Practice Manager to Practice Owner: Dr. Vasumathy M's Journey to Independence (Part I)
In this edition of DocScopy with MedBound Times, Dr. Nirainila Joseph interviews Dr. Vasumathy M, a general dentist. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.
Dr. Vasumathy shares her transition from duty doctor and clinic manager to independent practice owner, reflecting on her mentor's influence and how her past experiences have shaped her career. She discusses her approach to staying updated in dentistry and managing patient flow and practice revenue effectively.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Dr. Vasumathy M: Hi, I'm Dr. Vasumathy, a general dentist from Kanchipuram. I currently run my own clinic in the same city.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Congratulations on your new dental practice! It's certainly a remarkable feat in your career. Could you share what motivated you to establish your own dental practice?
Dr. Vasumathy M: "What next?!" This question constantly ran through my mind when I was working under a private practitioner. Most of the duty doctors weren't allowed to do procedures beyond fillings and scaling. Even though we were qualified to perform root canal treatments and other complex procedures, we were used merely as assistants and paid very little. This had a significant impact on me and made me think outside the box. I realized my degree would be wasted if I stayed in that situation.
I switched jobs, and when I found my mentor, everything changed. My question of "What next?" was finally answered. He motivated me to take on cases, identified my strengths, and helped me expand my knowledge in those areas. At some point, he entrusted me with managing one of his branches independently. He was a driving force for me, and after two years of managing a branch, I bought the same clinic. Now, I am running it successfully!
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Your journey from feeling limited as a duty doctor to successfully managing and owning your own dental practice is truly inspiring. Your perseverance and willingness to seek out better opportunities have clearly paid off. Given your successful transition, Can you describe the process of setting up your dental practice? What were the most important steps and considerations?
Dr. Vasumathy M: Since I took over the clinic I was working in, I didn't have much trouble setting up my practice. One thing I was clear about was keeping all the records and documents in order, such as registering with the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA), Biomedical Waste Management (BMW), and Pollution Control Board (PCB). On the management side, building a steady patient flow is more important than earning money for a stable practice. Secondly, I believe in never harming a patient; if a case is beyond my knowledge, I call a qualified consultant or refer the patient.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: How did your experience working in a dental clinic prepare you for the responsibilities of running your own practice?
Dr. Vasumathy M: Working under someone in a private clinic definitely gave me a gist of what it is like to run a clinic independently. For me, I got introduced to more responsibilities when I was given a whole branch to take care of. From checking the stocks of materials and medicines to making review calls for patients, it gave me a lot of experience. Running my own clinic has definitely become easy, with no doubt, only because of my previous experience as a branch head in a private clinic.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Patient feedback is crucial for maintaining high standards and ensuring continuous improvement in any dental practice. How do you handle patient feedback and use it to enhance your practice?
Dr. Vasumathy M: I constantly give review calls to patients and make notes of which drugs work best for different groups of people, among other details. I also take note of any complaints and make a plan for addressing them in the future to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Additionally, I keep track of repeat patients and those referred to me, creating a graph each month to monitor how my practice is developing. The more of these patients I have, the more stable my practice becomes.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: It's impressive how you carefully note down patient feedback and make necessary changes. Owning a clinic, unlike managing one, significantly involves handling the business aspects as well. How do you balance the clinical aspects of dentistry with the business side of managing your practice?
Dr. Vasumathy M: I never confuse patient well-being with revenue. I never try to save a failing tooth by performing procedures just to meet that month's revenue target. I believe that if you focus on providing excellent care, the revenue will come naturally, but it takes time. Personally, I don't rely heavily on marketing strategies, but I acknowledge their importance in surviving in this competitive field. However, word of mouth is incredibly powerful, as I've experienced firsthand.
In my opinion, the initial seven years of practice are crucial. During this time, you build your patient community slowly and steadily by earning their trust. It may not be the most lucrative period, but it sets the foundation for a successful practice. The subsequent years are our golden practice time, where we can earn well and maintain a stable patient flow. However, this depends on our commitment to continuously update ourselves and stay current with advancements in dentistry.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: It's refreshing to hear your clear viewpoint on prioritizing patient well-being over revenue targets and your commitment to providing excellent care. Transitioning to our next topic, remaining competitive in any profession involves keeping up with the latest breakthroughs in the field. How do you stay updated with the advancements in dentistry and ensure your practice provides cutting-edge services?
Dr. Vasumathy M: There comes a point in our practice when we feel saturated, doing the same procedures, and using the same techniques. This is the time when we need to update ourselves. I usually update myself by attending monthly Continuing Dental Education (CDE) meetings conducted by the Indian Dental Association (IDA), as well as separate workshops and courses when available. Apart from this, trying new things in our practice is constantly required to stand out amidst the competition. Patients are now more informed than ever; they search everything online before visiting the dentist. Therefore, updating ourselves and our techniques is crucial.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Navigating the initial stages of practice opening involves strategic patient base building. How did you approach building your patient base? What steps have you taken to market your new practice and attract patients?
Dr. Vasumathy M: Since I took over the same clinic where I was working as a branch head, people in that area already knew me, so referral patients have already started coming. Beyond that, I conducted some camps in schools as well as in the clinic just to gain attention that there is a dental clinic here. I strongly believe in building my practice by word of mouth, so I have not done anything in regard to marketing other than camps.
Stay tuned for Part II of the interview!
