Bryan Laskin, DDS, author of Dental Disorder, discusses the importance of leveraging data access and a mobile patient app to reduce team stress and increase profitability.
Q:Why have dentists not been able to directly connect with patients through a true, secure, comprehensive mobile application until now?
A: Historically, dentistry has operated in a closed-loop system where patient records are often locked within several softwares, including practice management software (PMS), payment systems, imaging platforms, and other technologies, such as intraoral scanners. Unlike the medical field, which has made strides in interoperability, dentistry has largely relied on siloed, outdated systems that limit access to critical patient data for both dental professionals and dental patients. This lack of interoperability creates inefficiencies, increases costs, and ultimately impacts patient care.
Breaking down these barriers by leveraging standardized systems, we can empower patients by giving them direct access to their dental information, drastically increasing case acceptance and allowing dental professionals to securely send referrals, as well as unburden the dental team with a host of mundane, laborious tasks that can easily be automated or done through the patients’ secure application.
Q:What role does a secure patient app play in improving patient outcomes?
A: A true secure, comprehensive dental patient app is a game-changer for both patients and providers. Traditionally, obtaining records is next to impossible in today’s dental software landscape. Think of the last new patient that came into your office. Even if the prior dentist uses the exact same PMS as your practice, you still essentially receive no information regarding the patients’ historical care.
This, in my opinion, leads to the greatest number of misdiagnoses in our profession.
Patients and dentists can store, access, and share their dental history in real-time through secure, standardized patient information exchange. This means no more redundant x-rays or unnecessary procedures due to missing records. Additionally, AI-powered insights within the app help patients understand their oral health risks and treatment options, fostering proactive engagement with their care.
Q:How do dentists ensure data security and HIPAA compliance?
A: Security and compliance are non-negotiable when dealing with patient health information. However, remember the “P” in HIPAA stands for “portability.” In other words, the fundamental purpose of HIPAA is to ensure data from different sources can be easily exchanged and accessible to the patient. We are obviously failing at this in dentistry in a big way today. It is time to address this.
Consider a common case in which a patient shows up to your office with previous endodontic work on a tooth that looks perfect radiographically yet has a small radiolucency associated with that tooth. How often do we reach out and obtain the history of this tooth, even though that is the only way to determine the best course of action for this patient?
I’m embarrassed to admit that, in this case, I likely would refer to an endodontist and just punt the problem to the specialist.
Q: What impact does allowing the patient to have access to his or her data have on the care?
A: There are numerous positive ripple effects of a mobile application for your patients where they can view their intraoral photos and other information. When patient records are accessible and shareable, we see a dramatic improvement in efficiency, accuracy, and cost effectiveness. Insurance claims become more streamlined, reducing administrative burdens on dental offices. Providers can make faster, more informed decisions, leading to better treatment outcomes.
A dental patient application will also skyrocket office production through patient education tools and allow the patient to schedule appointments instantly and securely message the dental team, refer other patients to your practice, and ensure patient loyalty.
Today’s offices are overwhelmed, so having the patient obtain financial arrangements and even get third-party financing directly within a secure mobile app makes all the sense in the world. Almost all other businesses have a mobile application to directly connect with their customers. It is shocking that, even though this is required through HIPAA and the Cures Act, this has not been available to practices until now.
Q: What’s next for the future of patient-centric dental technology?
A: We are just scratching the surface of shifting to the needs of our patients in dentistry. Dental patients are more informed about their health options than ever before during my 25-year career. This means that our patients will demand integrating real-time risk assessments, predictive analytics, and cross-specialty data sharing with medical providers in the near future.
Additionally, AI-powered automation will continue to optimize practice workflows, reduce administrative waste, and enhance communication between providers and patients. Ultimately, dental practices that lean into connecting directly with their patients and make care more convenient to receive will lead the charge in bringing patient-focused dental care to life, making their practices more efficient, compliant, and profitable than ever before.
Dr. Laskin is a Minnesota-based dentist and tech entrepreneur on a mission to connect dentistry by breaking down the silos that exist between dentists and their patients, teams, and data. CEO and co-founder of Toothapps, a dental data app, as well as creator of Lake Minnetonka Dental, Upgrade Dental, Digital Nitrous, OperaDDS, and Dental Standards Institute, Dr. Laskin is an advisor to many progressive healthcare companies.
He is the author of the Amazon bestselling books, The Patient First Manifesto and Dental Disorder and the host of “The Patient First Podcast.”
He can be reached at bryan@toothapps.com.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Bruno Pereira from Pixabay.
