The dental treatment coordinator is a crucial member of any dental practice staff. This role is responsible for communicating treatment plans with patients compassionately and effectively. 

The treatment coordinator is an active part of each patient’s experience, starting at their diagnosis and following through to payment. Dentistry is costly, and the treatment coordinator must communicate that with care.

Dental treatment plans and payment plans can be tricky to coordinate and keep track of for each patient. With Dental Intelligence’s software, your practice can simplify this process to benefit your patients and treatment coordinator.

Seven Qualities and Practices of a Dental Treatment Coordinator

Treatment coordinators need a specific skill set to be successful. You want to rely on your treatment coordinator to guide your patients through the treatment and payment process. 

When you hire a dental treatment coordinator for your dental practice, evaluate them for the qualities below.

1. Knowledge and Expertise

First and foremost, a treatment coordinator must have extensive experience in the dental industry. There is no other way to gain the practical knowledge they’ll need to fill this role. 

Your treatment coordinator must understand and communicate information regarding procedures, treatment plans, terminology, tools, insurance coverage, and benefits. 

A treatment coordinator who knows what they’re doing will inspire confidence in you and your patients.

2. Ability To Find the Best Location

When a coordinator explains treatment plans and prices to a patient, they must consider all factors. Their explanation isn’t just about how they say it, but where. If the patient is in a crowded environment when having this discussion, like a waiting room, they may feel overwhelmed or embarrassed. 

The right treatment coordinator will find a private location to discuss each patient’s payment and treatment plans. This ensures the patient feels comfortable and able to ask questions. The location should also have a computer screen available so the coordinator can utilize visual tools.

3. Suitable Personality

Treatment coordinators require a specific set of personality traits to be successful. They must be:

• Outgoing
• Energetic
• Empathetic

These traits make patients feel more comfortable when discussing their plans. A treatment coordinator should make each patient feel welcome while guiding them toward a commitment to treatment. 

Treatment coordinators must also value honesty. The American Dental Association describes veracity in its code of ethics as one’s duty to communicate truthfully. Patients want transparency from their dentists.

4. Goal-Driven Practices

Your treatment coordinator cannot feel comfortable with a lack of progress in your dental office. They must strive for growth. This quality keeps your coordinator focused and working hard. Your treatment coordinator should make regular goals, then work diligently to meet them.

For example, they may have a goal for yearly production or revenue. That goal should increase every year they work at your practice and be ambitious yet attainable. 

5. Consistent Communication Habits

Your treatment coordinator must communicate effectively with patients but also with you and other staff within the practice. Consistently communicating the status of goals, patients’ schedules, holds on accounts, and other vital information keeps a dental practice running.

When someone is missing information, it can keep them from effectively doing their job. The treatment coordinator is responsible for ensuring all relevant parties have information regarding patients’ treatment and payment plans.

6. Ability To Communicate the Need for Treatment

Without the right treatment coordinator, a patient may not understand the need for treatment. Some won’t see dental care as necessary and will push it off until their oral health suffers more damage.

It’s the treatment coordinator’s job to prevent this. They must communicate the urgent need for each patient’s treatment. Including pictures during a patient consultation can aid in emphasizing this need.

7. Dedication to Patient Care

All treatment coordinators must be dedicated to patient care. If their only priority is getting your patients to swipe their credit cards, patients will pick up on it. The best treatment coordinators will prioritize the well-being of the patient, then work with them to decide which payment options best suit them.

Simplify Treatment Coordination With Dental Intelligence 

Treatment coordinators have many responsibilities to juggle. The above qualities are a good start, but they don’t cover everything. Treatment coordinators also need dental case presentation skills, financial knowledge, and motivational practices. 

To simplify treatment coordination and other procedures in your dental practice, use Dental Intelligence’s innovative software. Schedule a demo today to see what the future of your dental practice could look like.