During 2017, an increasing number of practices successfully transferred their existing payment plan patients with another plan provider to a practice-branded solution with Patient Plan Direct (PPD), cumulatively saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in costs.

This trend continues in 2018.

PPD asked the practices that made this transition in 2017 to explain their primary reasons for making the move, which are shared below.

Do any of these reasons resonate with you and your practice?

Would you like to find out more about how PPD can help you to significantly improve your practice’s profitability by making this move, whilst still benefiting from a first-class, award-winning service?

If so, you can book an exploratory call by emailing or calling the PPD team:

Tel: 0844 848 6888      Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here are the five primary reasons practices that made the move to PPD from their previous plan provider in 2017 expressed…

1. Huge Cost Savings – Increasing Practice Profits

PPD’s administration fee (only £1.28 per patient per month, including Worldwide Dental A&E Cover) can prove to be up to over 65% lower cost than other plan providers administration charges.

Visit the PPD cost saving calculator to see how much your practice could save CLICK HERE  

2. Their previous plan providers branding

Some practices commented they were left feeling confused about their previous providers branding / re-branding, opting to make the move to not only cut costs, but take control of their own payment plans and patient relationships in the future.

3. A First-Class Worldwide Dental A&E Cover for Patients

(Included in PPD’s £1.28 admin fee)

The Worldwide Dental A&E cover* for patients included with PPD’s service includes cover for the placement, repair or replacement of implants following an accident at no additional cost to patients (This is only an option with some other providers at an additional cost to patients).

PPD’s cover also includes:

• Treatment following an accident
• Emergency treatment whilst away from home
• Emergency out of hours call out costs
• Mouth Cancer diagnosis, fixed benefit payment of £2,500
• Contribution towards plan costs following redundancy

4. Hands On Support with a Simple Transfer Process

Patient retention and/or extensive administration needn’t be a concern thanks to our fully supported and refined process, which makes the transfer quick and simple for both your practice and your patients.

5. Professional and Personable Service

PPD is not a huge corporate organisation. Your practice will not just be another fish in the sea when you opt to work with PPD. Our passionate team of field-based managers all have past experience of working in practice, both in clinical and management roles, ensuring we can relate to your everyday challenges and support, train, and advise your team to reach your practice’s payment plan objectives.

We encourage you to watch our transfer success video, documenting one practices positive experience of making the move from their previous provider to PPD.

Visit:  www.patientplandirect.com/success-story-video

If you’re heading to the Dentistry Show at the NEC in a few weeks’ time on either the 18^th or 19^th of May, you can visit the PPD team at stand H74.

* The Worldwide Dental A&E Cover for patients included with Patient Plan Direct’s service is underwritten by Hiscox – one of the UK’s leading insurers. The full policy wording, terms and limits are available from www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Whether you already run a dental payment plan at your practice or you’re considering launching a plan for the first time, award winning Patient Plan Direct invites you along to its Cost Saving Clinic at this year’s BDIA Showcase @ The NEC, Birmingham – 19^th to 21^st October.

This 15-20 minute investment of your time, could prove to save your practice thousands over the coming years.

Why visit the cost saving clinic?

If you already offer a payment plan…

If you work with a plan provider other than Patient Plan Direct that supports and administers your existing payment plans, we’re confident we can demonstrate how your practice could significantly cut the costs of running your plan and increase your practice profits, even if you opt to continue working with your existing provider.

Irrespective of the type of plans you offer patients (Full care, Maintenance, Membership, Hygiene only) or which provider you currently work with, we can share with you a range of options and methods to help you cut your plan administration costs!

If you’re thinking about launching a payment plan…

You may be looking to launch a payment plan simply to nurture patient loyalty or offer patients a convenient means of accessing their regular care, or you may be looking to launch plan as a means of transitioning to practice privately, stepping away from the NHS.

During your clinic appointment we’ll share with you the important considerations when selecting which plan provider to work with and tops tips on ensuring you maximise the profitability of your payment plan, whilst building a successful base of plan patients and offering the right range of plans to suit your patient demographics and oral health requirements.

Where and when is the cost saving clinic?

We’ll be hosting our cost saving clinic at stand E16 on all three days of the BDIA showcase exhibition.

You can pop along to our stand at any time, where one of our business development team will be more than happy to conduct our cost saving clinic exercise, which won’t take any longer than 15-20 mins.

If you would rather chat through the exercise in a little more privacy or away from the hustle and bustle of the show, one of our team will be more than happy to take you for a coffee (or something a little stronger) outside of the exhibition hall.

Whilst you’re welcome to simply ‘roll-up’ to our clinic at any time, to avoid disappointment we recommend you pre-book an appointment before the show. To do so, simply drop our team an email or give us a call to let us know which day and time works best for you and we’ll reply to confirm your appointment.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Tel: 08448486888

What do you need to bring along?

If you already offer a payment plan, please bring along your latest monthly plan schedule / report provided by your existing provider, or at the very least a note of the administration fees you’re currently charged and details of the plans you offer patients.

If you’re considering launching a dental plan for the first-time, you don’t need to bring along anything other than an appetite to understand how to launch a successful and profitable payment plan 

See you soon!

We look forward to seeing you soon. In the mean time you can discover more about Patient Plan Direct and how we’ve helped other practices on our website http://patientplandirect.com/case-studies/

Patient Plan Direct is offering to help practices undertake a simple process, which could significantly improve your practice’s profitability and success.

The offer is to let one of Patient Plan Direct’s highly experienced business development managers to undertake a Dental Plan Health-check at your practice, reviewing the strategy and objectives associated with the dental plans you offer patients – checking you’re doing all you can to maximise the potential of your dental plan.

Irrespective of the current plan provider you’re working with (e.g. Denplan, Practice Plan, DPAS), this Health-check is completely free of charge and will leave you fully informed as to the best options of running your plan moving forward. At the very least you’ll come away with some fresh ideas and have a benchmark to assess the value your current plan provider represents.

For more details, Patient Plan Direct invite you to watch this short video:

To book your Dental Plan Health-check, simply email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Call 0844 848 6888

Dentistry show is here!

If you’re heading to the show make sure you head to B70 to visit the Patient Plan Direct team. Why you ask? Here are eight great reasons…

1. Cost saving clinic

We know you like to keep your business outgoings under control (who doesn’t?), which is why we want to help with that. Take a note of the number of patients you currently have on plan, plus the admin fee you’re paying your existing plan provider and then head over to stand B70 to discover how we could save you thousands of pounds per year by switching to our low-cost and fully supported service.

2. More transfers than ever before

We’ve noticed a huge trend of new practices switching from their existing patient plan provider to Patient Plan Direct, and with our low admin fees of just £1.20 per patient per month, it’s easy to see why. With our support, the transfer process is really simple, so you’ll notice the savings almost straight away. Visit us at the Dentistry Show so that we can explain more!

3. Meet the whole team

If you’re already working with us, meeting up at the show gives us a chance to put faces to names and helps us make our service even more personalised to you. If you’re not already a customer then head over to stand B70 to see how lovely we all are!

4. Learn more about our A&E cover, including implant cover

Our patient payment plans offer worldwide Dental A&E cover, which includes implant cover as standard (all included for £1.20). Discover more about this great extra benefit by popping over to see us.

5. Practice-branded solutions

You’ve worked hard to build a brand for your dental practice, so why not strengthen that further through your own practice-branded patient payment plan? Talk to us at the Dentistry Show to find out how. Particularly, if you’re confused about your current providers branding changes…

6. Let us demonstrate

Our online admin management portal allows you to control your plan in real time 247 and is so easy to use that you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch over sooner. Don’t just take our word for it though, come and see for yourself on stand B70!

7. Tailored to you

There’s no one size fits all in dentistry, you know your patients and what will suit them best, which is why we can tailor the plans to suit your practice’s specific needs. We also aim to provide a personal approach to our customer service, through our training, practice visits and telephone support. Come over for a chat to find out how we can offer a bespoke service to suit you.

8. Grab a free coffee and chat

We love coffee, but we love sharing it even more, so pop over for a free cuppa and catch up with our team. Whether you already know us, or would like to get to know us, we’re looking forward to meeting you at the show.

See you soon!

In the mean time check out some of our success stories here http://patientplandirect.com/case-studies/

If you’re not heading to the show, you can always arrange a meeting with our friendly and experienced business development team at your practice at your convenience. Simply call or email us:

Tel: 08448486888

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Patient Plan Direct’s commercial director, Simon Reynolds, discusses key considerations in managing a patient membership plan ‘in-house’

Often the rationale for a DIY project is the perception that doing ‘it’ ourselves is likely to be lower cost and will enable us to achieve our desired outcomes in line with specific objectives. We adopt the mind set of “how hard can it be” and get to work.

In some instances, with the right planning and commitment a successful DIY project can be highly rewarding. However, in other cases we can be left to reflect on blood, sweat, tears and challenges that were far greater than we had anticipated. In hindsight, perhaps it may have been a better option to have turned to professional support in the first instance.

When it comes to patient membership and capitation plans many practices may have considered, or have already adopted, administering their own patient plans ‘in-house’. Let’s face it, when stripping back to its bare bones the work involved in administering a patient plan, it isn’t rocket science. The basics being; determining the care and benefits included in your plans, setting plan prices, collecting regular payments from patients and promoting your plans effectively to encourage uptake from patients.

However, as with many things in life the devil can often be in the detail and there are important considerations that may be overlooked when opting to administer a patient plan in-house rather than the outsourced option of working with a plan provider.

Direct debit vs. Standing order

Often mistaken as the same thing, there are significant differences between standing order and direct debit payments – the most likely means of managing regular plan payments. A standing order is an instruction set up by the payer i.e. your patient via their bank, which can limit the ease of patients joining your plan in practice. If a patient cancels their standing order you will not be notified, instead you’ll have to perform manual checks every month. Moreover, managing periodic plan price increases can prove somewhat challenging as a change to the value of a standing order requires each patient to amend their individual standing orders – a tedious task for patients that is not under your practice’s control.

Managing plan payments by direct debit on the other hand offers the beneficiary (your practice) greater control. This is an instruction by the payer giving permission for your practice to collect a regular amount, which can be amended with advance notification to the payer. However, obtaining sponsorship in to the direct debit scheme via your bank can be a lengthy process and thereafter you’ll have to utilise some form of Bacs approved platform to manage collections. This can prove complicated and costly in addition to the processing charges your bank is likely to apply.

Admin: Time versus Real cost

Time is money. Often the reality of managing a patient plan in-house can be more administratively demanding and time consuming than you may think. Preparing and submitting collection files, identifying payment cancelations, managing plan related communications to patients, creating promotional material, training your team in promoting your plans and so much more can be a real bind on your time. No matter who takes on the role of managing an ‘in-house’ plan, there’s every chance this time could be better spent elsewhere in delivering first-class care and building a successful practice.

When you come to sell your practice

In consideration of the complexities that can be involved in managing a plan in-house, when you come to sell your practice potential buyers may be put off. Moreover, in some instances if you have your own sponsorship in to the direct debit scheme, it is not a given that the new vendor will be able to obtain their own sponsorship via their bank to take on the goodwill of plan patients. Finally, historical records of plan collections via a third party can prove more favourable throughout any due diligence processes.

In summary

For some practices, managing their patient plans in-house may be the most effective means of offering patients a plan. However, for many, utilising the services of a trusted plan provider is much more likely to be the more time and cost efficient method. Working with a plan provider does not have to mean huge administration costs and overhead. There are more plan providers than ever before to choose from, each offering their unique service proposition, support and fee structure. It is simply a case of taking the time to discover each provider and working out which is the best fit for your practice.

Patient Plan Direct is a membership plan provider recognised for its low-cost admin fees and is also the winner of the 2016 Dental industry awards – Outstanding Business of the year (under 25 employees). Plan launch, Provider transfer and NHS conversion experts.

www.patientplandirect.co.uk

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08448486888

Midlands based Theresa Riley has joined cost effective and technology embracing dental payment plan provider – Patient Plan Direct, heading up the company’s business development support in the Midlands. Theresa brings to Patient Plan Direct a huge amount of experience in nurturing practice’s private growth and the implementation and development of private dental plans.

Following an initial career in dental nursing, dental radiography and teaching, Theresa moved into dental corporate management and quickly advanced up the career ladder to run the specialist department within one of the UK’s largest dental corporates. Thereafter, Theresa has held several senior management and business consultancy roles, recently consulting on the design and implementation of a dental plan administration solution, thereafter introducing the plan solution at several practices either converting from NHS to Private or switching their plans from another plan provider.

With regards to her new role, Theresa commented; “I wanted to further expand my knowledge and work within the plan sector, but due to my previous consulting work it just wasn’t possible, so when the opportunity came along to join Patient Plan Direct, the company, role and team seemed the perfect fit. I can’t wait to get started”.

Simon Reynolds, commercial director of Patient Plan Direct explains; “As we continue to evolve and build on our strong reputation as a low cost plan provider offering first-class support, Theresa brings to the mix an unrivalled level of experience and knowledge. Theresa’s skills set will benefit the practices we already work with in further developing and growing their respective dental plans, as well as new practices not already working with Patient Plan Direct who wish to take advantage of maximising the profitability of a dental plan at their practice.”

Theresa added; “I was attracted to joining the Patient Plan Direct team after taking the time to understand more about their service proposition and technology. Patient Plan Direct’s streamlined, practice branded and web based approach to dental plan administration along with the support and advice that is delivered for £1 per patient per month is the right fit for so many practices both clinically, financially and operationally.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting Patient Plan Direct’s existing clients and seeing how I can help them grow their plan patient base further as well as connecting to new clients to see how our solution can benefit their practice whatever their objective; transferring from another plan provider to make significant cost savings, launching a plan for the first time or making a move away from the NHS.”

Patient Plan Direct is a highly cost effective dental plan provider working with over 300 practices nationwide, embracing 21st century web-based technology to offer a sophisticated solution to running practice-branded dental plans. Thanks to an administration fee of £1.00 per patient per month (including worldwide dental A&E cover and VAT), Patient Plan Direct often proves to be 2-3 times more cost effective than working with other plan providers.

Web: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 08448486888

Q. Would you like to reduce the cost of running your practices’ dental plans?

Q. Do you question the value of the fees your existing plan provider charges; Denplan, Practice Plan, DPAS, CODE, IndepenDent or another provider?

Q. Are you tired of admin fee increases applied by your exiting plan provider?

Q. Are you unsure of the exact fees you pay to your existing plan provider and would like help in completing a cost-benefit analysis?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ to any of above questions Patient Plan Direct would like to meet with you to explain and explore how they can help your practice achieve a successful plan provider transfer and save thousands in costs year on year thanks to a £1 per patient per month admin fee which includes: practice-branded solution, Worldwide Dental A&E cover, support from a dedicated client services team and business development manager, as well as plan promotional material and much more.

To contact Patient Plan Direct and book an exploratory meeting Call: 0844 848 6888 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or to find out more visit www.patientplandirect.co.uk

No matter how many plan patients you currently have, Patient Plan Direct can help you make big cost savings.

Your practice could achieve the same benefits and results as the following sample of practices that have already transferred their dental plan administration to a practice-branded solution with Patient Plan Direct…

BV Owen Dental Practice, North Wales

• Almost 1,000 Care plan patients.
• Previously paid their plan provider nearly £2.50 per patient per month.
• High patient retention when transferring.
• Now saving over £15,000 per annum in plan admin fees.

“These cost savings have helped towards a practice refurbishment we had been keen to undertake for sometime. Patient Plan Direct deal with things quickly and proficiently and our plans run like clock work”

Read the full story HERE

High Street Dental Practice, West Sussex 

• Previously paying fees for access to services they did not require.
• Needed a provider that was flexible and low cost.
• Transferred to Patient Plan Direct with a high retention rate.
• Now saving thousands in costs.

“We found the transfer to be hassle free.  As proved by the loss of members in the transfer being less than 1%.  We have gained approximately 18% more members over the last 6 months. And it continues to grow”

Read the full story HERE

Farleigh Dental - North East Surrey

• Principal questioned the value of their previous plan provider shortly after purchasing practice
• Almost 1,500 plan patients.
• Needed an approach to running the practices’ dental plans that included simple and secure administration, low running costs, a quality A&E cover for patients and access to expertise to help with all things plan related as and when required.
• Transferred to Patient Plan Direct and significantly reduced plan administration costs by around 50% which represented huge operational cost savings.

“Did I lose lots of patients as a result of the transfer? No, we lost a handful of plan patients – no more than we would normally expect as a result of an annual price increase mailing to plan patients. Am I glad we took on the move? Absolutely”

Read the full story HERE

This year Patient Plan Direct (PPD) is exhibiting for the first time at the Dentistry Show. Now working with over 300 practices across the UK, PPD business development manager  – Janice Charlton, outlines 3 reasons why you should visit stand B75 and the PPD team if you’re attending the Show at the NEC this Friday 22^nd or Saturday 23^rd April.

Janice explains: “Whether your practice already offers a dental plan via another plan provider, or you’re considering how you can create less reliance on the NHS and take steps to plan ahead of changes in the future, or you simply want to explore launching a dental plan to offer patients greater choice and nurture patient loyalty, PPD can help.

“Just take a look at how other practices have benefited from taking advantage of our efficient, low cost approach to helping your practice run, develop and grow a practice-branded dental plan thanks to our admin fee of just £1 per patient per month.”

Reason 1: Consider transferring from another plan provider: Read how High Street Dental significantly cut their plan administration fees and saved thousands in costs, spending savings to further develop their practice CLICK HERE

Reason 2: Consider creating less reliance on the NHS: Read how and why Causeway Dental Practice have successful created less reliance on the NHS and grown private revenue streams in working with PPD CLICK HERE

Reason 3: Consider launching a plan for the first time: Read why Holly Dental felt it was essential to introduce a private dental plan and why they opted to work with PPD  CLICK HERE

If you’re not going to the show, but you would like to discover how PPD can help your practice please contact us to arrange an exploratory meeting at your practice:

Call: 08448486888

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Web: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Dr Bob Ballard and Hema Dhingra of Ballard and Tucker Dental Practice in Bedfordshire explain the positive impact of transferring their dental plan to Patient Plan Direct.

At the beginning of 2014 we set ourselves a realistic target of growing our practice turnover and profitability. As part of this exercise we looked at every cost centre in our business to try and identify where we could potentially cut costs and increase profitability. One area that stood out the most was the administration fees that we were paying to our plan provider at the time. Nearly 10% of our plan income month on month was eaten up in administration fees, so we set out to explore alternative solutions to running our practices dental plans.

Discovering Patient Plan Direct

We looked at other plan provider propositions in the market and were attracted to Patient Plan Direct thanks to their low and flat administration fees, strong reputation, administrative efficiency and experience of managing lots of successful plan provider transfers.

In meeting with one of Patient Plan Direct’s business development team we were not only put at ease regarding the management of the transfer process and what was involved, but were also impressed with the advise we received around growing our plan base further which was inline with our overall objectives.  

We were so confident the transfer and on-going plan growth strategy was the right move for the practice and our patients that we committed there and then.

With almost 400 plan patients we stood to save over £8,000 per annum (£40,000 in the next five years) in administration fees year on year as a result of the transfer.

Patient retention as a result of our transfer

We were understandably nervous initially that transfer would result in some patient drop off. However, Patient Plan Direct fully managed and fulfilled the mailing to patients and supported us throughout the transfer process to ensure retention was maximised. The communication of the transfer to patients was presented in a positive manner to ensure patients were assured that the move was in the best interest of both the practice and our valued patients in the long term. 

As a result of the effective management of the transfer we lost literally a handful of patients, no more than we would normally expect as a result of the annual fee increase we had always been encouraged to apply year on year by our old plan provider.  

A revised plan strategy and subsequent growth

Once our transfer was underway we applied the strategic changes Patient Plan Direct recommended. Previously we had only offered and promoted to patients a capitation (care) based plan. We felt we had exhausted the promotion of such a plan proposition to our patient base. As such, we opted to introduce a simple, value driven maintenance plan as a new option for patients. This was in line with current consumer habits and market trends which Patient Plan Direct explained to us.

Once we had determined the best plan structure and price point that would prove beneficial and attractive to patients and profitable to the practice, we completed a full team training session with one of Patient Plan Direct’s experienced business development managers. The session ensured the whole practice team was clear on the overall objectives, recognised the benefits of the plan to both the practice and patients and ensured everyone was confident in speaking about and promoting the plan.

One year on from when we completed our plan provider transfer we have increased our total plan base by a further 50% representing a significant increase in plan income month on month. Moreover, the plan continues to grow week on week. We now have even more loyal patients at the practice that have committed their oral health care to us for the long term.

Assessing your dental plan provision

Patient Plan Direct is a plan provider offering a low cost plan administration fee of £1 per patient per month (inc. VAT and Worldwide Dental A&E cover).  Patient Plan Direct has helped practices across the UK successfully transfer their existing dental plan from other plan providers, benefiting from significant cost savings and first-class support.

Web: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 08448486888

Plan provider Patient Plan Direct and Goodman Grant Solicitors have teamed up alongside a range of expert speakers to put together and host a series of unique and not-to-be-missed seminars focusing on how to develop a profitable practice in today’s challenging market.

The seminar series kicks off in Manchester on the 19th June at the Lowry, with further events later in the year to be held in Birmingham and London.  

The Manchester event sees speakers share their expertise in six of the most important areas influencing a practices growth potential, sustainability and profits; legal considerations, business finances, personal finances, patient membership and capitation schemes, business and marketing planning and of course CQC compliance.

Simon Reynolds of Patient Plan Direct and John Grant of Goodman Grant Solicitors will be joined in Manchester by Brendan Coburn of dental specific financial advisers – Essential Money, John Minford of leading UK dental accountants – Minfords, CQC compliance specialist Keith Hayes and Andy McDougall of Spot on Business Planning.

The full day events provide a holistic view of what it takes to succeed in developing a profitable practice, explained by experts that have proven to help practices achieve this exact objective whilst offering the best in patient care. Delegates will be treated to a top quality lunch hand-prepared by chef’s on-location and gain 4.5 hours CPD.

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct commented; “There is plenty to consider when it comes to developing a profitable practice and lots of pieces of the jigsaw to put together to keep up to pace with the many changes experienced within the industry in recent times, as well as potential changes on the horizon. In attending any of the seminars across the UK, dentists can expect to take away plenty of food for thought and expert advice to help them maintain competitive edge and nurture profitability.”

For more information about the seminar series and to book on to any of the events, visit: www.patientplandirect.co.uk/events  

About Patient Plan Direct

Patient Plan Direct provides an easy to use, highly efficient and very cost effective method of enabling practices to offer patients a dental plan. Patient Plan Direct’s unique approach embraces 21st century technology, gives a practice control and is proven to improve plan income and profitability.

Simon Reynolds of Patient Plan Direct, explains why when it comes to dental plans, simplicity is the winning formula

In helping practices day to day develop successful dental plans that prove profitable to the practice and attractive and beneficial to patients, my colleagues and I get a good feel for what works best when it comes to dental plans.

We work with a wide range of practices across the UK, all of which have different patient demographics, a different split of private and NHS care, and their own unique objectives. However, there is one common factor across all the practices that run the most successful dental plans: Simplicity!

Defining success

I define a successful dental plan as one that is an integral part of the practices patient journey. It is mentioned on a regular basis to patients (new and existing) and the message about the plan is rehearsed and consistent. The whole team believe in the plan and recognise that it is of genuine benefit to the patient’s pocket and long term oral health.

As such, a steady and regular number of patients join the plan week on week and loyalty once a patient joins a plan is excellent and long term. The plan generates a healthy regular income that proves profitable, aids cash flow and commits patients to regular visits, providing the opportunity to promote other treatments and services (clearly in an ethical fashion), generating further revenue streams and profits.

Defining simplicity

The simple and successful dental plans can be summarised as having three common factors:

1.      Limited choice – There may be a couple of different plan options available to patients to suit different requirements and budgets. But there should never be a overload of different plan options for patients to choose from. I have come across practices that have 10+ different types of plans. This serves only to confuse patients and your team, likely resulting in them not being comfortable or motivated to mention the plan to patients and thus hindering uptake.

2.      Simple marketing – Any marketing literature promoting the plan is concise, to the point, transparent and highlights the key messages in language the patient can understand. A brochure with paragraphs of text is not the answer.

3.      Quick and simple – The sign up process when a patient commits to the plan is rehearsed, quick and simple. Whoever is responsible for the final stage of sign up should be crystal clear in undertaking this process and explaining the detail of the plan to patients.

Stick to the above and you won’t go far wrong with making your dental plan a success.

Back in the fifteenth century Leonardo da Vinci explained; "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". As such, it’s no new modern day phenomenon that simplicity is a solid strategic approach. It shouldn’t be an approach that is limited to developing a successful dental plan. It is likely to prove beneficial when determining many other practice processes.

Patient Plan Direct is the UK’s most cost effective plan provider: Experts in dental plan launches, plan provider transfers and introducing private dental plans to create less dependence on NHS income. 

Tel: 08448486888 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Visit: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Staying Ahead of the Game Success

Last month, dental professionals were invited to an evening seminar held at the impressive and prestigious Drummonds Bank in central London.

Attendees at the Natwest sponsored ‘Dentistry in 2015: Staying ahead of the game’ enjoyed insightful lectures by the likes of Bernard Danquah – Head Business Development Manager at Patient Plan Direct, highly regarded dental coach and trainer, Tracy Stuart, leading business advisers to dentists, Rob Walsh & Dee Gerrish as well as established legal expert John Grant of Goodman Grant Solicitors

The seminar provided dental professionals with the opportunity to absorb expert advice on some of 2015’s hottest topics in the world of dentistry, including reputation building and management, the positive impact of dental plans, the effective use of social media and email marketing, how your accountant can make a difference to your practice and the key issues on dental sales, purchases & incorporations in 2015.

The event proved to be a great success, with attendees relishing the opportunity to discuss the trending themes within the dental industry.  

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct commented; “We have received exceptional feedback from delegates and we are pleased that so many dentists and other dental professionals were able to attend. The event provided the opportunity for us to portray our expertise and trend observations associated with the dental plan market, sharing valuable information and advice with the dental community. A big thank you goes to Natwest for kindly sponsoring and hosting the event.”  

Bernard Danquah, Head Business Development Manager at Patient Plan Direct, added; “These days there are so many areas a dental practice needs to consider and manage in order to maintain competitive edge and nurture sustainability and growth. Our ‘Staying ahead of the game’ seminar provided the opportunity for dental professionals to keep up to pace with some of the most important commercial aspects of running a successful dental practice. We look forward to arranging similar events in the future as we continue to help more and more practices get more from the dental plans they offer patients.”

About Patient Plan Direct

Patient Plan Direct provides an easy to use, highly efficient and very cost effective method of enabling practices to offer patients a dental plan. Patient Plan Direct’s unique approach embraces 21st century technology, gives a practice control and is proven to improve plan income and profitability. 

Patient Plan Direct is proud to be hosting a free evening seminar for Dentists and Practice Managers with drinks and canapés, held at the impressive and prestigious Drummonds Bank in central London on 19^th February 2015.

The seminar, kindly sponsored by Natwest, provides the opportunity to listen in to expert advice on some of 2015’s hottest topics in the world of dentistry, developing the skills of practice management and staying ahead of the game, whilst providing the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.

The seminar has limited places, so book early to avoid disappointment. Regardless of the type of practice you work in or the stage of your career, there is something for everyone at this must attend seminar.

For more details and to book your place visit this page.

Topics to be covered include; Patients views on Dentists using Email and Social Media Marketing, Converting a telephone enquiry with 3 simple questions, How your accountant should tailor services to you and your needs, Why 80% of incorporations which have been carried out to date are flawed, and so much more.

All speakers are experts in their respective fields with years of experience specifically within the dental industry; Tracy Stuart (NBS Training), Bernard Danquah (Patient Plan Direct), Rob Walsh & Dee Gerrish (Clear Vision Dental Accountants), and John Grant (Goodman Grant Dental Solicitors). 

This November, Patient Plan Direct showed their support for Mouth Cancer Action Month by getting involved and making Wednesday 19th November 'Blue Wednesday' with the aim to get more mouth cancers diagnosed at an early stage by raising awareness of the risk factors, signs and symptoms, whilst encouraging people to discuss them with their dental professional.

Patient Plan Direct raised over £1,000 in aid of the campaign; donations flooded in from across the UK dental industry, with staff, partners and dental practices all donating to the cause.

The day involved the Patient Plan Direct team dressing up in all shades of blue as well as jumping on the blue lipstick selfie Twitter craze! Commercial Director, Simon Reynolds fulfilled his promise to be painted in blue body paint when donations hit the £1,000 mark; the results of which made for lots of laughs in the office.

Simon commented: ‘This was a great and fun way for us to support a very worthy cause within dentistry. It’s so important to raise awareness of a cancer that kills more people every year than both testicular and cervical cancer combined.’

Patient Plan Direct is hosting a series of ‘must attend’ webinars exploring two ways dental practices could be better off in 2015; increasing income and profitability with patients’ care and interests at heart.

The first webinar explores the how’s and why’s of a ‘Principal only’ NHS conversion, potentially enabling a practice to ‘retain and gain’ – retaining NHS income whilst developing private income streams. This is a strategy becoming more popular with practices because of the various advantages it presents as well as the uncertainty surrounding the impact of a NHS reform. The webinar covers the various key considerations to determine whether such an approach is the right move at your practice.

Patient Plan Direct’s second webinar considers the advantages of a plan provider transfer and the opportunity that working with Patient Plan Direct can represent. More practices than ever in 2014 have made the move to Patient Plan Direct from another plan provider. Simon Reynolds, commercial director of Patient Plan Direct, discusses why practices are taking on this move, including significant increases in profitability and a unique approach to business and marketing support.

Each free 30 minute webinar runs on various dates over the course of the next few weeks at both lunch time and in the evening, ensuring there is a time that fits your schedule.

To find out more and book your place on either webinar visit http://patientplandirect.com/media/ call 08448486888 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct, highlights recent activities and trends amongst dental plan providers, which provides some interesting food for thought.

The dental plan market has become more competitive in recent years as new plan providers have come to market (including Patient Plan Direct over five years ago now), and each provider looks to differentiate themselves, create a competitive edge, retain business and put their own slant on enabling practices to administer a dental plan for patients.

Furthermore, factors such as the imminent NHS changes, challenges associated with profitability, changes in practice purchase and sales, as well as the importance of cost analysis in the sector have all impacted on whether, and how, practices opt to administer a dental plan for patients.

All this activity has sparked certain changes and movements in the plan market, some of which Simon explores below.

Plan providers are reducing their fees to retain business

“It’s no secret that Patient Plan Direct is a price-led proposition. Our competitive fee structure is significantly less costly than other plan providers and practices look to transfer the administration of their dental plan to us from other providers to make significant cost savings, whilst still benefiting from a great service,” explains Simon.

“More and more often I come across scenarios where, after a practice informs their existing plan provider that they intend to transfer to Patient Plan Direct, a new “special deal” is quickly fabricated by the practice’s existing plan provider in a desperate attempt to retain the practice’s custom. These deals usually take the form of significant fee reductions representing huge cost savings.”

“This begs the question as to what value these plan providers place on their service and why the threat of transferring should be the catalyst that warrants sudden special attention or significant fee reductions? Why should only practices looking to move away benefit from a “special deal”, and why has the practice had to pay the higher fees until now?”

Simon goes on to explain: “These deals have been offered on numerous occasions from many of the major plan providers. I would encourage any practice that administers its dental plan through a plan provider to ask for a fee reduction or “special deal” that other practices have been receiving. Why should your practice pay more whilst it remains loyal? Alternatively, you could explore Patient Plan Direct’s transparent and honest approach to administering your practice’s dental plan.”

The Hoover versus the vacuum cleaner

“Some plan providers profess that patients ask specifically for their plan brand, but do they really, or do they simply ask for the brand that they associate with the service they require and the benefits of the service concept?” asks Simon.

Simon goes on to say, “This weekend you may decide to “Hoover” your living room and use a vacuum cleaner to get the job done. Whilst you may refer to vacuuming your living room as “Hoovering”, you are simply referring to the common brand associated with the functionality you require. It is, in fact, vacuum technology that you require. The particular brand, “Hoover” or the term “Hoovering”, has nothing to do with your core requirement. Moreover, the brand “Hoover” may not necessarily be the best brand to meet this requirement.

“Relating this to dental plans, if a patient asks for a specific plan brand, they are more than likely looking to take advantage of  the core principles and benefits of a dental plan rather than anything associated with a third party brand that has no impact on the actual dentistry delivered. Don’t assume you need to pay inflated fees to offer a particular plan brand and promote a third party brand. It is the core principles of a dental plan a patient desires, not a particular plan brand.”

Transferring provider to increase value

Finally, Simon explains why some practices opt to transfer plan provider in order to achieve a greater practice valuation. “It is common knowledge that a practice with a capitation or maintenance plan in place generally achieves a greater valuation than a fee-per-item private practice. Why? Because the reassurance of recurring income provides both lenders and potential buyers with greater confidence of the businesses’ long-term sustainability.”

“If there is a way of making the practice’s dental plan more profitable then this further increases the practice’s value. Take, for example, a practice with 600–1,000 patients on plan. By transferring the administration of its dental plan to Patient Plan Direct from one of the major plan providers, this practice would stand to save between £4,500 and £15,000 per annum which directly increases the bottom line.”

“Using the EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) valuation method, a practice’s profit is generally multiplied by four or five times. Therefore, a cost saving and representative increase in profitability of £4,500 to £15,000 can increase the value of a practice by £22,500 to £75,000. No wonder dentists are exploring plan provider transfers as part of their exit and retirement strategy.”

Simon Reynolds is the commercial director of Patient Plan Direct, the UK’s fastest growing dental plan provider. To discover an approach to dental plans that makes sense and cuts costs contact Patient Plan Direct.

Tel: 0844 848 6888

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mob: 0754 070 6323

Visit: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Patient Plan Direct has appointed Bernard Danquah, a long standing and successful Business Consultant previously at Denplan, as their new Head Business Development Manager South.

Bernard’s appointment signifies Patient Plan Directs’ objective to further establish itself in the mature dental payment plan market as many dentists question the value provided by other plan providers.

Bernard has recently completed a MBA at Warwick University, one of the leading business schools in the UK, specifically researching marketing within dentistry.

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct, commented: “The commercial acumen Bernard encompasses, nurtured from his experience within the industry and his strong academic background, fits with our developing business strategy of offering first-class support to dental practices to improve their profitability whilst sustaining our position as the most cost effective and flexible plan provider in the market.

“Bernard will be a key influence in the strategic direction of Patient Plan Direct and will represent an excellent source of support and guidance for the practices that choose to work with us, whether launching a plan for the first time or transferring from another plan provider. I’m looking forward to working alongside Bernard and the rest of our expanding team.”

Bernard added: “Patient Plan Direct is a forward thinking and vibrant organisation that is truly flexible, growing rapidly and has all its operations and processes aligned to help dentists save money and improve their business.  In a mature market where other plan providers seemingly increase their fees year on year in administering a practice’s capitation or maintenance plan, Patient Plan Direct has been able to offer a low cost, flexible and proven approach to administering a dental plan to suit any practices requirements.

“I believe Patient Plan Direct’s approach is one that fits with the needs of a modern dental practice. As the UK economy picks up so will the costs in running a dental practice and one place dentists can look to reduce their costs whilst increasing their margins is the administration fees of their payment plans.”

Patient Plan Direct is the fastest growing, most flexible and cost effective payment plan provider in the dental market.

For more information:

Call: 08448486888

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Visit: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Patient Plan Direct, the UK’s fastest growing dental plan provider, has teamed up with Bacs, the organisation behind direct debit payments, to offer the practices that work with Patient Plan Direct an opportunity to give their patients ‘The Big Break’ whilst at the same time supporting Mouth Cancer Action.

For patients that sign up to a practice’s dental plan that is administered by Patient Plan Direct between 1st April and 30th June 2014, these patients are automatically entered in to a prize draw to win £12,000 along with other new direct debit payers across the UK as part of The Big Break campaign.

Patient Plan Direct is also making a 50p donation to Mouth Cancer Action for every new patient that signs up to a dental plan via any of the practices that administer their dental plan through Patient Plan Direct throughout the campaign. 

Mouth Cancer Action is run by oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation, with the aim of raising the profile of mouth cancer, a disease which has increased by 50 per cent in the last decade.

Simon Reynolds, commercial director of Patient Plan Direct, commented; ‘The Big Break campaign provides the opportunity for the practices that work with us to further encourage patients to join the practice’s dental plan and budget for their preventative dentistry. This is just one of the growth initiatives we have introduced to help the practices we work with maximise the uptake of dental plans. At the same time, it’s a great way for us to support a very worth cause within dentistry’

Patient Plan Direct provides practices with a fully supported, administratively efficient and low cost means of administering and getting the most from a dental plan, whether starting a plan for the first time or taking advantage of switching from another plan provider.  

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct, explains his recent conversations with a dental practice and discusses whether some dentists are paying double for access to some services and support.

I had a very interesting conversation with a dentist the other day. He had asked to meet with me as he recognised that some of the ‘inclusive’ support elements his plan provider offered in addition to the payment collection and patient insurance were the kind of areas he already had access to through his BDA membership or through his annual membership with the DBG for just a few hundred pounds per year. 

"I’ve realised that I’m paying an excessive administration fee to my plan provider which gives me access to some relatively generic advice and support in certain areas I just don’t need. The vast majority of these things I don’t utilise and I have no choice but to pay for the privilege of the access being available. The other annoying thing is that some of the events and support that I feel may actually be worth while often cost in addition to the monthly fees I pay!"

Does this ring true at your practice?

In my experience, many practices aren’t even aware of the exact fees they pay to their plan provider. I came across a practice recently that was paying 32% of the income generated through its plan in fees to its plan provider!

If you haven’t already heard of Patient Plan Direct, we’re the fastest growing plan provider in the UK and we’re experts at helping practices either introduce a plan for the first time or transfer their plan provision across to us from another provider smoothly and effectively. We have the proof and the processes to ensure patient retention when switching provider needn’t be a concern.

We charge a flat and transparent fee of just £1.00 per patient per month including worldwide A&E cover. This can prove to be 2 or 3 times more cost effective than other providers!  Our fees include the appropriate support from a dedicated business development manager to ensure you get the most from your plan.

Don’t pay more than necessary to offer your patients a dental plan. Discover Patient Plan Direct – plan provider of choice for the BDA’s practice of the year 2013.

If you would like to discuss an attractive and beneficial option under no obligation! Simply give me a call 07540706323 or drop me an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PFM Dental, Goodman Grant Solicitors and Patient Plan Direct are running a series of retirement seminars across the UK in 2014. Considering the calibre of guest speakers you can be sure that you’ll leave the day feeling far greater equipped to tackle the challenge of selling your practice and starting your well deserved retirement.

The inaugural January seminar in Leeds was a huge success and we expect this to continue throughout the duration of 2014 as each month bring another instalment in the series at locations all across the country, details of which can be found on the GDPUK dental calendar.

What can you expect?

The seminars will cover the key issues facing dentists at retirement:

• Financial planning at retirement
• Goodwill valuations and the marketplace
• Should I sell to a corporate?
• The legal aspects of selling a dental practice
• The accountancy aspects of selling a dental practice
• The influence of a dental plan in selling our practice

The full day course offers verifiable CPD and lunch is provided.

All participating speakers are dental specialists; solicitors, accountants, valuers, wealth managers and plan providers.

The delegate fee is only £50. Book early to avoid disappointment. We hope to see you there!

Past delegate comments:

“Very informative and helpful” | “An excellent day – thank you” | “enjoyable productive day, very helpful” | “The speakers were genuine specialists”.

For further information and to book a place contact:

PFM Dental - Heather Willis This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0845 241 4480

Goodman Grant – John Grant This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0131 834 3705

PPD – Simon Reynolds This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0844 848 6888

February - Manchester 21st

March - Birmingham 21st

April - Holborn 25th

May - Newcastle 23rd

June - Southampton 20th

September - Liverpool 19th

October - Oxford 23rd & 24th

November - Watford 21st

An offer of lunch from Patient Plan Direct’s commercial director 

A very Happy New Year to you and your colleagues from me, Simon Reynolds – Commercial Director, and the rest of the team here at Patient Plan Direct. I’d like to extend an invitation to any UK based dentist or practice manager to go and grab a light lunch or coffee and cake at some point in the next few weeks as detailed below.

Hopefully you’ve noticed Patient Plan Direct across the dental media throughout 2013, a year which has proved to be success for us as we continued to help more practices across the UK administer their dental plan more efficiently and effectively and benefit from unrivalled value for money. These practices have enjoyed significant cost savings matched with outstanding support as highlighted in our clients own words.

Did you know a practice with 500 patients on plan that administers its plan with Patient Plan Direct opposed to any other plan provider stands to save on average between £4,100 and £9,700 every year! Savings which can be used to access bespoke support in areas that demand attention to help your practice prosper and grow in a challenging and competitive environment.

Looking forward to 2014, Patient Plan Direct has even more exciting developments in the pipe line, which will prove to further aid the practices that choose to administer their plan with us.

There has never been a better time to explore Patient Plan Direct and understand more about our unique approach to administering dental plans. Our technology, our flexibility, our support, our team and much more continues to evolve and strengthen. Given this, I would like to personally invite you to meet me for a light lunch to understand more about your practices’ plans in 2014, discuss the ever changing world of dentistry and get your feedback on an approach to dental plans both myself, my colleagues and our clients believe fits the modern world of dentistry.  

I’m happy to meet at your convenience and I promise our meeting will be completely relaxed, informal and under no obligation whatsoever. The worst case scenario is a free lunch or if time constraints prevent, maybe coffee and a cake!

I look forward to hearing of your availability, to arrange a light lunch meeting (on me), simply drop me an email or feel free to give me a call. In the meantime I’d like to wish you all the best for 2014. 

Tel: 08448486888

Mob: 07540706323

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

p.s. If you haven't already looked at our Big Fee Freeze promotion, I would encourage you to do so www.patientplandirect.com/fees/the-big-fee-freeze/

Simon Reynolds from Patient Plan Direct takes a look at how the dental plan market has evolved and how this has affected dentistry

If your dental practice offers its patients a dental plan then there’s a good chance you’ll administer it through one of the ‘well known’ plan providers in the market. When you made the decision to start a dental plan or indeed if you are thinking of starting a dental plan, what is your main objective? Our guess; It is a means of reliably debiting patients month on month to generate regular income whilst offering your patients an excellent vehicle to budget for and access quality preventative dentistry.

Essentially the administration of a dental plan involves collecting a fee from a patient month on month and in many cases incorporating an A&E dental insurance policy. Therefore, the role of a plan provider should be straightforward and involves administering a financial transaction and facilitating insurance cover. Despite the simplicity of this model many plan providers seem to have evolved in to tying in additional services and support in other practice functions, offering access to events, entertaining ‘key clients’, employing business coaches and much more. This has resulted in a trend of inflating fees year on year. The question is whether or not this evolution is of benefit?

Good or bad evolution?

Paying for services that are useful and utilised is justifiable. But many practices don’t access the range of services offered by their plan provider, and many will never need to, despite paying for the privilege. It’s rather like buying a Christmas Hamper and only cooking the Turkey!

It’s also alarming how many practices don’t actually know how much they pay to administer their dental plan or take the time to assess just what they get from the fees they pay. For many practices there is a worthwhile opportunity to significantly cut costs by administering their dental plan more efficiently. For some, plan provision with access to all the add-on’s may be the right choice, but for many a simple and reliable solution delivered at lower cost makes sense.

The alternative which makes sense

Four years ago Patient Plan Direct came to market with a unique approach to dental plans. A reliable, low cost, practice branded and administratively friendly means of offering patients a dental plan.

This ensures practice’s that administer their plan with Patient Plan Direct know exactly what they pay for and choose to spend the money they save in areas they see fit. It’s an approach which makes sense and is being discovered by more and more practices throughout the UK.

-          We charge a flat transparent fee structure of just £1.00 per patient per month, which can prove to be more than three times less expensive than other providers. 

-          Our fee includes worldwide A&E insurance underwritten by Hiscox insurance.

-          We’ve never increased our fees since we launched our service.

-          Our parent company is First Capital Cashflow, one the UK’s leading payments bureaux. We’re experts in delivering managed payment solutions which is why we’re able to offer our service at such great value.

-          On average we save practices around £9,000 every year, but have saved some practices significantly more.

-          Our client retention rate is 100%. Our client testimonials highlight our focus on quality client service. We’re not just a cheap option, but rather a great value alternative.

Is it time you assessed how you administer your dental plan or if it’s time to start a plan? Switching provider or starting a plan is simpler than you might think. At the very least we promise it’s worth understanding more about Patient Plan Direct. Take action, contact us today and kick start 2014 with a bang.

FIND OUT MORE about Patient Plan Direct’s unique approach to dental plans, charged at just £1 per patient per month.

Visit. www.patientplandirect.co.uk plus more info on www.patientplandirect.com/fees/the-big-fee-freeze/

Call. 0844 848 6888

Email. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter @PatientPlan