the Herd](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/following-the-herd) - If you are alone in an unfamiliar building and you hear a fire alarm, how will you react? Most of us will move, either to evacuate the building or to find out if the alarm is real. What if you hear the same fire alarm when you are in a meeting? Do you immediately jump
- [Staying on Time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/staying-on-time) - How often are you on-time with your dental patients? Whenever I ask this question to dentists and teams, I typically get three distinct answers. Dentists are usually consumed with the present moment and the patient they are treating, and their answer is influence by the difficulty of the day. Clinical teams usually have a better
- [Leadership as Clear as Low-Fat Milk](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/leadership-as-clear-as-low-fat-milk) - One of the most difficult tasks of a leader is providing clear direction. What may seem obvious to us is often confusing to others. So how do you provide clear direction? Consider what health researchers learned at West Virginia University when they attempted to lower saturated fat intake of select communities. The researchers decided the
- [Is Your Dental Marketing Working?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/is-your-dental-marketing-working) - Winston Churchill once said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” This certainly holds true for dental practice marketing. If you are trying to encourage more patients to join your dental practice, it is critical to measure the results. And measuring results requires you to dig deeper than just a tally
- [What If Insurance Doesn't Cover It](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-if-insurance-doesnt-cover-it) - You finish with your exam and set the patient up to review your findings. You make your recommendations for dental treatment and the patient seems to understand; however as soon as you finish talking the patient announces, “I’m only doing what insurance covers.” Few things deflate a dentist and team more than having patients who
- [From Gum on the Sidewalk to Spontaneous Creativity](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/from-gum-on-the-sidewalk-to-spontaneous-creativity) - A wad of discarded chewing gum may look like trash to us but not to artist Ben Wilson. For the last few years, Wilson has transformed these sticky nuisances into works of art all across the streets of London. In 2009 when London police first noticed Wilson sprawled out on the sidewalk painting what looked
- [Insurance Tips for PRR’s](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/insurance-tips-for-prr’s) - For many years, dentists lacked a procedure code for placing something more than a sealant but less than the composite filling that extended into the dentin. That changed in 2011 with the new D1352 code for a Preventive Resin Restoration (PRR). However, many practices underutilize the new code or use it incorrectly. The D1352 code
- [Leadership Requires Courage](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/leadership-requires-courage) - When Katharine Graham became president of the Washington Post in 1963, she was terrified. She assumed the position after her late husband killed himself, and most people thought she would sell the paper. She had never run a newspaper and she was competing in a male-dominated industry. But she didn’t sell. Her biggest challenge came
- [Nobody Schedules for Small Decay](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/nobody-schedules-for-small-decay) - Imagine you take your car in for an oil change. Your mechanic, in addition to changing your oil, inspects your engine. When your car is ready, your mechanic explains his findings: “Your belts are just a little thin and I noticed something small with your engine.” You ask a few questions and your mechanic reiterates
- [What Popcorn Can Teach Us about Leadership](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-popcorn-can-teach-us-about-leadership) - Researchers at Cornell University wanted to see what would happen if they gave movie-goers a free bucket of popcorn. Now this wasn’t just any type of popcorn; it was engineered to be awful. It was so stale it squeaked. Some people received medium buckets of the stale popcorn; others received big buckets. The researchers wanted
- [The Importance of Failure](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-importance-of-failure) - Is failure a reason to hang your head or are mistakes a gateway to greater success? Most successful dentists had their share of treatment to re-do early in their career, but every dentist I talk to tells me the same thing. Those early “failures” instilled a drive to not repeat the same missteps. Early “failure”
- [A Simple Surprise to Increase Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/a-simple-surprise-to-increase-treatment-acceptance) - Have you ever considered how something as simple as offering your dental patients a beverage in the waiting room or a warm towel to freshen up with after a visit can lead to higher treatment acceptance? You may have noticed a trend in barbershops and hair salons where beverages are offered to customers. The reason
- [QuickBooks: Online vs. Desktop - Which is Best for You?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/quickbooks-online-vs-desktop-which-is-best-for-you) - Intuit’s QuickBooks (QB) is the accounting software of choice for many small businesses. I am often asked if it is better to purchase the desktop version or use the online version. Let’s take a look at both. QuickBooks Desktop: Although this product requires more money up-front, a purchase of around $250 can last four years.
- [Don’t Let Unused Benefits Go Down the Drain](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/don’t-let-unused-benefits-go-down-the-drain) - Don’t let you dental patients toss their unused benefits down the drain. Now is the time to contact patients with pending dental treatment and encourage them to take advantage of unused insurance benefits. A simple letter or email will produce three positive results for your practice. First, a surprising number of patients will respond and
- [Passion – The Driver of Success](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/passion-–-the-driver-of-success) - How much does passion—an individual’s drive to succeed—contribute to how far you get in life? If you want to look at how passion drives success in business, consider the story of Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. When Bezos started Amazon, many people thought he was crazy to sell books online. But Bezos,
- [Reducing Dental Appointment Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/reducing-dental-appointment-cancellations) - Imagine the nice vacations you could take if you could capture just a fraction of the cost of missed dental appointments. The cost is also felt across the ocean. The National Health Services in the UK recently conducted a study looking at how to curb the costs of missed appointments. The King’s Fund, a health
- [Taking the Pulse of Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/taking-the-pulse-of-your-dental-practice) - Dental practice software is powerful. You can pull hundreds of pages of reports and gather an enormous amount of data. But do you need all that to take the pulse of your practice? When Albert Einstein taught at Princeton, he would sometimes write on the blackboard, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not
- [Fraud and Embezzlement - Don’t be a Victim](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/fraud-and-embezzlement-don’t-be-a-victim) - In the current economy the average American’s income is falling and at the same time credit card debt is on the rise. In this environment employee fraud and embezzlement becomes a very important topic. In 2001 statistics showed 1 out of 6 dental offices was a victim of some form of fraud or embezzlement and
- [The Emotionally Intelligent Leader](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/the-emotionally-intelligent-leader) - When Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, a cardiologist, became CEO of the Cleveland Clinic in 2004, he was very confident he could do great things for the institution. Cosgrove first joined the Cleveland Clinic in 1975, and he established himself as one of the best surgeons around. What Cosgrove quickly discovered, however, was he might have his
- [Sparks of Innovation Fly if Given a Chance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/sparks-of-innovation-fly-if-given-a-chance) - Brainstorming sessions with your dental team can provide sparks of innovation about everything from how to fine-tune the patient experience to how to increase referrals. However, brainstorming in a less-that-supportive environment kills creativity and leaves everyone feeling drained. The recent issue of Inc. online has an excellent article about brainstorming entitled “5 Ways to Kill
- [What Bad Leaders Say](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/what-bad-leaders-say) - Do you strengthen your dental team with encouraging words and helpful coaching? Does your team know you trust them? Or do you undermine your team and the success of your dental practice with the words you choose? A recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek entitled “Ten Things Only Bad Managers Say” outlines a disastrous approach to
- [Resilience Defines Who We Are](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/resilience-defines-who-we-are) - How do you manage adversity? Admiral Jim Stockdale, a prisoner of war tortured by the Vietcong for eight years, was interviewed in the book Good to Great. The author, Jim Collin, asked Stockdale about the personality profile of those who didn’t make it out of the camp. “That’s easy, said Stockdale. “The optimists. They were
- [Off-The-Wall Interview Questions Get Results](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/off-the-wall-interview-questions-get-results) - According to a recent article in CNN Money, hiring managers are getting quite creative with the questions they ask applicants, and dentists can apply these same techniques when hiring for their team. In an article titled “Oddball Hiring Techniques,” hiring managers discuss how they have steered clear of typical interview questions such as, “Where do
- [Make Integrity Contagious](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/make-integrity-contagious) - Why is it that people act differently in a group than they would individually? Why would organizations put such little value in customer service, honesty, or the public good while doing everything possible to improve a company’s bottom line? Sigmund Freud called this change in behavior the “herd mentality.” And you have to look no
- [The Importance of Reconciling Your Accounts Receivable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/the-importance-of-reconciling-your-accounts-receivable) - As a client of Fluence, you are likely aware that we tie down your accounts receivable (AR). What does this mean and why do we do it? During the reconciling or “tying down” of the accounts receivable, the goal is to verify that the money received (deposited at the bank) matches the money received according
- [Team Approach to Scheduling](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/team-approach-to-scheduling) - Who is responsible for filling openings in your schedule? Many dental teams respond by motioning toward a stressed-out member of the front office team who has regular nightmares about cancellations. But if you ask the same question to high-performing teams, they answer by raising their hands. When empowered appropriately, the entire dental team can make
- [Simple Tips for Coding Dental Exams Correctly](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/simple-tips-for-coding-dental-exams-correctly) - One of the most common questions dental teams ask is how to use the D0180 code for comprehensive periodontal evaluations. These simple guidelines will help your practice effectively use the D0180 code.
- [Recharacterizing your 2010 Conversion from Traditional IRA to Roth IRA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/recharacterizing-your-2010-conversion-from-traditional-ira-to-roth-ira) - We are writing to inform you that if you act by October 17, 2011, you have a last chance to “reach back” and change the nature of IRA contributions (including conversions to Roth IRAs) you made for the 2010 tax year. This works as long as you filed your 2010 return by April 18, 2011,
- [The Trigger of Innovation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/the-trigger-of-innovation) - Emergency responders everywhere may soon add a plunger to their CPR repertoire. Yes, a plunger. The FDA is currently testing the ResQPump, which studies have found to be at least fifty percent more effective than traditional CPR. The inspiration for the ResQPump originated from an act of desperation. About twenty years ago, a sixty-three-year-old father
- [Is it the Right Time to Refinance Your Home or Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/is-it-the-right-time-to-refinance-your-home-or-practice) - When asking if it is the right time to refinance, there is no blanket answer for every person; refinancing makes sense when you can reduce the costs of the loan. Interest rates are extremely low right now and these record low mortgage rates make refinancing an extremely attractive option. There are many ways doctors can
- [What Dental Teams Can Learn from Disney](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/what-dental-teams-can-learn-from-disney) - If you have ever stood in line for a ride at Disney World, you are not the only person who notices how slow the line moves or how many upset children are around you. Disney maintains a high-tech command center within Cinderella’s Castle where a team monitors lines and crowd temperament throughout the park. An
- [Relaxation Leads to Inspiration](https://www.fluenceportland.com/time-management/relaxation-leads-to-inspiration) - Now you have the perfect excuse to take time off: relaxation leads to inspiration. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal by Barbara Haislip explores insights experienced by entrepreneurs while on vacation. Robert Jensen found inspiration during a skiing trip to Colorado. He experienced a “eureka moment” while on the ski lift. Jensen observed
- [Relationship Crisis](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/relationship-crisis) - Before blaming the economy for any struggles, I encourage dentists and their teams to search for another type of crisis. A relationship crisis. A relationship crisis can hurt a practice in two ways. First, the dentist and team are not effective in building patient relationships. While a dentist may take the time to talk to
- [Find the Bright Spots](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/find-the-bright-spots) - Why are some challenges with teams or businesses so hard to correct? Maybe we fail to spend enough time learning from the bright spots. In 1990, the Save the Children foundation, which fights malnutrition, was invited to open an office in Vietnam. But they were allowed into the country under one difficult condition: they had
- [Preparation Prevails](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/preparation-prevails) - One hundred years ago in 1911 two teams raced to be the first explorers to reach the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen competed against his British rival, Robert Scott. Not only did Amundsen reach the South Pole a month before Scott, but all of the men in the Norwegian team survived the three-month trip. By
- [Getting Things Accomplished in a Dental Front Office](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/getting-things-accomplished-in-a-dental-front-office) - Block scheduling is not just an effective way to productively schedule dental patients, it is also a valuable tool for the front office team. Many dental front teams struggle to keep up with their workload, and many of the challenges relate to ineffective time management. Management coach Brian Tracy once said, “There is never enough
- [How to Handle Negative Online Reviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-handle-negative-online-reviews) - What do you do when a dental patient posts a negative online review of your practice? A lot of dentists reach for the panic button just after they hit a punching bag. And it’s understandable. Prior to online reviews, an upset patient could inflict limited damage to a practice, but now a critic has a
- [Is Dental Treatment Really Needed?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/is-dental-treatment-really-needed) - Dentists and clinical teams are empathetic by nature, which explains why they struggle when patients balk at treatment recommendations. Especially when patients express concerns over cost. But what are patients really asking when they say that treatment sounds expensive? In many cases, patients push back because they want to see if the treatment is really
- [A Pyramid of Confusion](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/a-pyramid-of-confusion) - An unclear idea, no matter how good it is, typically falls flat. Just look at the Food Pyramid. Who can argue with the idea of developing a tool to help people eat a healthy diet? But how many people walk down the grocery isle toting their Food Pyramid. The biggest challenge is figuring out how
- [Dental Teams and Problem Solving](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-teams-and-problem-solving) - How can you and your dental team become better problem solvers? Consider three of the tips offered in the most recent edition of Inc. magazine. Be wary of any problem that has only one definition. For example, frequent patient cancellations may have multiple causes: the dentist and team are not building enough value for the
- [Fanatical Customer Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/fanatical-customer-service) - Do you enjoy waiting on hold for customer service? How confident are you about receiving a helpful return call or email after you leave a message? In the book Switch by Chip and Dan Health, the authors tell the story of Rackspace, a company that specializes in internet hosting and cloud computing. In 1999, the
- [What Do You Believe](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/what-do-you-believe) - I recently heard a speaker who challenged his audience to reconsider what they believed. He spoke specifically about interpersonal communication and how we often take sides over what we believe is true. Belief is not always the same thing as truth. How many times have we argued our point only to find out we were
- [Attitude for Growth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/attitude-for-growth) - How do you foster growth within a dental practice when we have a less-than-ideal economy? The catalyst is effective leadership. But what makes a leader effective? Someone once said, “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” Dentists who are great leaders
- [The Risk of Inaction](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/the-risk-of-inaction) - Many times we fail to take action for fear of the risks. What happens if we make the wrong move with our team, if we stumble while implementing something new, or if we look foolish in front of others? Isn’t it less risky to just play it safe and do nothing? I suggest we consider
- [The Identity of Dental Staff Turnover](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-identity-of-dental-staff-turnover) - Few things are more frustrating to dentists than to experience the conflicts and stress that ultimately result in staff turnover. Many dentists go through periods where they constantly go through staff, and it’s enough to make doctors wonder if something is wrong with their practice. A novel approach to analyzing turnover occurred at Lovelace Hospital
- [Guiding Dental Patients to Schedule at the “Right Time”](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/guiding-dental-patients-to-schedule-at-the-“right-time”) - How do you get dental patients to schedule at the “right time”? Here's how to guide them appropriately so you can set up your ideal schedule.
- [From Adversity Comes Innovation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/from-adversity-comes-innovation) - Have you ever overcome adversity and then promised yourself you would do whatever it takes not to repeat the same unpleasantness? Whenever you keep that promise, you typically rid yourself of a long-standing bad habit or challenge yourself to grow in ways you once thought were impossible. Adversity is often the spark that propels us
- [Scheduling Your Ideal Day](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/scheduling-your-ideal-day) - Have you ever had one of those days where you sprint from operatory to operatory, barely having five minutes for lunch, running late the entire day, and when you finally finish you can’t believe how little you produced? Too many dentists and dental teams experience this on a regular basis. Even when frantic schedules yield
- [Back from the Dead to Win the Gold](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/back-from-the-dead-to-win-the-gold) - Have you ever felt yourself struggling to bounce back from a disappointment? When you consider the feat of Betty Robinson, whose story appeared in the most recent issue of Mental Floss magazine, you may see you have more options than first imagined. Betty Robinson won a gold medal in the 1928 Olympics when she was
- [Communication Made Simple](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/communication-made-simple) - Over two hundred years ago the English chemist, Joseph Priestly, said, “The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” I can’t imagine what Priestly would think today. When research was conducted to determine how to decrease malpractice claims, an interesting trend emerged. Patients were not suing doctors they liked. And the process
- [Shrink the Change and Grow Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/shrink-the-change-and-grow-your-dental-practice) - Someone once said, “Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.” This feeling of constant change, which can feel overwhelming, is one of the main points of resistance when you propose new goals. So how do you overcome this sticking point? In their book Switch – How to Change Things When Change
- [Customer Focus – Lessons from the NFL, Capitalism, and Dentistry](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/customer-focus-–-lessons-from-the-nfl-capitalism-and-dentistry) - According to Roger Martin, author of the book Fixing the Game, companies can learn a lot from the NFL in order to avoid the out-of-control speculation that lead to our recent financial collapse. Martin points out that the NFL faced a big challenge as the popularity of football took off in the 1970’s. The real
- [Creating Your Mental Postcard](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/creating-your-mental-postcard) - Have you ever wondered why we sometimes get stuck and can’t seem to reach a goal? My observation is most of the time we fail to create a mental postcard. Chip and Dan Health discuss this topic among many in their fine book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. We bash ourselves
- [The Ring of Opportunity](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-ring-of-opportunity) - The American writer Charles Swindoll once said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” For a lot of dental practices, the seemingly impossible situation is this: a potential new patient calls and asks if the practice is contracted with a specific PPO plan, and if the practice
- [Volunteerism and Teamwork](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/volunteerism-and-teamwork) - Someone once said, “No one cares what you know, unless they know that you care.” That helps explain why our opinions of others can change after we see them caring for someone else. Or maybe giving of themselves for the good of the community. Maybe that’s why volunteerism, in addition to helping others, is such
- [Where are the New Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/where-are-the-new-patients) - If your new patient flow has yet to return to pre-recession levels, you are not alone. Most of the dental practice management clients we have are still experiencing less than robust new patient numbers. And the most recent McGill Advisory newsletter reported the third straight year of declining new patients in their dental practice survey.
- [Innovation Is Sometimes Right in Front of Us](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/innovation-is-sometimes-right-in-front-us) - Innovation sometimes strikes in the most ordinary of circumstances. Ben Eisenstadt and his wife, Betty, were at lunch when Ben had an idea after watching Betty wrestle with a clogged sugar container: he could package sugar. Packaged sugar would be easier and more sanitary to dispense. The year was 1947. Unfortunately for Ben, Domino Sugar
- [Communicating With Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/communicating-with-your-dental-team) - One of the best pieces of advice I ever received regarding communication came from a teacher who reminded us effective memos are never written; effective memos are rewritten. Great speeches are never delivered; great speeches are revised and then delivered. Why is written or verbal communication improved with revision? The superfluous material is typically dumped
- [Life Adapts – Can We?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/life-adapts-–-can-we) - Death Valley is one of the last places in the world where we would expect life to flourish. Temperatures can exceed 120 degrees, the soil is full of salt, and the wind sweeps the shifting landscape, which makes it nearly impossible for plants to take root. Yet there are plants and animals that thrive because
- [More Than Just Coins in a Jar](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/more-than-just-coins-in-a-jar) - How many years of your life have felt like “just another year?” I contemplated this at a recent meeting of Toastmasters—a public speaking organization—where we were challenged to pick a coin from a jar and speak impromptu about the year the coin was minted. What memorable events occurred that year? What were our successes? What
- [What Are You Really Saying to Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-are-you-really-saying-to-dental-patients) - If you want to create stronger connections with your patients and have more people accept your recommendations for dental treatment, consider becoming fluent in body language. Most of our communication occurs non-verbally. We pay attention to how others communicate much more than the actual words. I’ve worked with many dentists and teams through the years
- [Putting on Your Game Face: Dental Practice Morning Huddle](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/putting-on-your-game-face) - The best morning huddles refocus everyone on the mission of the dental office, which is to provide great care for patients. Effective huddles reconnect the team to practice performance goals.
- [Coaching a Struggling Dental Team Member](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/coaching-a-struggling-dental-team-member) - How do you effectively coach someone who is making mistakes? Consider when a dental procedure that is running behind, where everything is going wrong, and a new, struggling assistant misplaces yet another instrument. How do you balance the emotions of the moment—the desire to hang a punching bag in your office—with the importance of motivating
- [Knowing When to Say When with Staff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/knowing-when-to-say-when-with-staff) - One of the biggest challenges dentists have with managing staff conflict is knowing when to say when. Dentists are empathetic by nature, which means they often tolerate an intolerable situation for too long. I’ve had many conversations with doctors who tell me they pull up to their practice with a knot in their stomach. Inside
- [The Best of All Possible Worlds](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds) - “The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true.” James Branch Cabell Which outlook do you prefer, that of the optimist or the pessimist? I considered the benefits of having optimistic parents while listening to a friend deliver the eulogy for his ninety-one-year-old mom.
- [Why Can’t You Charge Your Full Fee?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/why-can’t-you-charge-your-full-fee) - If you are a PPO provider and place porcelain crowns for cosmetic reasons—meaning the insurance company will not provide a benefit for the service—can you charge your non-PPO fees for the crowns? What about when a patient exhausts his PPO yearly insurance benefits and you have more treatment scheduled, can you bill your non-PPO fees
- [Employee Manuals – Don’t Put a Target on Your Back](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/employee-manuals-–-don’t-put-a-target-on-your-back) - Dental staff management starts with an effective employee manual. Unfortunately, a number of doctors place a target on their back when they hand out employee manuals that are poorly written and outdated. If a disgruntled ex-employee has cause to sue you, you might as well hand over your checkbook. The McGill Advisory newsletter has an
- [Leaders Are Not Critics](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/leaders-are-not-critics) - When doctors work on becoming stronger leaders, they inevitably revisit two important lessons of dental practice management. First, critics do not motivate teams. Regular criticism makes your team believe you are against them, and what team exerts the extra effort needed to grow a practice when they believe the doctor is not rooting for them
- [Dental Marketing – The First Question](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/dental-marketing-–-the-first-question) - Wouldn’t it be nice if by simply opening your door wider you attracted more new patients? Unfortunately, people are not gathering outside your door like they do a donut shop, eager for a neon sign that proclaims “Hot & Tasty,” or in the case of dentistry, “Instruments Freshly Sharpened.” You can spend countless hours and
- [When Your Hygiene Team Fears Being Wrong](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-your-hygiene-team-fears-being-wrong) - Through my years of dental practice consulting, I have helped a lot of hygiene teams overcome barriers related to discussing treatment with patients. In almost every situation, the doctor felt the hygienists were unmotivated to help with co-diagnosis, and based on the behavior I witnessed in the operatory, I understood the doctor’s perspective. In a
- [Bet on your Staff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/bet-on-your-staff) - After you expend the time and resources to hire someone, how do you develop your new team member to ensure she/he meets your expectations? Just because a new hire has experience doesn’t mean that person understands your practice. Team development is critical. Consider these words of wisdom from Larry Bossidy, former Honeywell CEO. “I am
- [Utilizing Effective Patient Surveys](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/utilizing-effective-patient-surveys) - Patient surveys can provide valuable feedback regarding how to take your practice to the next level assuming you ask the right questions. Consider this quote from Francois de La Rochefoucauld: “Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.” Unfortunately, most surveys are set
- [Get the Word out about Your Services](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/get-the-word-out-about-your-services) - I remember meeting with a doctor several years ago who had learned to place her own implants, and she was upset. “I spent all of this money to learn how to place implants and not a single patient seems to ask about it.” The doctor and I talked for several minutes before I asked a
- [Ellie Days](https://www.fluenceportland.com/time-management/ellie-days) - My five-year-old niece, Ellie, announced to her parents one Sunday morning that this was Ellie Day and she asked for extra attention and toys. My sister and brother-in-law, who both have a good sense of humor, played along to a certain degree and hosted the first annual Ellie Day. However, my niece also informed them
- [Why is there a Refund?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/why-is-there-a-refund) - Before you sign your name to a refund check, either to a patient or an insurance company, make sure the situation really calls for a refund. Even experienced team members incorrectly post insurance payments, write-offs, and credits from time to time. Payment posting errors are easy to find if you have the explanation of benefits
- [Teaching Us about More Than Just Planets](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/teaching-us-about-more-than-just-planets) - Imagine you had worked years on a discovery, putting in countless hours, and then just before you were going to make your announcement to the world somebody beat you to it. How would you respond? Would you send a heartfelt letter of congratulations? And what would you do if you learned shortly thereafter that the
- [Code Confusion](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/code-confusion) - What often stands in the way of getting paid promptly for the work you do is the correct four-digit CDT code. Many practices struggle with finding the right codes, and sometimes practices absorb needless write-offs. I want to highlight three of the most common areas of code confusion. Code D1110 is used for a regular
- [Comparison Shopping](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/comparison-shopping) - Treatment coordinators know all too well that more patients are comparison shopping when it comes to orthodontic treatment. The challenge is how to address the concerns of a comparison shopper during the visit. The March 2011 issue of The McGill Advisory newsletter has an excellent article about how to confront this challenge. The article recommends
- [Spring](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/spring) - We are just a few days from the start of spring, a season that transforms the landscape with fragrant enticements, interrupting our busy minds until we take stock in the bigger world. The world of budding flowers and new leaves and warmer weather that reminds us at some point we need to slow down and
- [Fresh Out of Wasted Time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/time-management/fresh-out-of-wasted-time) - Daylight Savings Time and the start of spring are reminders that we are almost a quarter of the way through the New Year. Precious time keeps ticking, and I guess if we are philosophical about it we could consider Bernard Berenson’s quote: “I wish I could stand on a busy corner, hat in hand, and
- [Eureka Moments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/eureka-moments) - Richard James had a life changing moment in 1943. He worked as a naval engineer, stabilizing the instruments on ships, and one day while making adjustments to some springs he watched one fall to the floor. Others saw the same thing and went about their business, but Richard James had a life changing idea. In
- [Sometimes You Need to Be the "Heavy"](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/sometimes-you-need-to-be-the-heavy) - Most doctors and teams can easily name the patients who frequently cancel. When you see those names on the schedule you are tempted to call Las Vegas to get the over-under on whether the patient will actually show up. Memories of late afternoon phone calls that obliterate the next day’s schedule and the ensuing scramble
- [The Standard is the Standard](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-standard-is-the-standard) - You can learn a lot about a coach when he / she walks off the field after a heartbreaking loss. I have great admiration for Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and after losing the Super Bowl I was quite impressed by how Coach Tomlin conducted himself. Clearly the Steelers, my favorite team,
- [It Takes The Right Attitude](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/it-takes-the-right-attitude) - Which would you rather have, a skilled employee or an employee with a great attitude? Based on all of my years working with dental practice teams, I give the nod to a great attitude. And I like what Ralph Marston had to say on the subject: “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude."
- [New Roth IRA Conversion Rules](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/new-roth-conversion-rules) - Should you take advantage of the new opportunity to convert your traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs? We have been asked this question daily since the guidelines for converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs were relaxed. The answer to this question is very specific to each individual's situation.
- [How to Increase Your Practice Fees](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/increasing-fees) - It is okay to increase your fees. Your staff receives a raise, supplies and materials increase, and other overhead items become more expensive.
- [Tough Conversations Under the Right Terms](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/tough-conversations-under-the-right-terms) - Effective leadership requires successful communication, and under the right terms you can succeed with tough conversations. Unavailable doctors create fertile soil for disharmony, and disharmony affects your bottom line.
- [The Illusion of Communication](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-illusion-of-communication) - Remember, there is a big difference between day-to-day talk and reserving time to actually communicate. Strong teams are built on a foundation of effective communication, not on an illusion.
- [Time: The Extinct Species](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/time-the-extinct-species) - Since we can’t ask for more time in the day, managing time effectively is the key. One time management challenge in the office is everything seems important.
- [Don’t Sell Yourself Short](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dont-sell-yourself-short) - Bill the services you perform. It sounds simple; however uncharged procedures accumulate quickly for overly empathetic doctors and teams.
- [Saying Goodbye to Problematic Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/saying-goodbye-to-problematic-dental-patients-2) - Just as some of your patients wait too long to seek treatment for an infection, your dental practice may wait too long at times to dismiss problematic patients. And the delay is understandable. You work hard to attract and retain patients, and you go the extra mile to accommodate people’s needs and make them feel
- [Oregon’s Minimum Wage Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/oregons-minimum-wage-law-2) - The next Oregon minimum wage increase will take effect on July 1, 2017. All employees pay rates need to reviewed to ensure they are being paid the minimum wage required. What is the Oregon Minimum Wage Law? Oregon’s minimum wage law went into effect on July 1, 2016. The new law established a series of
- [It’s Not Just a Cleaning](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/its-not-just-a-cleaning) - Many times when dental patients call to cancel a hygiene visit, they will say, “But it’s just a cleaning.” While you may get frustrated at patients for devaluing important preventive care, keep in mind you have a great opportunity to change their attitudes. When people understand how a service benefits them, they value it; therefore
- [3 Ways to Decrease Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/3-ways-to-decrease-cancellations) - Cancellations can ruin well-orchestrated schedules while draining valuable time from the dental team as they scramble to fill the openings. Instead of reacting to cancellations, consider how you can take three proactive steps to decrease cancellations in your practice. First, make sure all financial arrangements are covered in detail at the time when patients schedule.
- [Going Above and Beyond for Emergency Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/going-above-and-beyond-for-emergency-patients) - One of the most challenging calls for a dental team is from a patient in discomfort. If your schedule is busy, you may be stretched to find an opening for the patient. In addition, patients in need sometimes let their discomfort spill over into how they communicate, and this can make the conversation somewhat stressful.
- [A Secure Practice Includes Passwords](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/a-secure-practice-includes-passwords) - If most of us are concerned about security, why do we make it so easy for hackers to crack our passwords? This is an even bigger deal when you are entrusted to secure patient’s healthcare information. Did you know the most popular six-digit password is “123456?” In addition, when asked to come up with alphanumeric
- [Persistence with Unscheduled Dental Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/persistence-with-unscheduled-dental-treatment) - Albert Einstein once said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Persistence certainly aided Einstein’s remarkable accomplishments. And staying with problems longer by applying the appropriate amount of persistence can also help with unscheduled dental treatment. When patients fail to schedule, you may think the door of opportunity
- [Make Room in Your Schedule for Growth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/make-room-in-your-schedule-for-growth-2) - Many dental practices would like to experience growth, yet not every practice has room in their schedule to accommodate growth. In addition to having a plan of action for practice growth, you also need a plan for how to schedule effectively. For example, potential new dental patients do not want to wait a month to
- [How Well Can You Read Your Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-well-can-you-read-your-patients) - It is rare that dental-related issues slip by an experienced dentist and team. Tens of thousands of hours of experience and training ensure that even the faintest of concerns on an x-ray receive the appropriate attention. While x-rays, intra-oral photos, and chart notes are expertly scrutinized, there is not always enough effort dedicated to reading
- [Asking Dental Patients for Referrals](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/asking-dental-patients-for-referrals-2) - The most challenging aspects of internal marketing are knowing when and how to ask patients for referrals. Dental teams commonly worry they will come across as too pushy if they ask patients to send their family and friends to the practice. In addition, most dental teams feel awkward asking patients for referrals. Let’s examine the
- [Reducing Cancellations in Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/reducing-cancellations-in-your-dental-practice) - Dental teams work hard to create schedules that are both productive and efficient. One of the biggest points of frustration in dental practices is to see a productive and efficient schedule fall apart due to last minute cancellations. Sometimes the reasons are unavoidable due to weather conditions or cold and flu season; however many times
- [Carefully Review Insurance Claims](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/carefully-review-insurance-claims-2) - Sometimes after dental insurance pays a claim, you are left with a balance on the patient’s account—whether it’s a balance due or balance owing. Before you send a bill or issue a refund, make sure you understand the reason for the balance, and that means fully understanding the explanation of benefits. After you carefully review
- [Good Questions to Ask When Interviewing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/good-questions-to-ask-when-interviewing) - Adding a new member to your dental team can seem daunting. How do you know that you are hiring the right person? Even when someone comes highly recommended, you never know for sure that someone will be the right fit until she works with you for a while. Since there are uncertainties whenever you need
- [Know Yourself and Others to Make Better Decisions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/know-yourself-and-others-to-make-better-decisions-2) - Our decision making ability is greatly enhanced when we can discern what is happening around us as well as how we feel about the situation. In practice, this is often more difficult than it sounds. For example, when we encounter a stressful situation, we may act too hastily to solve conflict before we understand what
- [How to Schedule More Hygiene Patients for Their Next Visit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-to-schedule-more-hygiene-patients-for-their-next-visit) - Most dentists and hygiene teams will tell you that patients are scheduled for their next recall visit before they complete their hygiene appointment. However, when you actually measure how many patients are scheduled for recall, the results often present an unfortunate surprise. Instead of scheduling about 80 - 85% of patients for their next recall,
- [New Form I-9](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-form-i-9) - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the Revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). The new Form I-9 is available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf and all employers should being using this new form. You do not need current employees to complete the new I-9 as long as you have a properly completed form on
- [Commonly Overlooked Dental Procedures](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/commonly-overlooked-dental-procedures-2) - During the course of a busy day, dentists and their teams sometimes post production without accounting for every service performed. Three commonly missed dental procedures are limited scaling and root planing, crown build ups, and fillings, when extra surfaces are added. Fortunately these oversights are easy to fix. Limited scaling and root planing is sometimes
- [Why Do Online Reviews Matter?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/why-do-online-reviews-matter) - If you want to buy a new product that you know nothing about, where would you start? Many people would start by reading reviews about the product to learn the ins and outs. And if through learning about the product the choice was narrowed to three brands, what would potentially sway the decision? People are
- [The Care-Focused Approach to Driving Hygiene Profitability](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-care-focused-approach-to-driving-hygiene-profitability) - Congratulations to Mike Smith, CPA, ABV MS, for getting his blog published in the DMD Today! How do you make your hygiene team more productive and profitable? The answer more than likely aligns with the mission statement of your practice: You make your hygiene team more productive and profitable by focusing on what is in
- [Preparing for Leaves of Absence from Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/preparing-for-leaves-of-absence-from-your-dental-practice-2) - What do you need to have lined up before you take a leave of absence from your dental practice? The most important person to line up is a dentist to cover for you. Many dentists have agreements with friends and colleagues to cover for each other in times of maternity or medical leave. You can
- [Watch Out For QuickBooks Email Scams](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/watch-out-for-quickbooks-email-scams) - This is the time of year that we are all paying special attention to any correspondence that may impact our end of year information or our taxes and there is so much of it. We don’t want to miss any deadline and with so much going on e mail scammers know this and take advantage
- [Weeding Out “Difficult” Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/weeding-out-difficult-dental-patients) - Do you have to be everyone’s dentist? While you may wish that you connected well with every patient in your chair and that everyone wanted you as their dentist, there are some patients who are just not a good fit for your practice. Maybe the difficult patient is consistently rude to you and your team
- [Being on Time for Work Matters](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/being-on-time-for-work-matters-2) - Dr. Seuss once asked, “How did it get so late so soon?” This is a question dental team members may ask as they roll into work too late to attend your huddle or as they struggle to get your first patient seated on time following lunch. While it may seem like a small oversight to
- [Adding More Hygiene Days](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/adding-more-hygiene-days) - If you have a general dentistry practice and you are eager to grow the practice, you probably know that growth is driven by more hygiene days. Not only does an increase in hygiene days boost hygiene production, but more recall exams typically translate into more treatment opportunities. The equation for adding more hygiene days is
- [When Team Members Are Not Getting Along](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-team-members-are-not-getting-along) - What do you do when members of your dental team are not getting along? Do you run the other direction in hopes that everything will work itself out? Typically, conflict does not work itself out without your involvement. As the leader of the practice, you have an important role in helping to unravel the source
- [Adding Your Personalized Touch to Dental Patient Follow Up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/adding-your-personalized-touch-to-dental-patient-follow-up-2) - If you want to make a great impression on your dental patients, do not underestimate the importance of personalized follow up. Taking that extra step will make you stand out in the eyes of your patients, and your efforts will help build lasting patient loyalty. There are many examples of personalized follow-up. One of the
- [Plans for the New Year](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/plans-for-the-new-year) - The start of a new year brings an opportunity to make your dental practice and team even stronger. As you consider what you would like to accomplish this year, remember you need more than just goals. As Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Start with your goals
- [What to Tell Your Team after a Termination](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-to-tell-your-team-after-a-termination-2) - Let’s assume you complete the unfortunate task of terminating one of your dental team members. As much as you may want to forget the whole thing, your work is not yet over. You still need to reach out to your existing team. Whenever someone is terminated, it’s normal for existing dental team members to have
- [When Is the Best Time to Do Exams?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-is-the-best-time-to-do-exams) - During most hours in a general dentist’s day, a tug of war occurs. On one side of the rope is the dentist sitting chair side with the patient he is treating. So many times when the dentist is right in the middle of treatment, he gets a tug from the other side of the rope:
- [Timely Filing & the IRS Mailbox Rule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/timely-filing-the-irs-mailbox-rule) - As we approach tax season it’s important to remember that a return is not considered filed, “until the document is delivered and received” by the IRS1. With electronic returns confirmation of delivery and creation of a receipt is part of the transmittal process. Confirmation of delivery is slightly different for hard copy items that are
- [Remember to Collect at the Time of Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/remember-to-collect-at-the-time-of-service) - Effective dental teams that keep their outstanding accounts under control are diligent at collecting at the time of service. While this may sound like common sense, the priority of collecting at the time of service is sometimes lost when front office teams are overwhelmed or there is a breakdown in teamwork. Let’s first consider new
- [How Much Time Do You Need in Your Schedule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-much-time-do-you-need-in-your-schedule) - Albert Einstein once said, “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” If you do not allow enough time in your schedule for the treatment you are delivering, it may feel like everything is happening at once. And just as we each have different perspectives about time, you and your
- [Improving Hygiene Production](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/improving-hygiene-production-2) - Long term patient relationships are built in the hygiene chair, which is why your hygiene team is so important for dental practice growth. Your hygiene team also contributes significantly to practice production—really good hygiene teams can average 30 – 35% of total production or more. If your hygiene team is struggling to produce as expected,
- [New Overtime Rule Blocked](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/new-overtime-rule-blocked) - The new overtime rule which would have raised the Fair Labor Standards Act’s salary threshold was set to go into effect Thursday, December 1, 2016. A federal judge in Texas issued an injunction against the new rule on Tuesday, November 22, 2016. What does this mean for employers? At this time the salary change for
- [Tough Conversations about Gum Disease](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/tough-conversations-about-gum-disease-2) - One of the most challenging aspects of gum disease is not in treating it; instead it’s how to talk to dental patients about their condition. This is especially true when patients, who come every six months for regular cleanings, suddenly present with some level of gum disease. Most people expect that regular cleanings eliminate the
- [Habits That Threaten Your Identity](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/habits-that-threaten-your-identity) - They’re just old habits. You likely to do them without even thinking. But these habits could be making you vulnerable to hacks, scams, ID theft and Internet phishing schemes out to separate you from your hard-earned money. What’s in Your Wallet or Purse? Does it contain items that include your Social Security Number (SSN) and
- [Finding the Right Associate Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/finding-the-right-associate-dentist-2) - When you are busy enough to add an associate to your dental practice, it’s important to find a dentist who will reflect favorably on your practice. While that sounds straightforward, it’s more difficult than meets the eye. The primary challenge is that most dentists will be hiring an associate for the first time, unaware of
- [FLSA New Overtime Rule – Effective December 1, 2016](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/flsa-new-overtime-rule-effective-december-1-2016-2) - On May 18, 2016 the Department of Labor released the final overtime rule that will take effect on December 1, 2016. These changes will affect all employees currently classified as exempt. Employees classified as exempt must pass the salary and duties test. What has changed? The current salary level for exempt employees is $23,660 annually
- [Setting a Timeframe for Dental Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/setting-a-timeframe-for-dental-treatment) - If you are like most people, when you make an important recommendation, you often put a timeframe around it; otherwise your suggestion does not carry as much weight. The same goes in dentistry. You can deliver an effective treatment presentation, but when you fail to make a recommendation about when patients need to schedule, your
- [New CDT Code to Watch Closely](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/new-cdt-code-to-watch-closely) - There are eleven new CDT codes for 2017 (effective on January 1, 2017), and one new code that has attracted a lot of attention is the D4346 – Scaling in the presence of generalized moderate or severe gingival inflammation. The new CDT code fills in the gap between a regular cleaning on one end and
- [Marketing Never Stops In Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/marketing-never-stops-in-your-dental-practice-2) - Even though you may not think of it this way, every part of the dental patient experience offers you an opportunity to market your practice. This does not mean you are asking for referrals every ten minutes or showing commercials to patients about your practice. Instead, you make every aspect of your practice positive enough
- [Securing Your Patients’ Credit Card Information](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/securing-your-patients-credit-card-information) - You are most likely aware that credit cards are moving toward secure payments using chip technology. The secure technology is known as EMV (Euro, MasterCard, Visa), and since EMV will impact your dental practice, it’s important to be prepared. In the past when a patient paid with a credit card, you simply swiped the magnetic
- [Oregon’s Minimum Wage Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/oregons-minimum-wage-law) - Oregon’s new minimum wage law went into effect on July 1, 2016. The new law established a series of rate increases beginning on July 1, 2016 through July 1, 2022. For July 1, 2023 and forward the minimum wage rate will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. Under this law the state is
- [Your Dental Team Is Motivated By More Than Compensation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/your-dental-team-is-motivated-by-more-than-compensation-2) - If compensation was all that mattered to your dental team, then highly compensated teams would have few if any challenges. However, that is not the case. Whether your dental practice is big or small, your team is motivated by other factors in addition to compensation. First, your team appreciates consistent positive reinforcement and feedback. The
- [IRS Scam](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/irs-scam) - The IRS recently issued a consumer warning to be on the lookout for fake IRS notices. These fake notices try to trick taxpayers into making payments, or sending sensitive personal information to scammers. Taxpayers should be vigilant against any suspicious emails that ask them to open up attachments, or request things like wire transfers, social
- [How to Tell Patients You Dropped Their PPO](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-tell-patients-you-dropped-their-ppo) - Let’s say you’ve done the appropriate analysis and you and your advisors have determined it’s best for the dental practice to drop a PPO plan. What do you tell your patients? If you want to effectively communicate your transition to out-of-network status, you need to consider the things that matter most to your dental patients.
- [How Effective Leaders Make Decisions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/how-effective-leaders-make-decisions) - Sometimes you have to make challenging decisions in your dental practice concerning patient care, staff retention, equipment purchases, and more. In order to make the best decision for you and your practice, consider two pieces of advice offered by Chip and Dan Health from their great book entitled Decisive. First, do not get stuck within
- [Proactively Coach the Small Stuff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/proactively-coach-the-small-stuff-2) - One of the most challenging situations for a dentist is how to respond when the team starts overlooking the small stuff. When the health history is not reviewed chair-side or charges for the day are not posted correctly or the next step phase of treatment is not reviewed properly up front. The natural tendency is
- [Are You Really Welcoming New Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/are-you-really-welcoming-new-patients) - Are you really welcoming new patients to your dental practice, or are you inadvertently turning them away? We are yet to see a sign proclaiming, “We have shut our door on new patients,” yet that is what happens too many times when potential new patients call your practice. Most new patients do not start off
- [The Hygiene Team’s Role with an Effective Recall System](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-hygiene-teams-role-with-an-effective-recall-system-2) - What role does your hygiene team play in implementing an effective recall system? This is a common question in dental practices. While the front team typically handles the recall program, the involvement of the hygiene team is critical for achieving the best results. First, proactive hygiene teams build value for the next preventive visit at
- [Convey “Why” Patients Need to Schedule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/convey-why-patients-need-to-schedule) - Why does your dental patient need a crown? Why are you recommending a graft or an implant or a bruxism device? While you may communicate the need for each procedure in clinically correct terms, you may not be answering the “why” question for patients in language they understand. As a result, an unfortunate number of
- [Interview Questions to Avoid](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/interview-questions-to-avoid-2) - While it’s important to ask effective interview questions to help find the right fit for your practice, it’s equally critical to avoid venturing into restricted areas of inquiry. Knowing what not to ask will make you a stronger interviewer. You want to avoid questions that ask about the following: Date of birth. Maiden name and/or
- [Qualifying Language Undermines Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/qualifying-language-undermines-treatment-acceptance) - What you say matters, especially if you are talking to dental patients. If you want to understand how qualifying language can undermine your diagnosis and call to action, consider the following two examples. Example 1: “John, your back tooth has a cavity, and I recommend that you schedule for a crown. I suggest scheduling in the
- [Consider the Opposite Perspective When Making Decisions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/consider-the-opposite-perspective-when-making-decisions) - One of the wisest management moves you can make in your dental practice is to consider the opposite perspective when making decisions, especially when you feel absolutely sure about your ideas. This may seem counter intuitive since you may feel so certain about a particular decision; however we often miss important points due to something
- [Opportunities with Emergencies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/opportunities-with-emergencies-2) - Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” One of the biggest practice building opportunities missed by dentists and teams is to guide new patient emergencies into comprehensive care. It’s not always easy, but as Edison implied in his quote if you are
- [Converting Inquiries into New Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/converting-inquiries-into-new-dental-patients) - Since you put so much effort into getting new patients to call your dental practice, it’s imperative that you convert those inquires into scheduled appointments. This is unfortunately one of the most overlooked aspects of a dental practice’s marketing efforts. All of us know how to answer the phone, but it takes a mix of
- [Important Questions for Performance Reviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/important-questions-for-performance-reviews) - One of the most common questions dentists have about performance reviews (after covering wage-related questions) involves what to cover during the meeting. Performance reviews are ideal opportunities to learn more about your team, and by taking the time to gather insights about the person sitting across from you, you will make your team and practice
- [Method of Payment for Dental Accounts Receivable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/method-of-payment-for-dental-accounts-receivable-2) - One of the best ways to manage accounts receivable is to make sure you collect as much as possible at the time of dental service. This sounds like common sense advice. What then stands in the way of this fundamental task? When your dental front office team presents financial estimates for treatment, your patients may
- [Working Recall is the Foundation of a Strong Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/working-recall-is-the-foundation-of-a-strong-dental-practice) - Why is working hygiene recall so important when you are busy? It may feel more appropriate to put your attention to day-to-day tasks, especially if you are working hard to keep up. However, hygiene recall is all about planning, and as a military leader once advised, “Think ahead. Don’t let day to day operations drive
- [Choose Understandable Language When Talking with Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/choose-understandable-language-when-talking-with-dental-patients-2) - One of the challenges consistently faced by dentists and teams is trying to guide patients to do what’s best for them. And one of the reasons this is such a challenge is the failure to communicate. George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer and former Nobel Prize winner, once said, “The single biggest problem in communication
- [Update on Medicare Part D Enrollment for Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/update-on-medicare-part-d-enrollment-for-dentists) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has once again delayed the implementation of ruling CMS-1459-F that calls for all providers (including dentists) who write prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries to be enrolled in Medicare or have a valid opt out form on file with CMS. The new deadline is February 1, 2017. The intent
- [When to Pay for Classes or Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/when-to-pay-for-classes-or-meetings-2) - When do you have to pay for staff members to attend continuing education or meetings? Here are important points to remember. First, when the continuing education (CE) or meeting is mandatory, you have to pay for the employee’s time regardless of the day of the week or if the meeting falls outside of normal working
- [FLSA New Overtime Rule – Effective December 1, 2016](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/flsa-new-overtime-rule-effective-december-1-2016) - On May 18, 2016 the Department of Labor released the final overtime rule that will take effect on December 1, 2016. These changes will affect all employees currently classified as exempt. Employees classified as exempt must pass the salary and duties test. What has changed? The current salary level for exempt employees is $23,660 annually
- [Increase Treatment Acceptance with Plain English](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/increase-treatment-acceptance-with-plain-english-2) - Confused dental patients rarely schedule; unfortunately patients rarely tell you when they are confused. Therefore, if you want to increase treatment acceptance in your practice, make sure patients clearly understand what you are recommending. Even though it sounds so simple, it’s much harder to apply since we overestimate our ability to communicate along with the
- [How to Frame Change](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-to-frame-change) - Rick Goodwin once said the following about change: “One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain.” How many times have you brought new ideas to your dental team only to meet with heavy resistance as people focused on what they
- [Reducing Staff Costs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/reducing-staff-costs) - Not only is it challenging to recruit and retain a great dental team, but it is also challenging to keep staff costs under control. Your greatest asset, your team, is also your greatest expense. The balancing act involves offering competitive pay and benefits while also keeping dental staff costs under control. How do you do
- [Motivate by Paying Attention to the Positive](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/motivate-by-paying-attention-to-the-positive) - If you want to motivate your team and create an environment in your practice where you retain great employees, make sure you pay attention. Every time you see dental patients, your team does a number of positive things to make the procedure go smoothly and to create a comfortable patient experience. How many of those
- [Billing for "Difficult" Dental Cleanings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/billing-for-difficult-dental-cleanings) - One of the most common challenges with past-due dental patients is the expectation that everything can be accomplished with one visit. Necessary x-rays, the exam, and the cleaning all in one hour even though it’s been years since the last dental visit. At least that’s the expectation. But what if the patient cannot be finished
- [When Is It Time to Sell Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/when-is-it-time-to-sell-your-dental-practice-2) - When is it time to say when and sell your dental practice? Dentists typically reach this point when they are ready to close the chapter on their dental careers and transition to their next phase of life. However, most dentists do not wake up one day and decide they are ready to retire their hand-pieces.
- [Coaching a Struggling Dental Team Member](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/coaching-a-struggling-dental-team-member-2) - How do you effectively coach someone who is making mistakes? Consider when a dental procedure that is running behind, where everything is going wrong, and a new, struggling assistant misplaces yet another instrument. How do you balance the emotions of the moment—the desire to hang a punching bag in your office—with the importance of motivating
- [Dental Patient Surveys](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-patient-surveys-2) - How valuable are patient surveys? Some dentists may think along the lines of David Letterman, who once said, “USA Today has come out with a new survey – apparently three out of every four people make up 75% of the population.” Surveys are certainly of little value when they convey the obvious. But when dental
- [Proactive Steps for Insurance Audits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/proactive-steps-for-insurance-audits-2) - No one welcomes an insurance audit. But the time to prepare for one is now, long before you receive notification from an insurance company. Remember that an audit is an attempt to find enough evidence in your chart notes and x-rays to support the treatment you recommended. Therefore, effective chart notes and films are essential.
- [Oregon and Portland Ban the Box Laws](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/oregon-and-portland-ban-the-box-laws) - In case you missed it, the Oregon Legislature passed a Ban the Box Law that went into effect January 1, 2016. The law prohibits Oregon employers from asking job applicants about criminal histories on job applications—Oregon is one of seven states with this type of law. If you have not done so already, make sure
- [New Dental Patients - Balancing Convenience and Thoroughness](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/new-dental-patients-balancing-convenience-and-thoroughness) - A common challenge with new dental patients is balancing their need for convenience with your need to do a thorough job. When an established patient comes in for a regular visit, you know how much time to allow and you rarely encounter surprises that cause you to run late. This is not always the case
- [Coordination of Dental Benefits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/coordination-of-dental-benefits-2) - One of the most difficult things to maneuver is coordinating benefits between two insurance companies. The most common questions involve what you can bill the insurance companies and the patients. Here are a few fundamental points to keep in mind. Always bill your full fee and let the insurance companies make the proper adjustments, per
- [Compensation Means More Than Just a Paycheck](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/compensation-means-more-than-just-a-paycheck-2) - If you ask team members what they are paid, they will typically tell you what they are paid per hour; however most dental practices provide benefits in addition to an hourly wage. If your team only thinks in terms of their paycheck, they will overlook the total compensation they receive each year. Why is this
- [Accruing Time Off Under the Oregon Sick Leave Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/accruing-time-off-under-the-oregon-sick-leave-law) - As hopefully all of our Oregon clients know, the Oregon Sick Leave law took effect on January 1, 2016 requiring sick leave for part-time and full-time employees. While the specifics of the law were covered in prior blogs, this blog will concentrate on one aspect of the law: how time off is accrued. Let us
- [Guide More Patients to Schedule for Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/guide-more-patients-to-schedule-for-treatment) - The following scenario occurs far too often in dental practices. You diagnose treatment and spend an appropriate amount of time explaining your recommendations, and you leave the operatory certain the patient will soon show up in your schedule. But then you learn the patient left without scheduling. How could that happen? One of the biggest
- [Make Room in Your Schedule for Growth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/make-room-in-your-schedule-for-growth) - Many dental practices would like to experience growth, yet not every practice has room in their schedule to accommodate growth. In addition to having a plan of action for practice growth, you also need a plan for how to schedule effectively. For example, potential new dental patients do not want to wait a month to
- [Carefully Review Insurance Claims](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/carefully-review-insurance-claims) - Sometimes after dental insurance pays a claim, you are left with a balance on the patient’s account—whether it’s a balance due or balance owing. Before you send a bill or issue a refund, make sure you understand the reason for the balance, and that means fully understanding the explanation of benefits. After you carefully review
- [What Makes a Dental Practice Valuable?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-makes-a-dental-practice-valuable) - What drives the value of a dental practice? The answer goes beyond the assets you can see: the new technology, the recent remodel, and the updated software. Your most important asset in an intangible, a relationship you have with patients, which we refer to as goodwill. When your goodwill is strong, patients trust you, and
- [Dentists and Payment Arrangements](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/dentists-and-payment-arrangements) - Who is the best person in your practice for making payment arrangements? It’s rare when the answer is the dentist; however dentists can easily get caught up in inquiries about money whenever treatment options are discussed. How then can you effectively handle cost-related discussions chair-side? To start, you need to consider the patient’s perspective. Asking
- [Saying Goodbye to Problematic Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/saying-goodbye-to-problematic-dental-patients) - Just as some of your patients wait too long to seek treatment for an infection, your dental practice may wait too long at times to dismiss problematic patients. And the delay is understandable. You work hard to attract and retain patients, and you go the extra mile to accommodate people’s needs and make them feel
- [Know Your "Number" Before Buying a Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/know-your-number-before-buying-a-dental-practice-2) - If you are searching for a dental practice to purchase, how do you know when you’ve found a good fit? It is common to initially answer that question by considering the location of the practice, the appearance of the office, and the amount that is produced. But the question of a good fit goes deeper
- [Adding More New Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/adding-more-new-dental-patients-2) - Even though you may want new patients, many of your existing dental patients just assume you have all of the business you need. Patients look at all of the charts on the wall or hear other patients in nearby operatories and they figure you are the busiest dentist in town. But what if that’s not
- [Growth Starts with Patient Comfort](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/growth-starts-with-patient-comfort-2) - Dentists understandably wonder how to grow their practice. Should they focus on direct mail or a better website or a new banner out front? How about starting with patient comfort. Ivan Misner, a renowned business networker, once said, “Referrals aren’t given easily. If you don’t take time to establish credibility, you’re not going to get
- [Oregon Sick Leave Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/oregon-sick-leave-law) - The final BOLI rules for Oregon’s new Sick Leave Law have been published. Starting January 1, 2016 the law requires employers in Oregon to allow employees to accrue up to 40 hours of sick leave a year. Employers with at least 10 employees (this includes full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers) in Oregon are required
- [Adding Your Personalized Touch to Dental Patient Follow Up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/adding-your-personalized-touch-to-dental-patient-follow-up) - If you want to make a great impression on your dental patients, do not underestimate the importance of personalized follow up. Taking that extra step will make you stand out in the eyes of your patients, and your efforts will help build lasting patient loyalty. There are many examples of personalized follow-up. One of the
- [With Conflict Start with the Problem](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/with-conflict-start-with-the-problem) - When you experience conflict in your dental practice, it’s normal to focus on how to resolve the situation; however in your quest to restore balance to the team, you sometimes miss out on important information. Consider the words of G.K. Chesterton: “It isn’t that they can’t see the solution. It is that they can’t see
- [Oregon's "Ban the Box" Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/oregons-ban-the-box-law) - Oregon has joined the list of states to pass a “Ban the Box” law. “Ban the Box” is a law that prohibits employers from asking a job applicant to answer a question on an employment application regarding whether they have ever been convicted of a crime. The Oregon law will be effective on January 1,
- [Dismissing Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dismissing-dental-patients-2) - Let’s say you have a dental patient who you no longer want to see, whether it’s due to behavioral issues, non-compliance with treatment, or another challenge. What do you do next? It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance and simply not schedule the patient anymore, but is that the best course of
- [The Value of Appreciation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-value-of-appreciation-2) - If you want to get more from your dental team, consider giving something in return that goes beyond pay and benefits. Consider how you can do a better job of expressing your appreciation for their efforts. When your team feels valued, when they hear you expressing sincere thanks for specific accomplishments, your team is motivated
- [Modifying Your Strategies to Manage Conflict](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/modifying-your-strategies-to-manage-conflict) - Think for a moment about a recent conflict. What was in dispute? Maybe the conflict was about the way you do something in your practice or how the team manages time. In most cases, our conflicts are about strategies or actions, not about needs and interests. This is a very important distinction for managing conflict.
- [What You Can Learn from the Mistakes of the Prior Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-you-can-learn-from-the-mistakes-of-the-prior-dentist-2) - Imagine for a moment that you are searching for a new yard maintenance company to take care of your outdoor work. Are you looking for the company that can make the straightest lines while cutting your grass? You can expect all of the companies know how to cut grass and rake leaves. What you typically
- [myRA Retirement Accounts Are Now Available Nationwide](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/myra-retirement-accounts-are-now-available-nationwide) - This is a U.S. Treasury Department program aimed at low to middle income individuals as a starter account to encourage those that do not have access to employer-sponsored plans to become savers. Account funds are invested in a US Treasury bond (only this one investment option) and are backed by the US Treasury. The myRA
- [Dental Practice Growth Often Hinges on Hygiene](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-practice-growth-often-hinges-on-hygiene) - If you consistently attract strong numbers of new patients yet your hygiene schedule is not as busy as you would like, it’s time to look closely at the potential reasons. Dental practice growth typically goes hand-in-hand with a thriving hygiene schedule. One of the first places to analyze is your back door: how many patients
- [Medical Coding on Dental Claims](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/medical-coding-on-dental-claims) - As of October 1, 2015, medical diagnostic codes are now needed on certain dental claims. Why? The decision dates back to 2009 when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pushed for an expansion of the medical classification codes (at that time it was ICD-9) to ICD-10, which just went into effect on October 1.
- [Can You Ever Be Objective?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/can-you-ever-be-objective) - How objective are you when it comes to making decisions? While we may think we are objective, we typically are anything but that. Consider what the American publisher and editor Henry R. Luce once said, “Show me a man who claims he is objective and I’ll show you a man with illusions.” We may have
- [Profitable Hygiene Teams](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/profitable-hygiene-teams-2) - How do you make your hygiene team more productive and profitable? Focus on the best care for your dental patients. For example, underperforming hygiene teams often miss opportunities to provide full or partial quadrant treatment for gum disease. Adult fluoride is overlooked as a preventive tool. Recommendations for sealants are forgotten in the course of
- [Data Breach Coverage for Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/data-breach-coverage-for-your-dental-practice-2) - One of the worst things that could happen to your dental practice is to have a hacker access the protected health information of your patients. Then what would you do? You can’t just assume everything will be okay. The law is very strict about the steps you need to take when protected patient information is
- [Make Your Vision Your Action](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/make-your-vision-your-action) - Malcolm Gladwell once said, “The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.” If you were going to start with a clean sheet of paper, how would you re-imagine your dental practice and team? What would you like to do? You may want to start with thinking about what matters most
- [Understanding Your Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/understanding-your-team) - Effective leadership does not just involve the ability to get things accomplished. Good leaders are skilled at understanding other people’s perspectives. But what does it mean exactly to understand where someone else is coming from, to empathize with others on the team? Let us first consider what this skill does not involve. While it is
- [REVISED DUE DATES FOR PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION AND FOREIGN ACCOUNT RETURNS](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/revised-due-dates-for-partnership-corporation-and-foreign-account-returns) - The "Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015" was recently signed into law. Although this new law was primarily designed as a 3-month stopgap extension of the Highway Trust Fund and related measures, it includes a number of important tax provisions, including revised due dates for partnership and C corporation returns
- [You Speak English and Body Language](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/you-speak-english-and-body-language-2) - When people work on improving communication skills, they naturally focus on what they are trying to say. What’s even more important, thought, is how you say it. The entertainer Mae West once said, “I speak two languages, Body and English.” As Mae West suggests, our gestures, facial expressions, tone, and posture combine to communicate in
- [Win Your Patients Over With Prompt Follow-up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/win-your-patients-over-with-prompt-follow-up-3) - We have all experienced situations where we expected a healthcare provider or a vendor to follow-up on our questions; however they never called. What kind of impression did that make? In many cases, we likely chose to take our business elsewhere. How prompt is the follow-up with your dental patients? Let’s assume a confused patient
- [Are Cancellation Fees Effective?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/are-cancellation-fees-effective-2) - Many dental practices attempt to curb cancellations by charging a fee. But is this effective? Cancellation fees, coupled with appropriate phraseology, work well as a deterrent against patients who call to cancel dental appointments without appropriate notice. Many times I have witnessed patients experience a sudden change of heart when they learn about a cancellation
- [Adding an Associate Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/adding-an-associate-dentist) - If you want to add an associate dentist to your practice, the first thing you need to ask is why you want to do it. Are you adding an associate because it seems like a good idea? Or, are you adding an associate dentist because you really need one and you fully understand the pros
- [Curbing Last-Minute Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/curbing-last-minute-cancellations-2) - Few things are more irritating to a dentist and team than patients who cancel at the last-minute, leaving big gaps in the schedule. And it’s normal for dentists and teams to want to march the offending patients out to face a firing squad for their “grievous” offense. Once cooler heads prevail, the question always comes
- [Freedom to Fail for Dental Teams](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/freedom-to-fail-for-dental-teams) - When you consider what goes into the development of your dental team, you may think of classes they attend, newsletters they read, and staff meetings they go to each month. Each of those resources helps teach new skills and align the team’s efforts with the overall vision of the practice. One element for team development,
- [Changing Course with Flexibility](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/changing-course-with-flexibility) - Change and adaptable are not always easy, and sometimes we are slow to recognize the need to be flexible. Flexibility, when used appropriately, is a great tool for effective leadership. There is a great story written by Frank Koch, who was a naval officer, and his story demonstrates the need for flexibility. “A battleship had
- [Getting the Most Out of Feedback](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/getting-the-most-out-of-feedback-2) - Management guru Ken Blanchard once said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” But what if the feedback is tough to swallow? Inc. magazine has an excellent article about how to handle tough feedback, entitled “Workplace Feedback: 8 Essential Questions.” Since dentists receive feedback from patients and staff, it’s important to know how to use this
- [Commonly Overlooked Dental Procedures](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/commonly-overlooked-dental-procedures) - During the course of a busy day, dentists and their teams sometimes post production without accounting for every service performed. Three commonly missed dental procedures are limited scaling and root planing, crown build ups, and fillings, when extra surfaces are added. Fortunately these oversights are easy to fix. Limited scaling and root planing is sometimes
- [Stay out of Trouble with Discounts and Credits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/stay-out-of-trouble-with-discounts-and-credits-2) - One of the fundamental concepts about dental insurance billing is often missed by practices, and even though the oversights are typically innocent in nature, the consequences can be significant. The fundamental concept is to bill an insurance company for the actual cost of dental treatment. Sounds simple enough. But what if you offer the patient
- [Speaking the Patient’s Language](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/speaking-the-patients-language-2) - Imagine if an exterminator informed you, after inspecting your house, that you had isopterans. What would you ask next? Let’s assume the exterminator noticed a puzzled look on your face, so he explained in detail the taxonomy subclass of gnathamitermes magnoculus. Would you now feel less confused and possibly motivated to take action? Or, would
- [The Sweet Sound of Our Own Name](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-sweet-sound-of-our-own-name-2) - Dale Carnegie once said, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.” As you consider how to make stronger connections with those creatures of emotion—the patients who occupy your dental chairs—start by remembering their names. There is nothing sweeter than the sound of our own name—another
- [Know What You’re Getting into before You Hire Someone](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/know-what-youre-getting-into-before-you-hire-someone-2) - Whenever we discuss embezzlement prevention, we always include the following in our discussion: protect your practice by not hiring embezzlers. Whenever I communicate this to a group of dentists, I always see a bunch of smiles. If only it was that easy, right. Certainly if embezzlers wore black hats like the bandits in an old
- [Show and Tell](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/show-and-tell-2) - Since we were kids, we have learned through show and tell, which engages our senses and motivates us to listen to what comes next. Unfortunately, the power of show and tell is sometimes forgotten when we reach adulthood. I commonly witness this when I help dentists fine-tune their treatment presentation skills. What is often lost
- [Know Yourself and Others to Make Better Decisions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/know-yourself-and-others-to-make-better-decisions) - Our decision making ability is greatly enhanced when we can discern what is happening around us as well as how we feel about the situation. In practice, this is often more difficult than it sounds. For example, when we encounter a stressful situation, we may act too hastily to solve conflict before we understand what
- [Patient Push-Back Does Not Signal Retreat](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/patient-push-back-does-not-signal-retreat-2) - The French Mathematician Renee Descartes once said, “The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.” If Descartes was alive today and in your dental chair, he would certainly push back after you recommended treatment. And not because he thought you were wrong.
- [Tires and Teeth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/tires-and-teeth) - A dental practice can sometimes be viewed just like an automotive tire store. Not in the sense that they both sell similar products, or even have similar processes. What they have in common are customers who have similar purchasing habits. A study commissioned by the state of California revealed some interesting findings about consumers who
- [Build Leadership Through Assertiveness](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/build-leadership-through-assertiveness) - Assertiveness is an essential skill for effective leadership; yet this skill is often misunderstood. What is the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness? When you act assertively, you express beliefs, recommendations, and/or feelings clearly and appropriately. But what does that mean? For example, if you have a dental team member who is not performing well, you
- [What Matters Most to Your Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/what-matters-most-to-your-dental-patients-2) - One of the most important aspects of increasing treatment acceptance is to give your dental patients what they want. When I work with dentists and teams on fine-tuning their overall patient experience, one of the common areas out of alignment is that no one asks what matters most to the patient. This is especially true
- [The Personality of a Good Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-personality-of-a-good-team-2) - If you do not like everyone on your dental team, is that a bad thing? It depends on the reasons for your feelings. If you struggle with the personality types on your team, step back for a moment and consider if the differences are actually a good thing. For example, you may have a dental
- [A Secure Practice Includes Passwords](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/a-secure-practice-includes-passwords-2) - If most of us are concerned about security, why do we make it so easy for hackers to crack our passwords? This is an even bigger deal when you are entrusted to secure patient’s healthcare information. Did you know the most popular six-digit password is “123456?” In addition, when asked to come up with alphanumeric
- [Addressing Conflict with Questions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/addressing-conflict-with-questions) - When you encounter conflict, your first instinct may be to counter what the other person is saying. Or, maybe you like to immediately offer suggestions for how to resolve each point. While both responses are common, both paths often miss opportunities to get at the heart of the issues. The next time you encounter conflict,
- [Placing Value on Pain Relief](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/placing-value-on-pain-relief) - Do you think a dental patient is happy when you relieve that person’s pain or alleviate some type of discomfort? Of course your patient is happy. Why then do so many dentists fail to charge appropriately for this service? Certainly dentists charge for root canals, extractions, and other restorative work that restores teeth back to
- [Oregon Mandatory Sick Leave Policy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/oregon-mandatory-sick-leave-policy) - A bill that awaits the Governor’s signature will mandate that Oregon employers provide sick time to all employees. The bill is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2016. What does this new law mean for your dental practice? If your dental practice is within the City of Portland, and if you have six
- [Emergency Exams Should Not Create Emergencies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/emergency-exams-should-not-create-emergencies-2) - Emergency exams are part of dentistry. Patients have a tooth ache or a crown comes loose and they need to see you. And dentists and teams love to help. But how many times do your good intentions reeve havoc on your schedule, creating other emergencies? Part of the reason emergency exams create challenges is you
- [Parents Can Get Credit For Sending Their Kids To Day Camp](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/parents-can-get-credit-for-sending-their-kids-to-day-camp) - With summer just around the corner, there is a tax break that working parents should know about. Many working parents must arrange for care of their children under 13 years of age (or any age if handicapped) during the school vacation period. A popular solution — with a tax benefit — is a day camp
- [Marketing Never Stops In Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/marketing-never-stops-in-your-dental-practice) - Even though you may not think of it this way, every part of the dental patient experience offers you an opportunity to market your practice. This does not mean you are asking for referrals every ten minutes or showing commercials to patients about your practice. Instead, you make every aspect of your practice positive enough
- [Standing Behind Your Financial Estimates for Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/standing-behind-your-financial-estimates-for-patients-2) - Why is it that some patient care coordinators can step dental patients through complex financial estimates while others struggle to outline the costs of a single filling? Sometimes it’s because the struggling team member is not a good fit for the practice or the profession. But assuming that is not the case, the struggles are
- [Are You Accidentally Turning New Dental Patients Away?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/are-you-accidentally-turning-new-dental-patients-away) - How many new dental patients do you turn away each month? Almost every dental team would say that new patients are never turned away, especially given how hard most practices work at attracting new patients. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of those answering the phone, new patients are lost each month due to easy-to-fix missteps.
- [Making the Most of CAD/CAM Technology](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/making-the-most-of-cadcam-technology-2) - If Santa brought your dental practice a CEREC or an ED4, it’s important to keep several things in mind. Your front office team will most likely have questions about how to bill crowns, veneers, onlays, etc. made with this CAD/CAM technology. Do you use separate billing codes? No. Remember to use codes that correspond to
- [Setting Your ODS Fees](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/setting-your-ods-fees-2) - If you want to maximize the increase of your ODS fees to keep your dental practice healthy, make sure you have the right strategy from the start. Your first fee submission to ODS needs to “fail” in order for you to maximize your success. Let me explain. Dentists who participate in the ODS Premier program
- [Staying on Time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/staying-on-time-2) - How often are you on-time with your dental patients? Whenever I ask this question to dentists and teams, I typically get three distinct answers. Dentists are usually consumed with the present moment and the patient they are treating, and their answer is influenced by the difficulty of the day. Clinical teams usually have a better
- [Put Patients Back in the Patient Experience](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/put-patients-back-in-the-patient-experience) - What is sometimes lost in the new patient experience is, oddly enough, the new patient. The same issues can plague recall visits as well, making some patients resistant to returning to your practice. What’s the problem? Too many times, there is not enough attention paid to what patients really value. The time and attention of
- [Is Your Dental Marketing Working?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/is-your-dental-marketing-working-3) - Winston Churchill once said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” This certainly holds true for dental practice marketing. If you are trying to encourage more patients to join your dental practice, it is critical to measure the results. And measuring results requires you to dig deeper than just a tally
- [Dental Patient Retention Starts With the Connection You Make](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-patient-retention-starts-with-the-connection-you-make) - Dentists and teams know that if you enter the operatory properly prepared, patient visits typically go smoothly. And patients are more likely to remain loyal to your practice when they consistently have great dental experiences. However, loyalty is influenced by more than what happens during the procedure. Long-term retention is also strongly influenced by how
- [What If Insurance Doesn’t Cover It](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-if-insurance-doesnt-cover-it-2) - You finish with your exam and set the patient up to review your findings. You make your recommendations for dental treatment and the patient seems to understand; however as soon as you finish talking the patient announces, “I’m only doing what insurance covers.” Few things deflate a dentist and team more than having patients who
- [Insurance Tips for PRR’s](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/insurance-tips-for-prrs) - For many years, dentists lacked a procedure code for placing something more than a sealant but less than the composite filling that extended into the dentin. That changed in 2011 with the new D1352 code for a Preventive Resin Restoration (PRR). However, many practices underutilize the new code or use it incorrectly. The D1352 code
- [Nobody Schedules for Small Decay](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/nobody-schedules-for-small-decay-2) - Imagine you take your car in for an oil change. Your mechanic, in addition to changing your oil, inspects your engine. When your car is ready, your mechanic explains his findings: “Your belts are just a little thin and I noticed something small with your engine.” You ask a few questions and your mechanic reiterates
- [Effective Transitions Make for a Great Dental Patient Visit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/effective-transitions-make-for-a-great-dental-patient-visit) - Just as transitions are critical for the continuity of presentations we hear or articles we read, transitions are also important for the patient experience. Effective dental teams know how to seamlessly transition at key points during an appointment. The first transition occurs when patients arrive. While the front team often communicates to the back that
- [A Simple Surprise to Increase Treatment Acceptance](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/a-simple-surprise-to-increase-treatment-acceptance-2) - Have you ever considered how something as simple as offering your dental patients a beverage in the waiting room or a warm towel to freshen up with after a visit can lead to higher treatment acceptance? You may have noticed a trend in barbershops and hair salons where beverages are offered to customers. The reason
- [Don’t Let Unused Benefits Go Down the Drain](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dont-let-unused-benefits-go-down-the-drain) - Don’t let your dental patients toss their unused benefits down the drain. Now is the time to contact patients with pending dental treatment and encourage them to take advantage of unused insurance benefits. A simple letter or email will produce three positive results for your practice. First, a surprising number of patients will respond and
- [Preparing for Leaves of Absence from Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/preparing-for-leaves-of-absence-from-your-dental-practice) - What do you need to have lined up before you take a leave of absence from your dental practice? The most important person to line up is a dentist to cover for you. Many dentists have agreements with friends and colleagues to cover for each other in times of maternity or medical leave. You can
- [Team Approach to Scheduling](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/team-approach-to-scheduling-2) - Who is responsible for filling openings in your schedule? Many dental teams respond by motioning toward a stressed-out member of the front office team who has regular nightmares about cancellations. But if you ask the same question to high-performing teams, they answer by raising their hands. When empowered appropriately, the entire dental team can make
- [Impress Your Dental Patients Before Treatment Starts](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/impress-your-dental-patients-before-treatment-starts) - Wowing patients with great treatment is the goal of most dental practices; however you start making a memorable impression before treatment ever starts. In addition to focusing on delivering great care, also consider how you can impress dental patients before treatment ever starts. That memorable impression starts by running on time. Your perfect crown prep
- [Simple Tips for Coding Dental Exams Correctly](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/simple-tips-for-coding-dental-exams-correctly-2) - One of the most common questions dental teams ask is how to use the D0180 code for comprehensive periodontal evaluations. Some practices have used this code incorrectly when a hygienist does full probing. Other practices have wavered on how to use this code versus the comprehensive exam (D0150) for new patients. The current issue of
- [3 Common Bad Habits of Dental Practices](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/3-common-bad-habits-of-dental-practices) - Someone once said, “Good habits are formed; bad habits we fall into.” Dental practices have formed many good habits, which lead to great patient experiences and well-run days. When dentists and teams struggle, however, the challenges are typically the result of bad habits the practice has fallen into. Three of the most common bad habits
- [The Importance of Process](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-importance-of-process) - In many ways a process is much like a roadmap. It gives you step by step directions on how to get from point “A” to point “B”. Whenever driving long distances or to unfamiliar parts of town it would be silly to set out lacking a way to determine if you are headed in the
- [Asking Dental Patients for Referrals](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/asking-dental-patients-for-referrals) - The most challenging aspects of internal marketing are knowing when and how to ask patients for referrals. Dental teams commonly worry they will come across as too pushy if they ask patients to send their family and friends to the practice. In addition, most dental teams feel awkward asking patients for referrals. Let’s examine the
- [What Dental Teams Can Learn from Disney](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-dental-teams-can-learn-from-disney-3) - If you have ever stood in line for a ride at Disney World, you are not the only person who notices how slow the line moves or how many upset children are around you. Disney maintains a high-tech command center within Cinderella’s Castle where a team monitors lines and crowd temperament throughout the park. An
- [The Hygiene Team’s Role with an Effective Recall System](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-hygiene-teams-role-with-an-effective-recall-system) - What role does your hygiene team play in implementing an effective recall system? This is a common question in dental practices. While the front team typically handles the recall program, the involvement of the hygiene team is critical for achieving the best results. First, proactive hygiene teams build value for the next preventive visit at
- [Do Not Get Scammed](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/do-not-get-scammed) - As tax season jumps into full swing so do the criminals looking to take advantage of the unprepared. Turbo Tax actually halted the filing of many state returns this year due to scammers using the software to file for fraudulent refunds. The IRS estimates that it sent out nearly 3 million fraudulent refunds to con
- [Medicare Decision Tree for Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/medicare-decision-tree-for-dentists) - Do you see any Medicare eligible patients? If you are in the small minority of dentists who can answer “no” (primarily pediatric dentists who do not see disabled patients on Medicare), then you do not have to do anything about Medicare enrollment. Otherwise, please consider which Medicare enrollment step is most appropriate for you. Do
- [Getting Things Accomplished in a Dental Front Office](https://www.fluenceportland.com/time-management/getting-things-accomplished-in-a-dental-front-office-2) - Block scheduling is not just an effective way to productively schedule dental patients, it is also a valuable tool for the front office team. Many dental front teams struggle to keep up with their workload, and many of the challenges relate to ineffective time management. Management coach Brian Tracy once said, “There is never enough
- [Why Medicare Deadlines Matter for Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/why-medicare-deadlines-matter-for-dentists) - Even though Medicare Part B covers very few dental services, ignoring the June 1, 2015 and December 1, 2015 Medicare deadlines can have a profoundly negative impact on your dental practice. If you never see Medicare eligible patients, you are in the small minority of dentists who do not have to take action regarding Medicare
- [How to Handle Negative Online Reviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-handle-negative-online-reviews-2) - What do you do when a dental patient posts a negative online review of your practice? A lot of dentists reach for the panic button just after they hit a punching bag. And it’s understandable. Prior to online reviews, an upset patient could inflict limited damage to a practice, but now a critic has a
- [Leaders Show the Way](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/leaders-show-the-way) - What does it take to fine-tune your leadership skills? Consider what John Maxwell once said about the subject. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” How can your leadership skills show the way for your dental team? First, evaluate how your team starts the work day. Are
- [Is Dental Treatment Really Needed?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/is-dental-treatment-really-needed-2) - Dentists and clinical teams are empathetic by nature, which explains why they struggle when patients balk at treatment recommendations. Especially when patients express concerns over cost. But what are patients really asking when they say that treatment sounds expensive? In many cases, patients push back because they want to see if the treatment is really
- [Drug Testing Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/drug-testing-your-dental-team) - Let’s assume for a moment that your dental assistant is really struggling with her chair-side performance. She is having trouble concentrating, she is often short with patients, and she is consistently late for work. You suspect she has a drug problem based on what you have heard, and you want to conduct a random drug
- [Dental Teams and Problem Solving](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-teams-and-problem-solving-3) - How can you and your dental team become better problem solvers? Consider three of the tips offered in the most recent edition of Inc. magazine. Be wary of any problem that has only one definition. For example, frequent patient cancellations may have multiple causes: the dentist and team are not building enough value for the
- [Tough Conversations about Gum Disease](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/tough-conversations-about-gum-disease) - One of the most challenging aspects of gum disease is not in treating it; instead it’s how to talk to dental patients about their condition. This is especially true when patients, who come every six months for regular cleanings, suddenly present with some level of gum disease. Most people expect that regular cleanings eliminate the
- [Fanatical Customer Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/fanatical-customer-service-2) - Do you enjoy waiting on hold for customer service? How confident are you about receiving a helpful return call or email after you leave a message? In the book Switch by Chip and Dan Health, the authors tell the story of Rackspace, a company that specializes in internet hosting and cloud computing. In 1999, the
- [Being on Time for Work Matters](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/being-on-time-for-work-matters) - Dr. Seuss once asked, “How did it get so late so soon?” This is a question dental team members may ask as they roll into work too late to attend your huddle or as they struggle to get your first patient seated on time following lunch. While it may seem like a small oversight to
- [Attitude for Growth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/attitude-for-growth-2) - How do you foster growth within a dental practice when we have a less-than-ideal economy? The catalyst is effective leadership. But what makes a leader effective? Someone once said, “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” Dentists who are great leaders
- [Estimated Tax Payments… What are they and why they are needed?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/estimated-tax-payments-what-are-they-and-why-they-are-needed) - (Please note the below only applies if your business is formed as a S-corporation or LLC) Every so often our office will ask you to make estimated tax payments to the IRS and possibly to your state taxing authority (i.e. Oregon). At some point you may have wondered “Why am I being asked to make
- [3 Stats to Monitor with New Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/3-stats-to-monitor-with-new-dental-patients) - Most dental practices spend time and resources trying to attract new patients to the practice. Dentists and teams also work hard to ensure the patient experience is as positive as possible. This is why it’s so important to monitor three key stats regarding your new patients; information you can use to become even more effective
- [When Your Hygiene Team Fears Being Wrong](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/when-your-hygiene-team-fears-being-wrong-2) - Through my years of dental practice consulting, I have helped a lot of hygiene teams overcome barriers related to discussing treatment with patients. In almost every situation, the doctor felt the hygienists were unmotivated to help with co-diagnosis, and based on the behavior I witnessed in the operatory, I understood the doctor’s perspective. In a
- [Communication Made Simple](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/5563) - Over two hundred years ago the English chemist, Joseph Priestly, said, “The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” I can’t imagine what Priestly would think today. When research was conducted to determine how to decrease malpractice claims, an interesting trend emerged. Patients were not suing doctors they liked. And the process
- [How to Collect What You Produce](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-to-collect-what-you-produce) - Have you ever felt as if you were working really hard with a productive schedule yet cash was still tight? There are several situations that can cause this, one of which is not collecting at the same level that you produce. If collections consistently lag behind production, after you take into account adjustments, then you
- [The Identity of Dental Staff Turnover](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-identity-of-dental-staff-turnover-2) - Few things are more frustrating to dentists than to experience the conflicts and stress that ultimately result in staff turnover. Many dentists go through periods where they constantly go through staff, and it’s enough to make doctors wonder if something is wrong with their practice. A novel approach to analyzing turnover occurred at Lovelace Hospital
- [Three Important Agenda Points for Great Team Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/three-important-agenda-points-for-great-team-meetings) - One purpose of regular team meetings is to collectively discuss what is affecting the performance of the dental practice. This means going deeper than just production and collection numbers to understand important pulse points. Here are three of those points to include in your team meetings. First, how many openings went unfilled in your schedule
- [Scheduling Your Ideal Day](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/scheduling-your-ideal-day-2) - Have you ever had one of those days where you sprint from operatory to operatory, barely having five minutes for lunch, running late the entire day, and when you finally finish you can’t believe how little you produced? Too many dentists and dental teams experience this on a regular basis. Even when frantic schedules yield
- [Motivating Insurance-Driven Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/motivating-insurance-driven-patients) - When dental patients tell you they will only do what insurance covers, it is not a reason to acquiesce. Instead, it’s a wakeup call for you and your team regarding how you present treatment and educate patients. When patients fail to schedule for recommended services, it often means they will use the same amount of
- [Shrink the Change and Grow Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/shrink-the-change-and-grow-your-dental-practice-2) - Someone once said, “Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.” This feeling of constant change, which can feel overwhelming, is one of the main points of resistance when you propose new goals. So how do you overcome this sticking point? In their book Switch – How to Change Things When Change
- [Rest and Lunch Breaks for Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/time-management/rest-and-lunch-breaks-for-your-dental-team) - When your dental practice is busy and you are rushing from chair to chair, you are not typically paying attention to whether your team is taking their rest and lunch breaks. Therefore, it’s very important to have systems in place to ensure your team gets their allotted breaks. In Oregon, your non-exempt team (paid hourly)
- [Where are the New Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/where-are-the-new-patients-2) - If your new patient flow has yet to return to pre-recession levels, you are not alone. Most of the dental practice management clients we have are still experiencing less than robust new patient numbers. And the most recent McGill Advisory newsletter reported the third straight year of declining new patients in their dental practice survey.
- [Is Your Practice Utilizing Social Media To Its Fullest Extent?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/is-your-practice-utilizing-social-media-to-its-fullest-extent) - Millions of people log into a variety of social media sites on a daily basis, and they are using these sites to connect with and share brands more and more. Utilizing social media may be a way to increase your practice growth without breaking the bank. Facebook is easily the largest social media platform available
- [What Are You Really Saying To Dental Patients?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-are-you-really-saying-to-dental-patients-2) - If you want to create stronger connections with your patients and have more people accept your recommendations for dental treatment, consider becoming fluent in body language. Most of our communication occurs non-verbally. We pay attention to how others communicate much more than the actual words. I’ve worked with many dentists and teams through the years
- [Improving Hygiene Production](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/improving-hygiene-production) - Long term patient relationships are built in the hygiene chair, which is why your hygiene team is so important for dental practice growth. Your hygiene team also contributes significantly to practice production—really good hygiene teams can average 30 – 35% of total production or more. If your hygiene team is struggling to produce as expected,
- [Reducing Dental Appointment Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/reducing-dental-appointment-cancellations-2) - Imagine the nice vacations you could take if you could capture just a fraction of the cost of missed dental appointments. The cost is also felt across the ocean. The National Health Services in the UK recently conducted a study looking at how to curb the costs of missed appointments. The King’s Fund, a health
- [Chart Audits are Critical before Purchasing a Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/chart-audits-are-critical-before-purchasing-a-dental-practice) - One of the biggest professional commitments you will make is with the purchase of a dental practice; therefore reserving time for due diligence is critical. One important aspect of due diligence is the chart audit, which will provide valuable information about the health of the practice. Consider focusing the first part of the chart audit
- [Dental Marketing - The First Question](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-marketing-the-first-question) - Wouldn’t it be nice if by simply opening your door wider you attracted more new patients? Unfortunately, people are not gathering outside your door like they do a donut shop, eager for a neon sign that proclaims “Hot & Tasty,” or in the case of dentistry, “Instruments Freshly Sharpened.” You can spend countless hours and
- [Finding the Right Associate Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/communication/finding-the-right-associate-dentist) - When you are busy enough to add an associate to your dental practice, it’s important to find a dentist who will reflect favorably on your practice. While that sounds straightforward, it’s more difficult than meets the eye. The primary challenge is that most dentists will be hiring an associate for the first time, unaware of
- [Accountability in Dental Practices](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/accountability-in-dental-practices-2) - If you want your team to demonstrate accountability, how do you promote this in your dental practice? And what do you do that might undermine your efforts? For example, if an assistant forgets to follow up on a lab case, will she blame someone else or a circumstance, or will she immediately correct the mistake
- [Resolving Unfilled Openings in Hygiene](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/resolving-unfilled-openings-in-hygiene) - Do you know how many appointments go unfilled in your hygiene schedule each month? While it’s normal to have some openings due to sicknesses, it is more troubling when the openings were never filled in the first place or were the result of last minute cancellations. Knowing how many hygiene appointments go unfilled each month
- [Increase Collections at the Time of Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/increase-collections-at-the-time-of-service-2) - The most effective way to keep your outstanding accounts receivables under control is to get your dental patients to pay at the time of service. Seems simply enough. Yet if you want patients to pay at the time of service, your front and clinical teams must work together. Too many times your front and clinical
- [Sharing Performance Information with Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/sharing-performance-information-with-your-dental-team) - Do you consistently share practice performance statistics and goals with your dental team? If the practice is doing poorly, you may hesitate to share numbers for fear the team will abandon ship; however the team will still sense your stress, and if they do not know your goals how can they help make the practice
- [Win Your Patients Over With Prompt Follow-Up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/win-your-patients-over-with-prompt-follow-up-2) - We have all experienced situations where we expected a healthcare provider or a vendor to follow-up on our questions; however they never called. What kind of impression did that make? In many cases, we likely chose to take our business elsewhere. How prompt is the follow-up with your dental patients? Let’s assume a confused patient
- [Interview Questions to Avoid](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/interview-questions-to-avoid) - While it’s important to ask effective interview questions to help find the right fit for your practice, it’s equally critical to avoid venturing into restricted areas of inquiry. Knowing what not to ask will make you a stronger interviewer. You want to avoid questions that ask about the following: Date of birth. Maiden name and/or
- [How to Handle a Clash of New Patient Expectations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/how-to-handle-a-clash-of-new-patient-expectations-2) - One of the worst-case scenarios for a dentist is to find significant decay on a new patient who expects everything is fine. How do you break the bad news without making the patient think you need the proceeds to buy a new boat? Some dentists try to soften the blow by making their recommendations so
- [Effective Interview Questions ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/effective-interview-questions) - It’s tough enough to lose someone on your dental team, but then you have the challenging task of interviewing candidates to find the right fit. How do you know if the person sitting across from you will be a good addition to your team? While you will never know for sure until the applicant works
- [Incentivize Your Team: Bonus (Part II of II)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/incentivize-your-team-bonus-part-ii-of-ii) - In Part I we discussed some of the less tangible and peripheral items that can lead to success or failure of an incentive based bonus system. In Part II we will talk about more of the specifics of an incentive based system. The most common and typically recommended system for incentive based pay is to
- [Your Dental Practice is Just Like a Used Car](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/your-dental-ractice-is-just-like-a-used-car) - For those of you who are looking to sell your dental practice in the near future and retire to a life of luxury on a tropical island somewhere, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind when it comes to the final sale of your practice. In many ways the practice
- [Connecting with Overwhelmed Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/connecting-with-overwhelmed-dental-patients) - How do you connect with overwhelmed dental patients? It’s not easy. And since there is a better than average chance you will not guide overwhelmed patients to schedule for treatment, the most effective steps you can take are to prevent the situation altogether. The most common reasons why patients feel overwhelmed include the following: they
- [Communicating With Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/communicating-with-your-dental-team-2) - One of the best pieces of advice I ever received regarding communication came from a teacher who reminded us effective memos are never written; effective memos are rewritten. Great speeches are never delivered; great speeches are revised and then delivered. Why is written or verbal communication improved with revision? The superfluous material is typically dumped
- [Controlling Dental Staff Costs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/5353) - If your dental staff costs are higher than what you would like to see, consider looking closely at four parts of the day. First, when your team clocks in, do they start work or do they take care of personal items? If your team clocks in, makes breakfast, and finishes getting ready for the day
- [When to Add an Associate to Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/when-to-add-an-associate-to-your-dental-practice) - When is a good time to add an associate dentist to your practice? The short answer is when you have enough consistent demand; however a lot of factors go into this decision. First, you need to consider how far you are booked out and if this demand is cyclical or consistent. Typically, when dentists are
- [What Dental Teams Can Learn from Disney](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/what-dental-teams-can-learn-from-disney-2) - If you have ever stood in line for a ride at Disney World, you are not the only person who notices how slow the line moves or how many upset children are around you. Disney maintains a high-tech command center within Cinderella’s Castle where a team monitors lines and crowd temperament throughout the park. An
- [How Much Dentistry Do You Lose to Adjustments](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-much-dentistry-do-you-lose-to-adjustments) - How much dentistry do you give away each month? The answer is almost always surprising as you review your adjustment report and try to make sense of why things were written off. In addition to keeping a pulse on production and collections, it’s also very important to monitor your adjustments since each one represents money
- [How to Look Less Attractive to an Embezzler - Part II](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-to-look-less-attractive-to-an-embezzler) - If you want to minimize the likelihood of experiencing embezzlement, you need to think for a moment like an embezzler. Embezzlers want control and autonomy, they do not want anyone looking over their shoulder, and they hate being away from their job because someone may discover their scheme. Once you understand how an embezzler thinks,
- [Dental Teams and Problem Solving](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-teams-and-problem-solving-2) - How can you and your dental team become better problem solvers? Consider three of the tips offered in an article of Inc. magazine. Be wary of any problem that has only one definition. For example, frequent patient cancellations may have multiple causes: the dentist and team are not building enough value for the appointment, qualifying
- [Combatting Turnover of All-Star Employees in a High Turnover Industry](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/combatting-turnover-of-all-star-employees-in-a-high-turnover-industry) - Unfortunately, dental offices can experience high levels of turnover, with the average employee lasting less than 2 years at a given practice. Each time an office experiences turnover of its all-star employees it will also experience a loss in profit. All-star employees are those that can bring more income to the practice by maximizing internal
- [Will the Affordable Care Act Impact Your Tax Return for 2014?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/will-the-affordable-care-act-impact-your-tax-return-for-2014) - The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also referred to as Obamacare, imposes an individual mandate requiring all non-exempt U.S. Citizens and legal residents to enroll in government-approved health insurance in 2014 or pay a penalty. The penalty will be collected through the individual’s income tax returns (Form 1040). The penalty for not having insurance is generally
- [The Profile of Dental Practice Embezzlers  - Part I](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-profile-of-dental-practice-embezzlers-part-i) - How can you tell that one of your dental team members is an embezzler? Does the embezzler show up wearing a black hat like an outlaw in an old Western? Will you find the embezzler napping on the job until a patient shows up to pay for treatment in cash? One of the most challenging
- [Incentivize your Team: Bonus (Part I of II)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/incentivize-your-team-bonus-part-i-of-ii) - In today’s environment we are seeing more doctors looking at some sort of incentive based compensation system for their dental practice team members. We are often asked what the incentive based compensation system should look like to help make it successful. Typically, when we are asked, most doctors just want the details of the system
- [Turn Dental Emergencies into Opportunities](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/turn-dental-emergencies-into-opportunities) - Emergency appointments are not typically viewed as practice building opportunities by most dentists and teams. Instead, emergencies often cause the practice to run behind and pull attention away from scheduled patients. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can turn many of your dental emergencies into practice building opportunities. First, you need to
- [4 Ways to Improve Past Due Accounts Receivable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/collections/4-ways-to-improve-past-due-accounts-receivable) - The amount your dental practice has in past due accounts receivable can quickly escalate without proper systems in place. It’s not uncommon for busy teams to focus on just getting the billing statements out without considering how they are managing past due accounts. Here are four things to consider as your practice tries to collect
- [Dental Patient Communication Made Simple](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-patient-communication-made-simple) - Over two hundred years ago the English chemist, Joseph Priestly, said, “The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” I can’t imagine what Priestly would think today. When research was conducted to determine how to decrease malpractice claims, an interesting trend emerged. Patients were not suing doctors they liked. And the process
- [Increase Treatment Acceptance with Plain English](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/increase-treatment-acceptance-with-plain-english) - Confused dental patients rarely schedule; unfortunately patients rarely tell you when they are confused. Therefore, if you want to increase treatment acceptance in your practice, make sure patients clearly understand what you are recommending. Even though it sounds so simple, it’s much harder to apply since we overestimate our ability to communicate along with the
- [To Lease Or Not To Lease](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/to-lease-or-not-to-lease) - To lease or not to lease…that is the question (when shopping for a new practice automobile). We are just about into summer which means that car dealers will be on the hunt for prospective buyers as new models fill their lots. Being a car aficionado myself, this time of year is always a bit more
- [Common Handbook Policies Under Attack From NLRB](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/common-handbook-policies-under-attack-from-nlrb) - In light of recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) scrutiny, certain long standing policies in employee handbooks will need to be altered or removed completely. The primary risk with having some of these policies in place is that they will be in violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the law that governs employee
- [Your Dental Team Is Motivated By More Than Compensation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/your-dental-team-is-motivated-by-more-than-compensation) - If compensation was all that mattered to your dental team, then highly compensated teams would have few if any challenges. However, that is not the case. Whether your dental practice is big or small, your team is motivated by other factors in addition to compensation. First, your team appreciates consistent positive reinforcement and feedback. The
- [Your Dental Team's Attitude for Growth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/your-dental-teams-attitude-for-growth) - How do you foster growth within a dental practice when we have a less-than-ideal economy? The catalyst is effective leadership. But what makes a leader effective? Someone once said, “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” Dentists who are great leaders
- [Is Your Dental Marketing Working?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/is-your-dental-marketing-working-2) - Winston Churchill once said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” This certainly holds true for dental practice marketing. If you are trying to encourage more patients to join your dental practice, it is critical to measure the results. And measuring results requires you to dig deeper than just a tally
- [Handling Employee Termination Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/handling-employee-termination-meetings) - For employers, the only thing harder than deciding to terminate an employee is breaking the bad news. Studies show that firing an employee is one of the most difficult tasks a manager will ever have to do. On top of that the same studies also show that how an employee’s termination is handled is often
- [What to Tell Your Team after a Termination](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-to-tell-your-team-after-a-termination) - Let’s assume you complete the unfortunate task of terminating one of your dental team members. As much as you may want to forget the whole thing, your work is not yet over. You still need to reach out to your existing team. Whenever someone is terminated, it’s normal for existing dental team members to have
- [Dental Accountant’s Due Diligence (Part III of III)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-accountants-due-diligence-part-iii-of-iii) - We have established in part I and II that you are well suited to own your own dental practice and we have established what your advisor will need and what they will do to help you make sure the practice that you are interested in buying is listed at the correct price and is a
- [Unclaimed Property](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/uncliamed-property) - Spring has sprung, and summer is just around the corner: time to clean off the grill, set out the patio furniture and start thinking about filing unclaimed property returns in the fall. What is unclaimed property, you might ask? With some exceptions, unclaimed property includes items your practice has in its possession that it is
- [Compensation Means More Than Just a Paycheck](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/compensation-means-more-than-just-a-paycheck) - If you ask team members what they are paid, they will typically tell you what they are paid per hour; however most dental practices provide benefits in addition to an hourly wage. If your team only thinks in terms of their paycheck, they will overlook the total compensation they receive each year. Why is this
- [Adding Extra Hygiene Days](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/adding-extra-hygiene-days) - It’s hard to grow your dental practice without adding hygiene days. The more patients you see regularly, the more treatment you will diagnose and the more new patient referrals you will receive. Assuming you are in a growth mode, how do you know when to add extra hygiene days? If you add extra days too
- [Managing Recall When the Dental Practice Is Busy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/managing-recall-when-the-dental-practice-is-busy) - Even proactive dental teams encounter obstacles with managing effective recall systems. One of the biggest challenges is when the practice is busy and the team puts less effort into recall and more time into other duties. While it’s a natural tendency to let up when things are going well, this also sets up the practice
- [Know Your “Number” Before Buying a Dental Practice ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/know-your-number-before-buying-a-dental-practice) - If you are searching for a dental practice to purchase, how do you know when you’ve found a good fit? It is common to initially answer that question by considering the location of the practice, the appearance of the office, and the amount that is produced. But the question of a good fit goes deeper
- [When to Pay for Classes or Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/when-to-pay-for-classes-or-meetings) - When do you have to pay for staff members to attend continuing education or meetings? Here are important points to remember. First, when the continuing education (CE) or meeting is mandatory, you have to pay for the employee’s time regardless of the day of the week or if the meeting falls outside of normal working
- [What You Can Learn from the Mistakes of the Prior Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/what-you-can-learn-from-the-mistakes-of-the-prior-dentist) - Imagine for a moment that you are searching for a new yard maintenance company to take care of your outdoor work. Are you looking for the company that can make the straightest lines while cutting your grass? You can expect all of the companies know how to cut grass and rake leaves. What you typically
- [Choice of Entity – Costs and Final Thoughts (Part III of III)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/choice-of-entity-costs-and-final-thoughts-part-iii-of-iii) - We have discussed the basics of entities, some pros and cons and now we will wrap it up with some estimated costs and final thoughts. The cost of establishing an entity focuses on paying an attorney and an accountant to help get you set up, to maintain and to prepare the accounting and tax returns
- [Motivate by Making a Difference](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/motivate-by-making-a-difference) - One effective way to motivate a dental team is to show them how they make a difference. When your team understands how their actions positively affect patient care, overall teamwork, and the growth of the practice, they are even more motivated to put in the extra effort. American musician and activist Clay Aiken once said,
- [Add More New Dental Patients to Your Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/adding-more-new-dental-patients) - Your best new dental patients come from existing patients. Here's how you can get more referrals for new patients.
- [Accountability in Dental Practices](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/accountability-in-dental-practices) - If you want your team to demonstrate accountability, how do you promote this in your dental practice? And what do you do that might undermine your efforts? For example, if an assistant forgets to follow up on a lab case, will she blame someone else or a circumstance, or will she immediately correct the mistake
- [Identity Theft, Fraud and Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/identity-theft-fraud-and-taxes) - One of the ways we find out someone is a victim of ID theft is when we e-file their return. The electronic submission is rejected by the IRS because one of the social security numbers on it was already used to file another person’s return. Most often this is the result of dependent children who
- [The Toll of Procrastination on Dental Staff Management ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-toll-of-procrastination-on-dental-staff-management) - Napoleon Hill once said, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” Too many times dentists find themselves in that situation when it comes to staff management. For example, a hygienist fails to keep up with her sterilization duties for over
- [Oregon Passes Social Media in the Workplace Law](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/oregon-passes-social-media-in-the-workplace-law) - On May 22, 2013, Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law House Bill, 2654. This law makes Oregon the tenth state to enact a law prohibiting employers from accessing employees’ private social media sites. The new law becomes effective January 1, 2014 and makes it an unlawful employment practice for employers to compel employees or applicants
- [Tax Tips for Newlyweds](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/tax-tips-for-newlyweds) - This time year is popular for weddings. So if you are a newlywed there are some important issues that need be taken care of—after the honeymoon. Now that you are married, your tax filing status has changed, and there are a number of steps you’ll need to take, to make a smooth transition into married
- [Don't Let Perfection Get in Your Way](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/dont-let-perfection-get-in-your-way) - We receive conflicting signals about perfection. As Winston Churchill once said, “They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.” Churchill knew as well as anyone about the difficulties of leadership, how tough decisions are often made using imperfect information. We may strive to
- [Oregon’s Victims of Certain Crimes Leave Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/oregons-victims-of-certain-crimes-leave-act) - The Oregon’s Victims of Certain Crimes Leave Act (OVCCLA) went into effect on January 1, 2010. OVCCLA provides employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking: Employees who are victims are entitled to protection from job discrimination based on their status as a victim. Employers must provide reasonable workplace safety accommodations for
- [Backing Up Eaglesoft](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/backing-up-eaglesoft) - One of the staple tasks of any dental office is backing up the practice management system at the end of every day, right before the staff leaves the office. However, just because this process is being done each day doesn’t mean it is being done correctly, particularly if your practice uses Eaglesoft. With this version
- [Parting Ways with a Bad Attitude](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/parting-ways-with-a-bad-attitude) - Few things block the momentum of a team quite like a bad attitude. Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton went so far as to suggest, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” How then do you coach someone who seems to lack motivation? Assuming your team member is coachable, the first step is to
- [Claiming the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/claiming-the-child-and-dependent-care-tax-credit) - The Child and Dependent Care Credit can help offset some of the costs you pay for the care of your child, a dependent, or disabled spouse. Here are some facts you may need to know about this tax credit. If you pay someone to care for one or more “qualifying individuals,” you may qualify for
- [Pay for Performance – Is It Right for You?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/pay-for-performance-is-it-right-for-you) - When would it make sense to consider a pay-for-performance system for your dental team? Can you depend on this type of compensation system to motivate your team and reduce staff turnover? The best answer, of course, is “it depends.” First we must start with definitions. Pay for performance rewards individual team members for specific job
- [When Should Bonuses Be Used In Calculating Overtime?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/when-should-bonuses-be-used-in-calculating-overtime) - The item that employers miss the most when calculating overtime wages is the inclusion of non-discretionary bonuses. The FLSA requires that non-discretionary bonuses – these are promised to the employee – be included and allocated over the time period they apply and included in calculating overtime pay for non-exempt employees. These bonuses increase the overtime
- [Bonus Depreciation and 179 Deductions Set to Expire](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/bonus-depreciation-and-179-deductions-set-to-expire) - Trying to decide whether to buy new equipment or build out a space in your office? Now may be the time since bonus depreciation and Section 179 deductions are set to expire.
- [Dental Practice Insurance Audits: Proactive Steps](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/proactive-steps-for-insurance-audits) - The best way for your dental practice to survive an insurance audit is to start preparing for it right now. Here are some tips to help you get ready.
- [Motivation is Contagious](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/motivation-is-contagious-2) - Since you are a leader, you often faced with how to motivate your team. But how do you motivate yourself? The philosopher William James once said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” Therefore, one of the best ways to motivate yourself is to engage in activities that are aligned with
- [The Importance of Failure](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-importance-of-failure-2) - Imagine if you were labeled “the merchant of death.” Would you consider yourself a failure? That’s exactly how Alfred Nobel felt after his invention of dynamite led to such a label. Despite having 355 patents to his name, Nobel wanted to do something more; he wanted to leave a legacy not associated with death, which
- [IRA Distributions to Charity](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/ira-distributions-to-charity) - Learn more about what constitutes a qualified charitable distribution and find out how this may be the last opportunity to achieve the tax savings offered by this provision.
- [You Can Do It!](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/you-can-do-it) - As you all know; I’m a huge Martha Stewart fan. I stumbled across a story she shared on LinkedIn called Best Advice: You Can Do Anything You Choose (February 26, 2013) and I thought I’d share some of it. “The best advice I’ve ever received was from my father when I was 12 years old
- [Satisfy Your Dental Patients by Running on Time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/wow-your-patients-by-running-on-time) - One of the most effective ways to “wow” your dental patients is to run on time. One of the main reasons why patients leave your dental practice is because you keep them waiting.
- [Dental Practice Building: Opportunities With Emergencies](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/opportunities-with-emergencies) - One of the biggest dental practice building opportunities missed by dentists and teams is to guide new patient emergencies into comprehensive care.
- [Selling Your Home](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/selling-your-home) - Article Highlights Individuals can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) of gain from the sale of their primary residence. Generally, to qualify for the exclusion, the home must have been owned and used as a primary residence for two of the prior five years. Reduced exclusions apply in certain circumstances
- [Negative Reviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/negative-reviews) - If you are in business long enough, it is likely someone will post a negative review of your dental practice. And it doesn’t matter how many positive reviews preceded it, that negative review may be hard to shake. As the novelist Danielle Steel once said, “A bad review is like baking a cake with all
- [Factors That Influence Banks’ Decision to Lend To Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/factors-that-influence-banks-decision-to-lend-to-dentists-2) - Many banks are interested and eager to lend money to dental professionals. Learn more about what they want to see.
- [The Uncrowded Extra Mile](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-uncrowded-extra-mile) - Many dental practices talk about going the extra mile for patients, but how many actually do it? The time, the effort, the consistency; it’s not easy. Inspirational speaker Wayne Dyer once said, “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.” How can you set yourself apart on that uncrowded path? Start by putting yourself in the
- [90 Day Waiting Period Under the Affordable Care Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/90-day-waiting-period-under-the-affordable-care-act) - Starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will limit waiting periods for health insurance plans to a maximum of 90 days. The 90 day waiting limit takes effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014 and will apply to small and large group insurance plans as well as self-funded plans. The
- [Feeling Stuck?  Get a Good Night’s Sleep](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/feeling-stuck-get-a-good-nights-sleep) - The next time you are challenged and find yourself struggling for solutions, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. When we dream, our brains are often in the best position to solve problems and come up with innovations. As recounted in the book Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep by David Randall,
- [Avoid the Dental “Watch” List](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/avoid-the-dental-watch-list) - Most dental practices have it, and most dentists regularly talk to patients about it. “John, I’m putting that upper right tooth on the watch list.” You may think you are alerting patients to the need for future treatment, but in reality patients have no idea what you mean by a watch list. And when patients
- [Portland Sick Leave Ordinance – Final Rules](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/portland-sick-leave-ordinance-final-rules) - The final rules implementing Portland’s new Sick Leave Ordinance have been published. The new rules go into effect January 1, 2014 and require all employers to provide up to 40 hours of sick leave per year to all employees employed at least 90 days and working at least 240 hours a year within Portland City
- [Data Breach Coverage for Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/data-breach-coverage-for-your-dental-practice) - One of the worst things that could happen to your dental practice is to have a hacker access the protected health information of your patients. Then what would you do? You can’t just assume everything will be okay. The law is very strict about the steps you need to take when protected patient information is
- [Maximizing the Effectiveness of Working Interviews](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/maximizing-the-effectiveness-of-working-interviews) - How do you have a successful working interview to ensure you hire the right person for the practice? First, you and your dental team need to identify the characteristics of your ideal candidate. For example, you may want a new assistant who is detail oriented, blends well with the existing team, and learns new tasks
- [How to Finance Your New Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/how-to-finance-your-new-dental-practice) - When the time comes for you to purchase a dental practice, congratulations! This is a huge step and one that, hopefully, will provide you with years of success, fulfillment and pleasure providing dental services to your patients. As you prepare to purchase the dental practice, you will need to find a way to finance the
- [How Your Dental Practice Can Benefit from a Morning Huddle](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/how-your-dental-practice-can-benefit-from-a-morning-huddle) - The economist John Kenneth Galbraith once said, “Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything.” Which is why some dentists and teams prefer to skip morning huddles. Too many times morning huddles turn into ten minutes of going nowhere. However, when morning huddles are constructed effectively, you strengthen teamwork and communication, which ultimately
- [Law Bans Employment Credit Checks](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/law-bans-employment-credit-checks) - In 2010 Oregon became one of a handful of states to limit employers from using credit history in the job application process. Credit reporting companies claim that credit checks are essential to reduce theft or embezzlement, but there isn’t any research to tie poor credit to bad employees. Given the hard economic times at the
- [What Makes You Thankful](https://www.fluenceportland.com/leadership/what-makes-you-thankful) - With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it’s a good time to ponder what we are thankful about this year. We certainly spend enough time thinking about what gets on our nerves that it’s a good change of pace to consider what we appreciate. A good place for us to start is with those who
- [Method of Payment for Dental Accounts Receivable](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/method-of-payment-for-dental-accounts-receivable) - One of the best ways to manage accounts receivable is to make sure you collect as much as possible at the time of dental service. This sounds like common sense advice. What then stands in the way of this fundamental task? When your dental front office team presents financial estimates for treatment, your patients may
- [Meals and Break Periods in Oregon](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/meals-and-break-periods-in-oregon) - Do I have to give employees meal and break periods? How can I do that in an environment where we see patients and need to be available? Why can’t I just pay the employee for the time instead of giving the meal or break period? We get asked these questions all the time. The rules
- [Top Mistakes Dentists Make on Their Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/top-mistakes-dentists-make-on-their-taxes) - I was asked recently about the top mistakes dentists make on their taxes. This is a great question and there are a few tips that can help one avoid making common mistakes. One of the top mistakes I see is regarding the estimated tax payments. If a dentist is required to make estimated tax payments,
- [An Effective Recall Program for Dental Practices](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/an-effective-recall-program-for-dental-practices) - Too many times in dental practices, working the recall system is done as a reaction to a slow schedule. When the practice is reasonable busy, recall is forgotten. Obviously this is not the best approach for keeping the hygiene schedule as strong as possible. A proactive recall system is much more effective for keeping the
- [Dental Office Spore Testing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-office-spore-testing) - If you Google “Autoclave spore test requirements” or “Dental Office Spore Testing” you aren’t exactly overwhelmed with definitive resources that clearly lay out the requirements dental offices need to follow in order to be in compliance with the regulations the board of dentistry will enforce. One of the biggest points of misunderstanding is how often
- [Top Reasons You Need a Dental CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/top-reasons-you-need-a-dental-cpa) - Have you ever wondered if it is necessary to use a CPA who works specifically with dentists? I think it is a good question to ask and today we will review some of the benefits. Using a dental CPA is important because they know and understand your industry. They understand your language and your business
- [Dental Practice Marketing – How Much to Spend](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/dental-practice-marketing-how-much-to-spend) - Marketing plays a bigger role in dental practices today than it did many years ago. Learn about how to set a marketing budget for your dental practice.
- [Notification Requirements for Portland Sick Leave](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/notification-requirements-for-portland-sick-leave) - Employers who are required to give employees sick leave under the new City of Portland Protected Sick Time Ordinance need to make sure they are providing employees with the proper notification. The City of Portland has released the poster required by its Protected Sick Time Ordinance. All employers with employees working inside the City of
- [Body Language and the Dental Patient Experience ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/body-language-and-the-dental-patient-experience) - How do you make the patient experience even better in your dental practice? Make the extra effort to read each patient’s body language. For example, it’s one thing to have blankets, pillows, and neck wraps, and it’s another to notice when patients may benefit from one of those niceties even though they did not initially
- [Itemized Deductions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/itemized-deductions) - The recent mailing of 2013 tax organizers brought to mind a few itemized deductions you may qualify for that can be easily overlooked. Charitable deductions are not limited to only cash contributions. While the value of services provided to a charitable organization is not deductible, some deductions are permitted for out-of-pocket costs you incur while
- [Proactively Coach the Small Stuff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/proactively-coach-the-small-stuff) - One of the most challenging situations for a dentist is how to respond when the team starts overlooking the small stuff. When the health history is not reviewed chair-side or charges for the day are not posted correctly or the next step phase of treatment is not reviewed properly up front. The natural tendency is
- [Dental Accountant’s Due Diligence (Part II of III)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-accountants-due-diligence-part-ii-of-iii) - After part I, you have now established that you definitely want to and are suited to own your own dental practice. You have looked at what is available and you have found a practice you are interested in. Make sure you do your due diligence. Do not just take the selling doctor’s price at face
- [Choice of Entity - Entity Foundation and Basics (Part 1 of 3)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/choice-of-entity-entity-foundation-and-basics-part-1-of-3) - Whether you are about to purchase a dental practice or you already own one, one of the first things you must do is decide on an entity type. It is very important to know what entity you have or need and the pros and cons of that entity so that you can choose and utilize
- [Informing Dental Patients about the Costs of Extra Treatment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/informing-dental-patients-about-the-costs-of-extra-treatment) - The effective management of accounts receivable involves more than staying on top of past-due patients; it also includes troubleshooting situations that occur in the back. Eliminating missteps with the clinical team requires clear communication. The most common challenge occurs when the well-meaning dentist and clinical team suggest to patients that they have additional treatment while
- [Independent Contractor or Employee?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/independent-contractor-or-employee) - As business owners it is important to know the correct employment classification of the individuals assisting you with your business. Are they employees or are they independent contractors? The penalty for misclassifying an individual can be costly. The State of Oregon has the right to impose back taxes, penalties, and interest if they determine you
- [Do Not Settle for Ineffective Staff Meetings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/do-not-settle-for-ineffective-staff-meetings) - How effectively do you and your dental team utilize staff meetings? If your practice is like many, staff meetings sort of “happen” without much thought, leaving you and your team agreeing with the following quote by the actor William Shatner. “A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.” Fortunately, you can
- [Dental Accountant’s Due Diligence (Part I of III)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-accountants-due-diligence-part-i-of-iii) - The first thing most people think about when they hear “due diligence”, as it pertains to the purchase of a dental practice, is a checklist of everything needed to evaluate the price of the dental practice for sale. Although this is a very important part, I think there are other considerations than just the checklist.
- [Dismissing Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dismissing-dental-patients) - Let’s say you have a dental patient who you no longer want to see, whether it’s due to behavioral issues, non-compliance with treatment, or another challenge. What do you do next? It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance and simply not schedule the patient anymore, but is that the best course of
- [Dental Patient Surveys](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/dental-patient-surveys) - How valuable are patient surveys? Some dentists may think along the lines of David Letterman, who once said, “USA Today has come out with a new survey – apparently three out of every four people make up 75% of the population.” Surveys are certainly of little value when they convey the obvious. But when dental
- [Workers’ Compensation Insurance Premium Audit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/workers-compensation-insurance-premium-audit) - Workers’ Compensation Insurance is required by regulation in most states when you have W-2 employees. In Oregon all employers with one or more subject workers are required to have a policy. A subject worker is someone under your direction or control that you pay to provide services for your business. For most insurance carriers you
- [Standing Behind Your Financial Estimates for Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/standing-behind-your-financial-estimates-for-patients) - Why is it that some patient care coordinators can step dental patients through complex financial estimates while others struggle to outline the costs of a single filling? Sometimes it’s because the struggling team member is not a good fit for the practice or the profession. But assuming that is not the case, the struggles are
- [It's Not too Late to Help Your 2013 Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/its-not-to-late-to-help-your-2013-taxes) - It’s not too late. You are not alone if 2013 flew by and now you find yourself wondering what are the remaining options. Here are a few 2013 tax moves that can still be made. Contributions to Traditional and Roth IRAs can be made up until April 15, 2014. The 2013 maximum IRA contribution is
- [Use Words That Build Value](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/use-words-that-build-value) - Why is it such a struggle at times to get dental patients to accept treatment recommendations? Sometimes patients will not even schedule for something as straightforward as their cleaning. While you cannot convince everyone, you can empower more patients to take care of their dental needs by using words that build value. Unfortunately, dentists and
- [Choice of Entity - Entity Foundation and Basics (Part II of III)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/choice-of-entity-entity-foundation-and-basics-part-ii-of-iii) - After part I of this topic, we now have a foundation regarding entities. In this section we will talk about the pros and cons and current trends. Generally speaking, one of the pros of forming an entity (LLC, S-corp or C-corp) is for legal protection. The legal protection is designed to protect your personal assets
- [What Can You Trust About Trusts?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/what-can-you-trust-about-trusts) - Fear can be a very motivational. It’s what causes us to build storm shelters in our basements and rent safety deposit boxes at banks to protect our most precious belongings. Sometimes it is this same kind of fear that causes a doctor to start looking at setting up a trust for their family. Rightfully so,
- [Identifying Your Best Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/identifying-your-best-patients) - If you were asked the question, “Who are your best patients?,” there is no doubt you could rattle off many of the patients in the practice you enjoy talking to, pay their bill on time, value the work you and your team do, and refer friends and family to the practice regularly. On the other
- [Treating vs. Billing Dentists](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/treating-vs-billing-dentists) - Adding an associate to a dental practice can bring a lot of positive benefits. But initially it can also add to the complexity of billing for the associate’s services when the practice is contracted with PPO’s. For example, if the owning doctor is in-network with several PPO plans does the associate dentist also have to
- [Coordination of Dental Benefits](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/coordination-of-dental-benefits) - One of the most difficult things to maneuver is coordinating benefits between two insurance companies. The most common questions involve what you can bill the insurance companies and the patients. Here are a few fundamental points to keep in mind. Always bill your full fee and let the insurance companies make the proper adjustments, per
- [The Hygiene Team’s Role in Effective Recall Systems](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-hygiene-teams-role-in-effective-recall-systems) - Chasing after past-due dental patients with postcards and phone calls is time consuming, and the effort is a reminder of how important it is to schedule people way before it gets to this point. No one can help this effort quite like the hygienists. The hygiene team can take charge of their schedules by guiding
- [How to Have Profitable Dental Hygiene Teams](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/profitable-hygiene-teams) - How do you make your dental hygiene team more productive and profitable? Focus on the best care for your dental patients. Learn more.
- [What to Keep in Employee Personnel Files](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/what-to-keep-in-employee-personnel-files) - No one enjoys dealing with paperwork, but the time spent to create and maintain personnel files will pay off over time. A personnel file that is created and maintained over time will give you all of the important documents about an employee in one place making it each to make decisions regarding promotions and terminations.
- [Final Rules on the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/final-rules-on-the-individual-mandate-of-the-affordable-care-act) - This article details the IRS final rules for the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act. All individuals must carry minimum health insurance for themselves and their dependents.
- [Medicare – Should You Become a Provider? ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/medicare-should-you-become-a-provider) - Why would a dental practice become a provider for Medicare? Traditional Medicare does not cover dental services offered by most practices. However, opting out of Medicare is a decision that requires careful consideration. Even though Medicare has traditionally not covered routine dentistry, it does cover biopsies, which a number of practices do, and it may
- [Marketing Done Right](https://www.fluenceportland.com/marketing/marketing-done-right) - The choice you make may depend on whether you're right- or left-handed. We think that we make decisions based on our ideas of right and wrong, but according to recent research, our choices may also be influenced by something as simple as whether we're right or left handed. In a February 29, 2013 article from
- [Congress Puts Lid On Health Flexible Spending Arrangements ](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/congress-puts-lid-on-health-flexible-spending-arrangements) - As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (new health care law), employee contributions to health flexible spending arrangements (health FSA) are now being limited to a maximum pre-tax contribution of $2,500. Employers are able to establish what is referred to as cafeteria plans for their employees. These arrangements allow employees to allocate
- [Discounted Offers for New Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/discounted-offers-for-new-dental-patients) - Dentists need to be careful when they attract new patients to the practice with discounted offers. What may seem like an innocent marketing tool can cause a number of headaches if you apply the discount incorrectly or use language that is not painstaking clear. Let’s start with a fundamental premise when are working with dental
- [Employers Must Notify Employees of Exchange Option by October 1, 2013](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/employers-must-notify-employees-of-exchange-option-by-october-1-2013) - Beginning 1/1/14, individuals and employees of small businesses will have access to insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance exchanges.
- [Employee Manuals - Don't Put a Target on Your Back](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/employee-manuals-dont-put-a-target-on-your-back) - Dental staff management starts with an effective employee manual. Unfortunately, a number of doctors place a target on their back when they hand out employee manuals that are poorly written and outdated. If a disgruntled ex-employee has cause to sue you, you might as well hand over your checkbook. Here are the most common errors
- [Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/defense-of-marriage-act-doma) - Section 3 of the “Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)” previously defined “marriage” as a legal union between one man and one woman who are husband and wife, as well as a “spouse” as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. Last week in Windsor v The United States, the
- [The Golden Rule](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-golden-rule) - Growing up my mom always taught me to treat others the same way I wanted to be treated. I was a little kid, so she usually said this after I was trying to steal one of my younger brother’s toys or some of his candy. The older I grew, the more I realized this simple
- [Use QuickBooks’ Tools -- and Common Sense Procedures -- To Prevent Financial Fraud](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/use-quickbooks-tools-and-common-sense-procedures-to-prevent-financial-fraud) - You work hard for your money. Strong internal controls can keep it from disappearing unnecessarily. You trust your employees or you wouldn’t have hired them. That’s what everyone says as they watch a valued staff member being hauled off in handcuffs. But I trusted him. Whether your accounting tasks are done on one PC or
- [Employing a Family Member](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/employing-a-family-member) - A way to reduce the overall family tax bill is by employing family members through your business, which allows you to shift income to them and provide them with employment benefits. Employing your Spouse. Reasonable wages paid to your spouse entitle you to a business deduction. Although the wages are subject to income and FICA
- [The Damaging Effects of Denial](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-damaging-effects-of-denial) - What do we gain by ignoring a problem? Does the denial of a conflict or challenge make it go away? Consider major manufacturing companies such as Toyota and General Electric. Both have enjoyed enormous success by producing long-lasting quality products, yet both have been stung in the past by ignoring problems with their manufacturing processes.
- [Avoid the Dental Tug-of-War](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/avoid-the-dental-tug-of-war) - When a dental patient comes in for a perio maintenance visit, can you bill the insurance company for a regular cleaning? How about when a patient receives a comprehensive exam, can you bill the service as a regular exam if the patient has exceeded frequency limits? These are common questions faced by dental teams, who
- [Speaking the Patient's Language](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/speaking-the-patients-lanuage) - Imagine if an exterminator informed you, after inspecting your house, that you had isopterans. What would you ask next? Let’s assume the exterminator noticed a puzzled look on your face, so he explained in detail the taxonomy subclass of gnathamitermes magnoculus. Would you now feel less confused and possibly motivated to take action? Or, would
- [Make Integrity Contagious](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/make-inegrity-contagious) - Why is it that people act differently in a group than they would individually? Why would organizations put such little value in customer service, honesty, or the public good while doing everything possible to improve a company’s bottom line? Sigmund Freud called this change in behavior the “herd mentality.” And you have to look no
- [Fee on Insurance Policies to Support Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/fee-on-insurance-policies-to-support-patient-centered-outcomes-research-institute) - The Affordable Care Act establishes a private, nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) that is responsible for conducting comparative clinical effectiveness research and providing information to help health care providers evaluate and compare the effectiveness and risks of various medical treatments and procedures. The PCORI is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust. The trust
- [Steer Clear of De-Motivation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/steer-clear-of-de-motivation) - If you want to improve morale in your dental practice, you need to not only consider how to motivate your team, but you also need to recognize habits that de-motivate them. Too often de-motivators slip under our radar to become regular habits. For example, when you become frustrated with someone, one of the worst things
- [Key Ways to Motivate Your Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/key-ways-to-motivate-your-team) - How do you motivate your dental team to take the patient experience and the practice to the next level? Here we provide tips to engage your employees.
- [What Do Your Patients Want from Your Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-do-your-patients-want) - Recent research offers some interesting insights into what drives patient behavior. Applying this information to your dental practice will help you keep patients satisfied and coming back.
- [Top Ten Myths About Introverts – Part II](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/top-ten-myths-about-introverts-part-ii) - The widely anticipated release of part II of the myths about introverts has finally arrived. If you missed part I, check it out in our blog library. This information came from a blog by Jerry Brito. He was inspired to write this blog based on a book he read. He gives credit for the inspiration
- [New HIPAA Provisions for Patient Rights](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/new-hipaa-provisions-for-patient-rights) - Do not be surprised if a patient asks you to not bill their insurance company for a specific service. It may sound like an odd request, maybe even something that is prohibited by insurance companies, but patients now have the right to restrict you from disclosing treatment information to their insurance carrier. The Health Information
- [Top Ten Myths About Introverts - Part I](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/top-ten-myths-about-introverts-part-i) - I think most people believe they have a good understanding of what it means to be an introvert. In this two part series, we will uncover some of the myths about introverts. This information came from a blog by Jerry Brito. He was inspired to write this blog based on a book he read. He
- [Document, Document, Document!](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/document-document-document) - On one hand electronic claim disbursements are a very good thing. Dental practices get paid much faster. On the other hand the quick turnaround can make you think the insurance claim was approved and all is well. Think again. Dentists and their teams are often surprised when insurance companies follow up after claims have been
- [The Value of Appreciation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/the-value-of-appreciation) - If you want to get more from your dental team, consider giving something in return that goes beyond pay and benefits. Consider how you can do a better job of expressing your appreciation for their efforts. When your team feels valued, when they hear you expressing sincere thanks for specific accomplishments, your team is motivated
- [Final Paychecks](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/final-paychecks) - When does the final paycheck need to be paid? What can I withhold from the final paycheck? Can I hold the check until I receive company items back from the employee? Can the final check be direct deposited? Of all the human resource questions I answer these are the ones I get the most. The
- [The Power of Small Innovations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-power-of-small-innovations) - Small innovations are sometimes the most important. Just ask Jeffrey Karp, a researcher and professor at the Harvard Medical School. Karp and his team are working on an innovative means to make the removal of bandages less painful. Certainly when a healthy person removes a Band-Aid there may be a few seconds of discomfort, but
- [Where's My Refund?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/wheres-my-refund) - There used to be a fast-food commercial where an old lady, with a crusty voice, yells “where’s the beef?!” This year I have been reminded of that commercial many times because it would appear that Oregon is delaying refunds of many people. If you have filed your tax return, were due a refund and have
- [How Worried Should You Be About Getting Audited?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/how-worried-should-you-be-about-getting-audited) - At first the above seems like a fairly ill-defined question to ask. It’s a bit like asking “should I be concerned that one day a tree is going to fall on my house”. The answer depends heavily on how many trees you have near your house. The same is true for being audited. Your risk
- [Curbing Cancellations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/curbing-cancellations) - One of the most frustrating things for a dental front office team is to build a productive schedule only to see it fall apart from cancellation after cancellation. At times this may happen as cold and flu season takes its toll on patients. But too often last minute cancellations occur because dental teams “invite the
- [Inspiration Not to Give Up](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/inspiration-not-to-give-up) - The movie, Rocky, was certainly an inspirational film, but how it came into existence is just as amazing. Sylvester Stallone was struggling to find acting work while he worked odd jobs which included cleaning lion cages and ushering at movies. In 1975, he was twenty nine years old and hoping for his big break after
- [The Working Interview](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/the-working-interview) - Benjamin Franklin once said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is no truer than when dealing with a working interview. It is extremely common that after a candidate passes the interview process a doctor may want to bring them in for a working interview. This helps the practice see if
- [When to Send Billing Statements](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/when-to-send-billing-statements) - When is the appropriate time to send billing statements to your dental patients? Sending billing statements too soon may cause confusion—when dental claims are still outstanding—while while taking too long to send statements disrupts cash flow. The first question to always ask your front team is why you are sending billing statements in the first
- [New Oregon Law for Veterans](https://www.fluenceportland.com/human-resources/new-oregon-law-for-veterans) - On April 4, 2013, Governor Kitzhaber signed a new law requiring Oregon employers to provide employees who are veterans with time off on Veterans Day. Under the law, an eligible employee who is scheduled to work on Veterans Day is entitled to take the day off upon request. Eligible employees have served active duty in
- [The Benefit of Interactions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-benefit-of-interactions) - Researchers Geoffrey West and Luis Bettencourt have discovered interesting characteristics about cities in the United States, namely that cities with denser populations spur greater productivity from each resident. The denser the population, the greater the number of patents per person, for example. The more people living near you, the greater your salary. When the researchers
- [More Than Just Coins in a Jar](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/more-than-just-coins-in-a-jar-2) - How many years of your life have felt like “just another year?” I contemplated this at a recent meeting of Toastmasters—a public speaking organization—where we were challenged to pick a coin from a jar and speak impromptu about the year the coin was minted. What memorable events occurred that year? What were our successes? What
- [The Importance of Diverse Training](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/the-importance-of-diverse-training) - Having a diverse background can sometimes elevate our creativity. Consider the case of Joe Davis, who has merged the fields of art and science to the benefit of MIT and Harvard Medical School. Davis, who has been the subject of a documentary film and many magazine articles, has a mind that operates at light speed,
- [Bet on your Staff](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/bet-on-your-staff-3) - After you expend the time and resources to hire someone, how do develop your new team member to ensure she/he meets your expectations? Just because a new hire has experience doesn’t mean that person understands your practice. Team development is critical. Consider these words of wisdom from Larry Bossidy, former Honeywell CEO. “I am convinced
- [Getting Dental Patients to “Yes”](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/getting-dental-patients-to-“yes”) - Whether you want to propose a certain treatment plan or schedule a hard-to-please patient at a specific time, one of the biggest obstacles you have to overcome is the fear that someone will say “no.” One of the reasons why dentists and teams struggle at times is they lose sight of why the suggestion is
- [Ideas for Block Scheduling](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/ideas-for-block-scheduling) - Henry Kissinger once said, “There cannot be a crisis today; my schedule is already full.” How many times have dental practices felt the same way, and then the phone rings with a patient emergency. Or new patients call and it you do not have an opening for many weeks, or you have a patient eager
- [Ellie Days](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/ellie-days-2) - My young niece, Ellie, announced to her parents one Sunday morning that this was Ellie Day and she asked for extra attention and toys. My sister and brother-in-law, who both have a good sense of humor, played along to a certain degree and hosted the first annual Ellie Day. However, my niece also informed them
- [Required Sick Leave in Portland](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/required-sick-leave-in-portland) - The Portland City Council voted unanimously on March 13, 2013 to mandate that businesses offer sick leave. The vote makes Portland the fourth U.S. city to mandate sick leave. The new ordinance will take effect the January 1, 2014.
- [Keep the Doors Open](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/keep-the-doors-open) - If you want to increase production, do not miss the many opportunities to lead dental patients into your schedule. And the important thing to keep in mind is those opportunities do not always seem so obvious. The great inventor Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Sometimes we stare so long at the door that is closing
- [The New Form I-9](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/the-new-form-i-9) - Changes to the form I-9, new data fields, revised instructions.
- [Charitable Contributions and Substantiation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/charitable-contributions-and-substantiation) - When you make a donation, what needs to be substantiated and what does not? What percentage is deductible?
- [The Value of Outside Thinking](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/the-value-of-outside-thinking) - Alpheus Bingham was a vice president at Eli Lilly when he noticed enormous sums of money were spent trying to solve various technical issues surrounding drug development. After many expensive failures, Bingham wondered if there was a better way to solve problems. He started to ponder the value of outside thinking. You see, as he
- [Sound Business Practices from a Pawn Shop](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/sound-business-practices-from-a-pawn-shop) - If you want to understand what it takes to create a successful business look no further than Rick Harrison, owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas and star of the History Channel show Pawn Stars. Harrison was recently interviewed in The CPA Journal where he revealed that a lot of the
- [Motivation: It's Not All About the Money](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/motivation-its-not-all-about-the-money) - Often when companies ask the question “what motivates you?”, one of the most common responses received would be “public recognition”. Many times this is listed above compensation and time off in the hierarchy of professional motivators. For some of us, the simple acknowledgement of a job well done is more valuable than the money. There
- [Protection for the Business Owner](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/protection-for-the-business-owner) - If you are an employer, then one of the risks inherent to you is the risk of a claim or lawsuit brought by one of your employees. All it takes is for a disgruntled employee to talk to a lawyer and you could be required to defend yourself, at a significant cost, regardless of whether
- [Make Peace with Your Inner Nag](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/make-peace-with-your-inner-nag) - If you want to get something accomplished, don’t just focus on your goals. Start with your inner nag: that voice that regularly reminds you about the follow up you need to write or the meeting you need to schedule. The inner nag is also known as the Zeigarnik effect, which was studied in the 1920’s
- [It Takes Determination, Not an Accident](https://www.fluenceportland.com/dental-practice/it-takes-determination-not-an-accident) - How do you accomplish something significant? Not by accident, that’s for sure. Just ask Herb and Dorothy Vogel. The Vogels lived in a 450 square foot, one-bedroom apartment in New York City. Herb never earned more than $23,000 per year working for the post office, and Dorothy made even less working for the library. Yet
- [Do You Really Want Team Members Who Multi-Task?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/do-you-really-want-team-members-who-multi-task) - It’s common for dental practices to seek front office teams who can multi-task. But what does that really mean, and is multi-tasking a strength? The columnist Marilyn vos Savant once said, “Multi-tasking arises out of distraction itself.” Too often today multi-tasking is another way of saying you can’t focus. When I consider all of the
- [Employee vs. Independent Contractor](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/employee-vs-independent-contractor) - The question of whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee for federal income and employment tax purposes is a complex one. It is intensely factual, and the stakes can be very high. If a worker is an employee, the company must withhold federal income and payroll taxes, pay the employer's share of FICA
- [Preventing Identity Theft](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/preventing-identity-theft) - As indicated by Mark Holzgang in an earlier blog, Identity Theft and Your Taxes, our firm uses state of the art security measures to ensure the safety of your information. In addition, there are a number preventative measures you can take to help reduce your risk if ID theft: Avoid wireless network connections or public
- [Where Do We Find Insights](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/where-do-we-find-insights) - Where do we find great ideas? What do our brains experience?
- [What to Remember with the New Fluoride Codes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/what-to-remember-with-the-new-fluoride-codes) - Be sure to properly code your fluoride treatment. With the new 2013 CDT codes you are provided more flexibility.
- [General Reminder of Vacation Home Tax Rules](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/general-reminder-of-vacation-home-tax-returns) - The Internal Revenue Code is clear that if you rent a vacation home for less than 15 days, the income and expense is not reportable at all. If you rent the home more than 14 days, you must report the income and expense and the expense must be allocated according to a ratio of rental
- [Remove the Training Wheels](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/remove-the-training-wheels) - Challenge and train new hires. The time it takes in the beginning it well worth the time it will save you in the long run.
- [Don’t Mistake Wishes for Goals](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/don’t-mistake-wishes-for-goals) - Someone once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Which brings us to the typical conversation between managers and their teams where wishes are mistakenly paraded around as goals. For example, dentists may tell their teams they want to increase production over the next year. That’s the “goal.” But dentists may fail
- [You May Need to Stop Thinking Big](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/you-may-need-to-stop-thinking-big) - Why think big when so many breakthroughs are happening at the nano level? And what can you learn from nanotechnology to improve time management? Let’s start with computer memory. As you have noticed, electronic devices keep getting smaller while computing power continues to grow. But this pace can’t continue. Eventually your small electronic devices will
- [3 Ways to Enhance Your Leadership](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/3-ways-to-enhance-your-leadership) - If you want to add some polish to your leadership skills as you start a new year, consider the following three tips. First, challenge yourself and/or your dental team to do what’s best, even if it means encountering resistance. Consider what you really want to do. If you start feeling a certain level of anxiety
- [Innovation Requires Learning from Failure](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/innovation-requires-learning-from-failure) - Woody Allen once said, “If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” And you don’t have to tell that to neuroscientist Reggie Edgerton, whose innovations have helped the paralyzed walk again. Since 1990, Edgerton and his research team at UCLA have studied how to wake up
- [What To Do If You Get Audited](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/what-to-do-if-you-get-audited) - You’re at home going about your day when the phone rings. When you answer, an unfamiliar voice tells you they are from the IRS, and they want to “examine” (audit) your tax return from two years ago. What should you do? What should you not do? Do: Do stay calm. There is no automatic assumption
- [Imagine If You Were King](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/imagine-if-you-were-king) - Imagine if you received a call one day letting you know you were king of a small country. What would you do next? That was a question confronting Peggy Bartels approximately five years ago when she was told she was the new king of Otuam, a small village on Ghana’s coast. According to the current
- [Reviewing Your Company’s Trends in QuickBooks](https://www.fluenceportland.com/budgeting/reviewing-your-company’s-trends-in-quickbooks) - One easy way to get a one-page review of your company’s income and expense trends is to pull up a Profit and Loss report and modify the report so that it gives you a column for each month of the year. You can then see income and expenses, broken out for each month, which helps
- [Important Questions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/important-questions) - Planning the big picture for your practice and your success. Goal setting, sharing goals.
- [Increase Collections at the Time of Service](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/increase-collections-at-the-time-of-service) - The most effective way to keep your outstanding accounts receivables under control is to get your dental patients to pay at the time of service. Seems simply enough. Yet if you want patients to pay at the time of service, your front and clinical teams must work together. Too many times your front and clinical
- [Planning in 2012 for 2013 Tax Law Changes (Part II)](https://www.fluenceportland.com/taxes/planning-in-2012-for-2013-tax-law-changes-part-ii) - Following are the next series of tax law changes (continued from Part I) that you should anticipate and plan for in 2012 as a result of the expiration of the “Bush Tax Cuts” (BCT) and the “Health Care Reform Act” (HCA): Medicare Tax Surcharge on Investment Income for High Income Individuals (HRA). For individuals with
- [Why Would One Want to Form an S-Corporation?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/strategy/why-would-one-want-to-form-an-s-corporation) - As with other corporations or LLCs, an S-corporation can provide its owners with legal protection; also known as Assets Protection or Limited Liability. This can help protect the owner if someone decides to sue the corporation. Keep in mind that no entity can protect the owner from acts of malpractice. It would only be a
- [Dental Fee Information is Now Online](https://www.fluenceportland.com/uncategorized/dental-fee-information-is-now-online) - There is now an online resource that could help raise patient awareness about dental fees and insurance. Insurance Solutions reported in their June newsletter about the website, www.fairhealthconsumer.org, which is maintained by Fair Health, Inc., an independent non-profit organization. Fair Health was established to provide unbiased fee and reimbursement information for patients. You can also

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- [Company](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company) - Our network of dental experts is involved in your practice year round, providing powerful strategies, and tax and business advisory services to help you succeed.
- [Individuals](https://www.fluenceportland.com/individuals) - Fluence provides full-service financial, tax, & retirement planning. We provide a wide range of services for individuals to help you meet your long-term goals.
- [Accounting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/accounting) - Fluence provides a full range of accounting services to dental practices.
- [Tax Preparation](https://www.fluenceportland.com/individuals/tax-preparation) - Do you have a tax strategy? Tax planning is an integral part of your personal financial success. At Fluence, our experienced staff develops tax strategies—geared to your personal financial situation—to take advantage of new tax laws and legislation to help you meet all of your personal financial goals. The tax support you need Every aspect
- [FAQs](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/faqs) - Fluence offers not only expertise, but dedication and passion to helping your business thrive and succeed.
- [Industries](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/industries) - Focusing on the dental industry allows us to offer services that are specific to your organizational needs.
- [Resources](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources) - Your resource for success. At Fluence, we know that supporting our clients means more than providing the best services around. It also means providing the educational foundation for your practice to be successful. That's why we've invested the time and energy in creating these valuable resources, and have made them available to you! Browse our
- [Contact](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact) - Get in Touch with Fluence Phone: 503-245-0766 Fax: 503-245-9510 9430 SW Coral Street, Suite 203 Portland, OR 97223 Get Directions! Submit Payment Fill out our form URLThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name* First Last BusinessIndustryEmail Address* PhoneWebsite How did you hear about us?Is there a specific individual in the firm
- [Directions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/directions) - Visit the Fluence Headquarters
- [Recruiting Center](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center) - Fun, vibrant, and creative people. Challenging, rewarding work. That's what Fluence is all about.
- [Testimonials](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/testimonials) - What Our Clients Are Saying Fluence does good business – they return phone calls, they talk to me when they need to talk to me. They are attentive to our business. — Mark Buehler, M.D. Fluence is excellent at helping us with everything from budgeting to the financial impacts of management decisions, as well as traditional
- [Fluence Book](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/book) - The Path to Greater Dental Practice Success Are you ready to take your practice to the next level? The Path to Greater Dental Practice Success will motivate and teach you how to get there. In the book, you will learn how to: Boost practice growth by attracting and retaining great patients. Increase treatment acceptance by
- [Practice Career Opportunities](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/practice-career-opportunities) - Fluence Clients At Fluence, we're committed to building partnerships and growing our community of like-minded professionals. We have the pleasure of working with a number of remarkable dental practitioners who are often growing and looking to expand their team. If you're looking for a career in the dental space, this is the place for you!
- [Tax Planning](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/tax-planning) - Fluence will help develop tax strategies that take advantage of new tax laws and legislation and provide you with accurate and timely tax planning and preparation.
- [Valuations](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/valuations) - Fluence provides an independent, knowledgeable, and credible resource that will withstand the intense scrutiny of the taxing authority, the courts, and other relevant arbiters.
- [Bookkeeping Services](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/bookkeeping-services) - We provide specialized bookkeeping and accounting for dental practices. Our bookkeeping services are timely, professional, and cost-effective.
- [Tax Services](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/tax-services) - Business Tax Strategies and Services All of your business and investment decisions will have tax consequences. Without the proper foresight, these can become burdens. At Fluence, we take a proactive approach to your tax services throughout the year, maintaining close contact. By keeping current on new tax laws and legislation, we can more accurately identify
- [Our Commitment](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/our-commitment) - At Fluence, we make it our business to know your business, with our dedicated team of diverse professionals providing personal and responsive service to enhance your practice's growth and long-term success.
- [Events](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/events) - Fluence Events At Fluence, we’re excited to be active in the community—and we’d love for you to join us! Keep reading to learn about our upcoming events! Upcoming Webinars How to Attract New Patients and Keep Them Coming Back Presented by: Mike Smith (CPA), Fluence Dental Accounting Principal Wednesday, January 28th | 1:00-2:00pm Registration is
- [Seminars](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/seminars) - Fluence Seminars Looking for an engaging, insightful presentation for your next event? Fluence team members are available to speak on a variety of issues that affect the viability and success of your practice. Our team of speakers leverage years of experience and a passion for the industry to provide the best in dental practice management
- [Registration Complete](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/events/future-of-dentistry-event/registration-complete-2) - We've reserved your seat... Thank you for registering for 'The Future of Dentistry' event! We have reserved your seat, and are excited to greet you at the Fluence Offices on November 4th! Event Details The Future of Dentistry When: Tuesday November 4th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm What: A live presentation, followed by open Q&A. Food and
- [Future of Dentistry Event Registration](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/events/future-of-dentistry-event)
- [Bogumil, Holzgang & Harris](https://www.fluenceportland.com/bhh) - Bogumil, Holzgang & Harris is now Fluence! The partners and staff of Bogumil, Holzgang, and Harris are thrilled to announce our new practice name: Fluence. Our new name, Fluence, reflects our ongoing commitment to the quality of our dental and medical consulting services, from helping you manage your practice to specialized accounting and tax preparation.
- [Submission Complete](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consult-thank-you) - We'll be in touch soon... Thank you for signing up for your free, one-hour consultation! A Fluence team member will be in touch shortly to help set up your appointment. Want to learn more? Feel free to visit our website to learn more about who we are, and what we offer to our dentistry clients.
- [General Benchmark Report Landing Page - 2013](https://www.fluenceportland.com/general-dental-financial-benchmark-report-2013)
- [Specialty Benchmark Report Landing Page - 2013](https://www.fluenceportland.com/specialty-dental-financial-benchmark-report-2013)
- [Consulting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting) - Fluence is committed to your financial success. Find out more about our dental and medical consulting services
- [Business](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business) - Fluence provides focused, comprehensive accounting and business solutions for the dental industry.
- [Why Fluence?](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/why-fluence) - At Fluence, we specialize in dental professionals. As your financial partner, Fluence understands the business side of dentistry. We help you and your practice be as successful as possible.
- [In the Community](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/community) - The Fluence family extends beyond the confines of our offices. One of our core values is to "practice awesomeness" every day. And at Fluence, that means more than being awesome at your job. It means grabbing life by the horns, inside and outside of the office, and making each day the best it can be
- [Our People](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/our-people) - Our success is accomplished through our team of excellent, dedicated staff. Fluence is committed to training, mentoring and allowing each employee to develop and advance professionally.
- [Client Login](https://www.fluenceportland.com/resources/client-login) - Are you a Fluence client? Complete the form below to log in to our client portal. Email: Password: Forgot your password? Secure File Transfer powered by ShareFile
- [Management Advisory](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/management-advisory) - Fluence professionals will help your practice's management team develop long-term objectives and specific strategies to facilitate your business' future growth and success.
- [Entity Selection](https://www.fluenceportland.com/consulting/entity-selection) - The type of entity for your business is a crucial decision that can have long standing tax implications - both positive or negative.
- [Retirement Planning](https://www.fluenceportland.com/individuals/retirement-planning) - Planning for the Future At Fluence, we strive to help you make informed and educated decisions for your future. Our successful implementation and periodic review of your financial plan ensures financial independence during your working years and through your retirement. Budgeting for your future In order to prepare for a financially stable retirement, Fluence starts
- [Fraud Prevention](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/fraud-prevention) - Unfortunately, the problem of fraud is a deepening problem – Fluence helps our clients in preventing this devastating crisis.
- [Start-up Services](https://www.fluenceportland.com/business/start-up-services) - Starting a new dental practice is a detailed process. We provide consulting and practice management advice to early-stage and emerging businesses.
- [Careers](https://www.fluenceportland.com/company/careers) - As a Fluence team member you will learn the full cycle of accounting and business management, and delve into clients' accounting, tax, management and budget problems.
- [Associate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/accounting-associate) - As an associate, be prepared to perform all matter of accounting. We prepare the majority of our clients’ accounting on a quarterly basis – the associate is responsible for ensuring this is done timely and accurately. We take our clients’ information and from that we create the compilation report as well as other practice review
- [Internship](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/internship) - Join our firm during tax season! The internship starts the first full week in January and lasts through April 15. As an intern you will be preparing our commercial clients’ 1099 and Personal Property Tax Returns, as well 1040s for our personal tax clients. This is a fantastic opportunity to be in our firm and
- [Senior Tax Accountant](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/senior-tax-accountant) - The ideal candidate for this position will lead and manage multiple tax engagements to deliver superior tax services for our clients, as well as enjoy researching tax related topics and educating staff on their findings. The position will serve the tax department, as well as multiple managers and/or other more senior professional staff members and
- [Bookkeeping](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/bookkeeping) - Do you have a solid background in accounting and like to keep people organized? This position is responsible for ensuring payables are posted in a timely manner, receivables are properly entered and kept up to date, bills are paid timely as well as the processing of employee payroll, monthly bank reconciliations and the generation of
- [Manager](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/manager) - Managers have clients directly under their control. Managers are responsible for all client contact as well as cultivating and growing the client relationship. It is the manager’s responsibility to monitor their clients’ work, ensure it is prepared and completed in a timely manner, as well as ensure it is at the highest standard possible. The
- [Senior Associate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/senior-accounting-associate) - As a senior associate, be prepared to prepare high level and complex accounting as well as review the finished product as prepared by associates. A senior associate is expected to identify tax issues and provide tax planning and expertise. In addition to accounting, the senior associate will begin supervising associates. Senior associates are also expected
- [Students](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/recruiting-center/students) - Looking for the right fit? If your idea of an accounting firm involves a stuffy office environment, filled with pasty-faced, paper-pushing employees…then Fluence is not the firm for you. Who are we? We are Fluence. Fun. Vibrant. Creative. Challenging. Rewarding. Do these words describe you? Because they’re what Fluence is all about, and we’re far
- [Thank You](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/thank-you) - Thank you for taking the time to submit your information. In addition to seeing this page you will receive an email confirming your submission. Please do not contact us further, we retain all submissions and review them regularly. If we feel you qualify for a position we are hiring for we will contact you.
- [Newsletter Signup](https://www.fluenceportland.com/contact/newsletter-signup) - Sign Up for the Fluence Newsletter Get news updates and intriguing articles right in your inbox.

## Positions

- [Internship](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/internship) - Looking for an accounting internship? Join our firm during tax season! The Fluence Internship starts the first full week in January and lasts through April 15. As an Intern you will be preparing our commercial clients’ 1099 and Personal Property Tax Returns, as well 1040s for our personal tax clients. This is a fantastic opportunity
- [Students](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/students) - Looking for the right fit? If your idea of an accounting firm involves a stuffy office environment, filled with pasty-faced, paper-pushing employees… then Fluence is not the firm for you. Who are we? We are Fluence. Fun. Vibrant. Creative. Challenging. Rewarding. Do these words describe you? Because they’re what Fluence is all about, and we’re
- [Associate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/associate) - Do you think analytically, have strong attention to detail, and enjoy working in a team environment? As an Associate, be prepared to perform all matter of accounting. Fluence prepares the majority of our clients’ accounting on a quarterly basis – and the Associate is responsible for ensuring this is done timely and accurately. We take
- [Senior Associate](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/senior-associate) - Do you thrive on complex accounting projects, and have strong attention to detail? As a Senior Associate, be prepared to prepare high level and complex accounting as well as review the finished product as prepared by associates. At Fluence, a Senior Associate is expected to identify tax issues and provide tax planning and expertise. In
- [Senior Tax Accountant](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/senior-tax-accountant) - Are you a strategic thinker who enjoys overseeing multiple tax projects? The ideal candidate for our Senior Tax Accountant position will lead and manage multiple tax engagements to deliver superior tax services for our clients, as well as enjoy researching tax related topics and educating staff on their findings. Fluence's Senior Tax Accountant will serve
- [Bookkeeping](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/bookkeeping) - Do you have a solid background in accounting, and enjoy helping people get organized? At Fluence, the Bookkeeping position is responsible for ensuring payables are posted in a timely manner, receivables are properly entered and kept up to date, bills are paid timely as well as the processing of employee payroll, monthly bank reconciliations and
- [Manager](https://www.fluenceportland.com/positions/manager) - Do you enjoy managing projects and leading client engagements? At Fluence, Managers have clients directly under their control. Managers are responsible for all client contact as well as cultivating and growing the client relationship. It is the manager’s responsibility to monitor their clients’ work, ensure it is prepared and completed in a timely manner, as

## People

- [Eric Sutherland, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/eric-sutherland) - Eric Sutherland, CPA, Partner Email: esutherland@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2051 Hometown: Beaverton, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Accounting, Bachelor’s Degree / Finance, Portland State University Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2015 Has lived in Seattle, North Carolina, New York and Oregon Has a lot of family in the medical field Outside the office: Spending
- [Trent Miller, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/trent-miller-cpa) - Trent Miller, CPA Email: tmiller@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1693 Hometown: San Diego, CA Education: Bachelor's Degree, Major in Accounting from Oregon State University Just some of the facts: Started my public accounting career in 2014 Moved from Southern California to Oregon in 2009 Love crunching numbers Outside the office: Spending time with my wife and 3
- [Jordyn Peterson, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/jordyn-peterson) - Jordyn Peterson, CPA, Manager Email: jpeterson@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1685 Hometown: Portland, OR Education: University of Oregon, Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Master of Accounting Professional Organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2016 Born and raised in Oregon My mom
- [Jaxun Ferris](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/jaxun) - Jaxun Ferris, Manager Email: jferris@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1682 Hometown: Oregon City, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Accounting University of Phoenix Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2020 Worked in the Customer Service industry for seven years Enjoys the everchanging world of accounting Spent my early years in the small town of Molalla Outside
- [Shaun Donaghue, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/shaun-donaghue) - Shaun Donaghue, CPA, Partner Email: sdonaghue@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.766.2797 Hometown: Portland, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Accounting, Bachelor’s Degree / Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance and International Business, Oregon State University Professional Organizations: Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants Board Member of Smile Oregon, a non-profit dedicated to helping kids with cleft and
- [Jessica Randall, SPHR, PAFM](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/jessica-randall) - Jessica Randall, SPHR, PAFM, Administrative Partner Email: jrandall@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2045 Hometown: Beavercreek, OR Professional Organizations: Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Public Accounting Firm Manager (PAFM) SHRM Advocacy Team (HR Advocate) CPA Firm Management Association (Member) Society for Human Resource Management (Member) Portland HR Management Association (Member) Just some of the facts: Started at Fluence in
- [Jess Bogumil, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/jess-bogumil) - Jess Bogumil, CPA, Partner Email: jbogumil@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2044 Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Marketing and Management, Portland State University / Business program Professional Organizations: MGMA (Member) Just some of the facts: Has lived in Bend and Eugene Oregon as well as Eureka, California and Whitefish, Montana. Believes that a successful firm
- [Traci Harris, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/traci-harris) - Traci Harris, CPA, Partner Email: tharris@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2043 Hometown: Albany, OR Education: Oregon State University, Bachelor's of Sciences Degree in Mathematics, Southern Oregon University - Post Baccalaureate in Accounting Professional Organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Tualatin Recreation Center (Member) Just some of the facts:
- [Mark Holzgang, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/mark-holzgang) - Mark Holzgang, CPA, Partner Email: mholzgang@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2042 Education: University of Oregon – Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Accounting Professional Organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Medical and Dental Professional Resources (Member) Tualatin Country Club (Former Board Member) Just some of the facts: Has been
- [Kristi Harris, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/kristi-harris) - Kristi Harris, CPA, Partner Email: kharris@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2041 Hometown: Albany, OR Education: Oregon State University – Bachelor of Science/Business Administration Major in Accounting Professional Organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (Member) Medical and Dental Professional Resources (Member) AICPA member section for Forensic and Valuation Services (Member)
- [Kong Keomanivanh](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/kong-keomanivanh) - Kong Keomanivanh, Manager Email: kkeomanivanh@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1681 Hometown: Vientiane, Laos Education: Associate’s Degree / Accounting, Portland Community College Just some of the facts: Worked as an Accountant with HoneyBaked Ham Co. (Oregon Division) Joined Fluence in 2005 Outside the office: Biking Hanging out with close friends from middle school Hanging out with my parents
- [Jesse Brandt, LTP](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/jesse-brandt) - Jesse Brandt, LTP, Manager Email: jbrandt@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2056 Hometown: Gillette, WY Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Finance University of Wyoming Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2005 Born in Canada (Saskatchewan) Outside the office: Spending time with my wife Participating in and following various sports How I feel about Fluence: “It’s exciting that
- [Liz Mallov, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/liz-mallov) - Liz Mallov, CPA, Manager Email: lmallov@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1690 Hometown: Indianapolis, IN Just some of the facts: Works primarily with medical specialty clients. Helps clients focus on practicing good medicine by helping behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. Outside the office: Playing violin in a string quartet that meets once a week. (It’s
- [Dan Rosteck, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/dan-rosteck-cpa) - Dan Rosteck, CPA, Manager Email: drosteck@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2055 Hometown: Corvallis, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Accounting, Oregon State University Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2012 Has worked in public accounting since 2010 Outside the office: Watching sports Running Reading Spending time with family How I feel about Fluence: “It’s great to
- [Darby Yandell, LTP](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/darby-yandell) - Darby Yandell, LTP, Manager Email: dyandell@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.2054 Hometown: Salem, OR Education: University of Oregon, Bachelor of Science in Accounting Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2012 Studied abroad in both London and Hawaii Outside the office: Traveling Reading Staring at my dog How I feel about Fluence: “As much as I
- [Laura Reiser, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/laura-reiser-cpa) - Laura Reiser, CPA, Manager Email: lreiser@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1683 Hometown: Tualatin, OR Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Emphasis in Accounting - Pacific Lutheran University Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2004 Enjoys the fast-paced, ever changing world of accounting Outside the office: Have the cutest, smartest, most beautiful daughter in the world (and
- [Vincent Laski, CPA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/people/vincent-laski) - Vincent Laski, CPA, Partner Email: vlaski@fluenceportland.com Direct Line: 503.290.1691 Hometown: West Linn, OR Education: Bachelor’s Degree / Business Administration: Accounting, Portland State University Just some of the facts: Joined Fluence in 2009 Did Fire and Water damage restoration for 6 years prior to joining Fluence Married his high school sweetheart Outside the office: Spending time

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/uncategorized)
- [Consulting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/consulting)
- [Budgeting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/budgeting)
- [Strategy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/strategy)
- [Taxes](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/taxes)
- [Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/dental-practice)
- [Time Management](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/time-management)
- [Communication](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/communication)
- [Leadership](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/leadership)
- [Revenue](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/revenue)
- [Marketing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/marketing)
- [Collections](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/collections)
- [Human Resources](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/human-resources)
- [Retirement](https://www.fluenceportland.com/category/retirement)

## Tags

- [time management](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/time-management-2)
- [time](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/time)
- [dental](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/dental)
- [team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/team)
- [medical](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/medical)
- [doctor](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/doctor)
- [team buildings](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/team-buildings)
- [staffing](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/staffing)
- [consulting](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/consulting-2)
- [communication](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/communication-2)
- [profit](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/profit)
- [revenue](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/revenue-2)
- [income](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/income)
- [money](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/money)
- [tax](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/tax)
- [roth](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/roth)
- [IRA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/ira)
- [Roth IRA](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/roth-ira)
- [tax planning](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/tax-planning)
- [Dental Patients](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/dental-patients)
- [Dental Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/dental-team)
- [Dentist](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/dentist)
- [Strategy](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/strategy)
- [Dental Practice](https://www.fluenceportland.com/tag/dental-practice)

## Groups

- [Our Positions](https://www.fluenceportland.com/group/positions) - Explore the opportunities that Fluence has to offer. Click on one of the positions below.

## Levels

- [Our Partners](https://www.fluenceportland.com/level/partners) - Meet the individuals at the heart of our business.
- [Our Management Team](https://www.fluenceportland.com/level/management) - Meet the team that drives our success.