Office Improvements - Scheduling Them To Minimize Business Disruptions

One reason that many dentists put off the renovation of their offices is not because they don't feel that it is needed but more likely because of scheduling issues. When you see that your office is ready to be brought in line with the rest of the world you have a lot of decisions to make. Putting it off can cost you far more than you may realize.

Still, many dentists cannot reasonably afford to shut their office doors for two to three months while renovations take place. According to Shelby Stevens of Dental Town,

You might think you're saving money or being "economical" by keeping your office and its decor as it was when you first opened... but the truth of the matter is that you might actually be losing clients and preventing new ones from coming in.

You have to be able to balance your scheduling issues with scheduling your renovations so that you don't lose out on what's important, your patients.

Time Is Money

When you're discussing the new design features of your new office with your contractor don't just limit yourself to the work to be done. Discuss openly with them the scheduling issues that you'll have. As a matter of fact, when you are getting bids from the various contractors to do your work this should be a major factor that you should evaluate. A professional contractor will ensure that your office is closed for a minimal amount of time and if possible, not at all.

Consider Your Patient's Needs

On average a renovation project can take anywhere from one week or more depending on the amount of work that needs to be done. If you have patients that may not be able to forgo treatment for that length of time, reach out to other dentists in the area that can accommodate your patients in the interim. Another option would be if there is another office you could work out of during that time. The main point is that you consider your patients' needs and have a plan to accommodate them before the project begins.

After Hours Construction

You can also consider after hours construction which means that the contractors work after office hours. Some contractors are willing to have several teams that can be available 24/7 if need be. This will allow you to shut down your business for the least amount of time.

Consider Different Phases

A final option you can consider is doing the renovation in different stages. While this may be the least efficient way of getting the job done and it will most likely take longer to complete, you can guarantee that your work scheduling will not be interrupted in any way. If you can afford to take the extra time and spend the additional money your practice can remain undisturbed for the entire length of the project and neither you nor your patients will have to be without.

The fact is that many dentists will put off making necessary changes to their office environment because of the fear of disrupting their practices. The Wolgast Corporation explains the key to the solution,

Because a dentist practice can't survive very well without actively seeing patients, determining a schedule and a plan prior to construction makes it possible to avoid a detrimental office shutdown.

It doesn't matter if your renovation is for a new office about to be opened or an already bustling business. The key to your success and keeping your business afloat will be in scheduling and flexibility in all areas. For more information about how these can be applied to your renovation project, you can contact renovation experts like apollointeriors for some helpful guidance.