You’ve made the decision to offer sleep apnea but how do you know who to hire? What kinds of experts should you have on staff to ensure your office and method of treatment is effective and successful? To help you move forward in your journey to including sleep medicine in your practice, let us provide some tips on the type of people you should be looking to hire.
Sleep Assistant
Having a qualified sleep assistant will prove beneficial in your practice. Why? Because they are heavily involved with patient care and will help you when offering treatment to an individual, from beginning to end. Some of their normal job responsibilities include:
- Pre-screening and scans
- Impressions
- Appliance fitting
- Adjustments
Finding the right individual isn’t always easy and since much of their job requires interaction with patients, it’s important that you find someone who offers compassionate care, is a good listener, and who enjoys helping others. If you have someone already in-house such as a dental assistant who is great with patients, this might be a great fit for that person.
Patient Coordinator
The patient coordinator will work to keep, maintain, and schedule appointments as well as offer insight and information to patients who have questions about sleep apnea and insurance. This type of work can be designated for your existing administrative staff.
Medical Insurance Coordinator
Most dental insurance companies do not cover sleep apnea treatment, so being able to have someone on staff who can handle medical insurance claims and paperwork is necessary. This often requires training, so unless you have someone on staff who is capable and willing to undergo the steps needed to effectively fill this role, you’ll need to look outside your dental office for a viable candidate.
Dentist
Naturally, this seems like a moot point; however, without a skilled and qualified dentist, your sleep apnea treatment and overall practice will not succeed. Just as important is the team you choose to work within your office. By making sure everyone is properly trained, you can move through your day-to-day responsibilities without worry.
Will questions arise? Yes. Will someone need assistance when it’s not most convenient? Most likely. While all these situations can occur at any time, by having a team you can trust, and by employing your own willingness to learn about new and innovative ways to help patients improve their oral and overall health, you’ll have a successful practice in no time at all.
About 21st Century Sleep Seminars
Dr. Kent Smith is a top professional in sleep medicine who has experience in treating, writing, and speaking about sleep disorders. His wealth of knowledge has helped other dentists integrate sleep apnea treatment into their own practices. At 21st Century Sleep Seminars, we can provide you with the information, tips, advice, and network of professionals you need to effectively treat these sleep disorders your patients are facing. To learn more, visit our website or call (972) 255-3712.