The term disruptive innovation was coined in the early 1990s by Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen. Disruptive innovations are not breakthrough technologies that make good products better—rather, they are innovations that make products and services more accessible and affordable, making them available to a larger population.
Teledentistry is a disruptive innovation and a rising trend. Teledentistry expands the capability of the traditional dental practice to treat more patients by breaking down two common barriers to care: time and distance.
Teledentistry codes and opportunities
For the first time, teledentistry codes are included in the ADA’s 2018 Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature. These codes are game changers. Teledentistry codes can help significantly improve interdisciplinary health care, collaboration, and patient health. In addition, they create the opportunity for radical growth, change, and increased profitability.
Teledentistry is not limited. There are numerous pathways to teledentistry success, including the following:
- Connecting a dental setting with a medical setting
- Connecting different entities within the dental industry together
- Provider-to-patient communications
- Employed and alone as an extension of an existing practice
- Employed with a team
- Self-employed and alone in collaboration with dentist
- Self-employed with a team
Teledentistry at UOR
Cindy Purdy joins Patti DiGangi to present a UOR general sessions Teledentistry: Pathway to Prosperity on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., sponsored by TeleDent from MouthWatch. This program is based on their new workbook of the same name.
The yin and yang symbol, and meaning behind it, date back to ancient China. The symbol represents the belief that everything in the universe consists of two forces that are opposing, but complementary.
Cindy and Patti each have different experiences and points of view. It takes the harmony of both to create success, just as is the case for any prosperous business.
Patti is an idealist and futurist. Cindy is also a futurist with a strong streak of realism. Cindy sees challenges; Patti sees opportunities. They realized, after many hours of discussion, that unless current challenges are met head-on, future opportunities will never materialize.
Well-known thought leader, Anne N. Guignon, RDH, MPH, CSP said this about their workbook:
“If you want a new career direction or need to get a handle on the future of health care, this book is a must read from cover to cover. Finally, [there is] a detailed guide for dental professionals who want to explore new career pathways using the power of teledentistry and accurate coding. Patti and Cindy have created a meticulous guide where clinicians can successfully go from the idea into actual implementation and achieve their dreams in a realistic way. This workbook is proof of what happens when a futurist and a pragmatist combine their thoughts! Their passion for access to care, coupled with a palpable concern for career development, make this book an invaluable tool.”
Our UOR session will start you on the journey asking critical questions to help your find your path to the prosperous future you can create.
Patti DiGangi, BS, RDH, is an international speaker who is passionate about prevention and working with dental professionals to improve practice profitability. Patti is the author of the DentalCodeology book series for busy dental professionals. She recently published Teledentistry: Pathway to Prosperity - A Critical Decisions Workbook co-authored by Cindy Purdy, RDH, BS.
