1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,980 Hey there, dental professionals and industry enthusiasts. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,000 Picture this. It's October, and you're in the 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,779 middle of one of the most transformative 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,880 experiences of your career. You're at the Becker's 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,359 fall future of dentistry roundtable in the vibrant 6 00:00:13,359 --> 00:00:16,094 city of Chicago, fresh off an incredible 3 7 00:00:16,094 --> 00:00:19,154 days at the Hyatt Regency. Imagine yourself inspired 8 00:00:19,295 --> 00:00:22,974 and invigorated after attending captivating keynote sessions by 9 00:00:22,974 --> 00:00:25,714 none other than the legendary boxing world champion 10 00:00:25,774 --> 00:00:29,554 and CEO, Lila Elite, and the extraordinary professional 11 00:00:30,179 --> 00:00:33,399 player, Caitlin Clark. See yourself engaged in lively 12 00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:36,500 discussions, exchanging ideas, and collecting a stack of 13 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,560 business cards from fellow dental experts and potential 14 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:42,200 partners. You've networked with over 350 15 00:00:42,579 --> 00:00:45,140 attendees and learned from more than 80 speakers 16 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:47,554 who are at the forefront of dental innovation. 17 00:00:48,414 --> 00:00:49,795 You sat in on educational 18 00:00:50,094 --> 00:00:52,975 sessions exploring topics that elevate dental care as 19 00:00:52,975 --> 00:00:55,774 a critical element of whole person health. You've 20 00:00:55,774 --> 00:00:58,994 witnessed firsthand how digital technology is revolutionizing 21 00:00:59,454 --> 00:01:00,530 patient outcomes 22 00:01:00,909 --> 00:01:04,209 and how both large DSOs and independent practices 23 00:01:04,349 --> 00:01:05,170 are flourishing. 24 00:01:05,469 --> 00:01:07,709 Get ready to transform your career and don't 25 00:01:07,709 --> 00:01:10,609 miss out on this incredible opportunity. The Becker's 26 00:01:10,670 --> 00:01:13,569 fall future of dentistry roundtable is from October 27 00:01:13,745 --> 00:01:16,004 30th to November 1, 2024. 28 00:01:16,465 --> 00:01:18,645 Get registered by going to beckersdental.com 29 00:01:20,145 --> 00:01:21,924 and clicking on the events page. 30 00:01:22,385 --> 00:01:25,185 Welcome everyone to the Becker's Healthcare podcast series. 31 00:01:25,185 --> 00:01:27,825 I'm Rya Muhammad, writer and moderator with Becker's 32 00:01:27,825 --> 00:01:29,930 Healthcare, and thrilled to have with me today 33 00:01:29,930 --> 00:01:32,489 Cammy Luchak, senior director of operations for the 34 00:01:32,489 --> 00:01:35,609 Midwest at Imagine Dental Partners. Cammy, welcome to 35 00:01:35,609 --> 00:01:37,770 the Becker's Healthcare podcast. We're very excited to 36 00:01:37,770 --> 00:01:39,370 have you join us today. To get us 37 00:01:39,370 --> 00:01:41,609 started, would you mind please introducing yourself and 38 00:01:41,609 --> 00:01:43,549 telling us a bit about your background? 39 00:01:44,704 --> 00:01:47,265 Yeah. Thanks, Mariah, for having me today. Excited 40 00:01:47,265 --> 00:01:48,004 to be here. 41 00:01:48,625 --> 00:01:49,765 So Cammy Lujak, 42 00:01:50,144 --> 00:01:52,864 like Mariah said, senior director of operations right 43 00:01:52,864 --> 00:01:54,564 now for Imagine Dental Partners. 44 00:01:55,344 --> 00:01:57,525 Currently reside in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 45 00:01:58,260 --> 00:02:01,060 I've been in dentistry for about 13 years, 46 00:02:01,060 --> 00:02:04,500 both on the clinical side, business development, and 47 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:05,640 operations side. 48 00:02:06,020 --> 00:02:09,379 I was actually predental in college about 15 49 00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:11,960 years ago and worked as a dental assistant 50 00:02:12,395 --> 00:02:14,495 to gain experience in the dental field. 51 00:02:15,194 --> 00:02:16,794 And when I didn't get into dental school 52 00:02:16,794 --> 00:02:18,875 my 1st year, I became an office manager 53 00:02:18,875 --> 00:02:21,034 of a dental office, and that really truly 54 00:02:21,034 --> 00:02:23,514 sparked my passion for more of the operations 55 00:02:23,514 --> 00:02:26,314 and business side of dentistry versus the clinical 56 00:02:26,314 --> 00:02:26,814 side. 57 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,500 So I've worked for 58 00:02:28,879 --> 00:02:29,780 multiple DSOs, 59 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,799 but currently, you know, working with Imagine Dental 60 00:02:32,799 --> 00:02:33,299 Partners. 61 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,719 My main role in the organization is to 62 00:02:36,719 --> 00:02:37,219 strategize 63 00:02:38,319 --> 00:02:40,375 with our partner practices on how are we 64 00:02:40,375 --> 00:02:42,855 gonna grow their practices over the next couple 65 00:02:42,855 --> 00:02:45,655 of years. Is it adding additional providers like 66 00:02:45,655 --> 00:02:46,955 hygienists and associates, 67 00:02:47,735 --> 00:02:50,775 or is it expanding our, clinicians' clinical skill 68 00:02:50,775 --> 00:02:53,175 set through technology and education and adding a 69 00:02:53,175 --> 00:02:55,740 new service to the practice like clear aligners 70 00:02:55,740 --> 00:02:57,939 or implants. And so that's my current role 71 00:02:57,939 --> 00:02:59,000 within the organization. 72 00:03:00,659 --> 00:03:02,340 Wonderful. Thank you so much for giving us 73 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,360 that background. I'm sure it'll definitely, 74 00:03:05,139 --> 00:03:06,099 put into play, 75 00:03:06,419 --> 00:03:08,259 some of your responses for, you know, the 76 00:03:08,259 --> 00:03:09,319 rest of the podcast. 77 00:03:09,914 --> 00:03:11,435 The first thing I really wanted to ask 78 00:03:11,435 --> 00:03:13,514 you, Cammy, is what are the biggest issues 79 00:03:13,514 --> 00:03:15,354 you're following in dental right now? 80 00:03:15,675 --> 00:03:17,514 I'm sure there are a lot of different 81 00:03:17,514 --> 00:03:19,435 topics that you're working with being the senior 82 00:03:19,435 --> 00:03:20,495 director of operations. 83 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:22,314 But what are some of the biggest things 84 00:03:22,314 --> 00:03:24,750 that you're following in the news? Anything that's, 85 00:03:25,069 --> 00:03:26,449 impacting you right now? 86 00:03:27,629 --> 00:03:29,409 Yeah. I think this is a hot topic 87 00:03:29,949 --> 00:03:31,650 between a lot of different organizations, 88 00:03:32,829 --> 00:03:35,729 you know, between DSOs and DPOs, but definitely 89 00:03:35,949 --> 00:03:37,650 recruiting and staffing shortages. 90 00:03:38,055 --> 00:03:40,055 You know, post COVID, it's just been a 91 00:03:40,055 --> 00:03:41,995 completely different market for talent. 92 00:03:42,694 --> 00:03:45,174 And we really need to expand and increase 93 00:03:45,174 --> 00:03:47,734 our enrollment for hygiene and assisting programs so 94 00:03:47,734 --> 00:03:48,715 that they can help 95 00:03:49,014 --> 00:03:50,979 fill the need of the open positions that 96 00:03:50,979 --> 00:03:53,379 we have at our partner practices and then 97 00:03:53,379 --> 00:03:55,319 at other practices across the country. 98 00:03:55,699 --> 00:03:57,860 But because of the staffing shortages, I think 99 00:03:57,860 --> 00:03:59,620 that we're all seeing that labor costs are 100 00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:00,840 increasing significantly, 101 00:04:01,699 --> 00:04:02,919 especially in hygiene. 102 00:04:03,625 --> 00:04:05,724 Team members are leaving for higher pay, 103 00:04:06,425 --> 00:04:09,004 and in turn, it's really affecting our access 104 00:04:09,064 --> 00:04:09,705 to patient 105 00:04:10,344 --> 00:04:12,284 or our access to care for patients. 106 00:04:12,824 --> 00:04:15,305 I actually just read an article recently, and 107 00:04:15,305 --> 00:04:18,160 it said almost 70% of practices are looking 108 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,259 for one team member at least, 109 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,399 which is a little crazy to think about. 110 00:04:22,399 --> 00:04:24,740 So when we want the best patient experience, 111 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,620 it's hard when you don't have the talent, 112 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,474 or the rotating staff in your dental practices. 113 00:04:30,854 --> 00:04:33,974 So definitely recruiting and staffing has been, a 114 00:04:33,974 --> 00:04:35,435 challenge across the industry. 115 00:04:36,535 --> 00:04:39,175 Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. I I completely hear you. 116 00:04:39,175 --> 00:04:40,454 I think a lot of people that I 117 00:04:40,454 --> 00:04:42,314 talked to in, you know, the dental space 118 00:04:42,439 --> 00:04:44,039 kinda say the exact same thing, and I 119 00:04:44,039 --> 00:04:47,000 think it it's going across multiple different fields 120 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,319 in health care right now. Is there anything 121 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:51,639 else that's kinda making you nervous or anything 122 00:04:51,639 --> 00:04:53,800 that you are excited about, whether it's anything 123 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,879 that you're dealing with in your organization or 124 00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:57,319 anything else that you're kinda seeing on the 125 00:04:57,319 --> 00:04:57,819 news? 126 00:04:59,064 --> 00:04:59,564 Yeah. 127 00:04:59,865 --> 00:05:02,185 I actually attended the last Becker's review in 128 00:05:02,185 --> 00:05:02,685 Chicago, 129 00:05:02,985 --> 00:05:05,625 which was a great event, and really kind 130 00:05:05,625 --> 00:05:07,865 of the hot trend right now is AI 131 00:05:07,865 --> 00:05:08,365 technology. 132 00:05:09,625 --> 00:05:10,605 It's really fascinating 133 00:05:11,064 --> 00:05:13,459 that it can be both used clinically and 134 00:05:13,459 --> 00:05:13,959 administratively. 135 00:05:14,899 --> 00:05:17,699 You know, there's platforms out there like Pearl, 136 00:05:17,699 --> 00:05:19,399 Overjet, Venti AI 137 00:05:19,939 --> 00:05:22,580 that can offer opportunities to help improve clinical 138 00:05:22,580 --> 00:05:25,000 alignment, diagnostics, and patient care. 139 00:05:25,444 --> 00:05:27,764 But it's cool also too to hear how 140 00:05:27,764 --> 00:05:31,305 AI can better support administrative processes and efficiencies, 141 00:05:31,925 --> 00:05:33,704 especially in the RCM wheelhouse. 142 00:05:34,084 --> 00:05:35,764 Like, Inside Desk, that was one of the 143 00:05:35,764 --> 00:05:37,845 ones that they talked about, at the last 144 00:05:37,845 --> 00:05:38,745 Becker's review. 145 00:05:39,470 --> 00:05:40,910 And they had a new tool. I think 146 00:05:40,910 --> 00:05:42,290 it was called Inside Dial, 147 00:05:42,910 --> 00:05:46,449 but actually using AI to follow-up on AR 148 00:05:46,589 --> 00:05:48,990 and with insurance companies. And so that can 149 00:05:48,990 --> 00:05:50,050 help create efficiencies. 150 00:05:51,285 --> 00:05:53,444 And also in marketing, you know, AI call 151 00:05:53,444 --> 00:05:56,245 tracking systems not only record calls, but they 152 00:05:56,245 --> 00:05:58,805 analyze them so that you can help convert 153 00:05:58,805 --> 00:06:01,305 more leads for your dental practices. But it 154 00:06:01,365 --> 00:06:04,404 also creates better training for your front desk. 155 00:06:04,404 --> 00:06:06,745 They can listen in and understand why 156 00:06:07,069 --> 00:06:08,930 a patient did or didn't accept, 157 00:06:09,310 --> 00:06:11,889 that that new appointment within your practice. 158 00:06:12,269 --> 00:06:14,189 So I think that AI is kind of 159 00:06:14,189 --> 00:06:15,870 the hot topic and hot trend right now 160 00:06:15,870 --> 00:06:18,610 in dentistry. And I know across our organization, 161 00:06:18,669 --> 00:06:20,829 we're using it in in multiple ways, which 162 00:06:20,829 --> 00:06:21,490 is exciting. 163 00:06:21,904 --> 00:06:23,205 What's making me nervous, 164 00:06:23,824 --> 00:06:26,384 I think, is the increase in interest rates 165 00:06:26,384 --> 00:06:29,285 in the economy and just the uncertainty there, 166 00:06:29,824 --> 00:06:32,384 and also the low in reimbursements from insurance 167 00:06:32,384 --> 00:06:35,025 companies as costs are rising. I think patients 168 00:06:35,025 --> 00:06:36,485 are being more cautious 169 00:06:36,939 --> 00:06:37,680 in their 170 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:39,519 income and buyers, 171 00:06:39,980 --> 00:06:43,019 also being more cautious and financing conditions are 172 00:06:43,019 --> 00:06:45,339 becoming a little bit less favorable. So little 173 00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:47,740 bit on of uncertainty there in the economy. 174 00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:50,220 So that's definitely what we've been watching a 175 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:50,959 little bit. 176 00:06:52,175 --> 00:06:54,415 Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, first, I'm glad you 177 00:06:54,415 --> 00:06:56,654 enjoyed the dental roundtable. You know, I've heard 178 00:06:56,654 --> 00:06:58,574 from a lot of executives, you know, talk 179 00:06:58,574 --> 00:07:00,415 about the AI tech. And I think this 180 00:07:00,415 --> 00:07:03,375 topic will definitely continue to develop, and, people's 181 00:07:03,375 --> 00:07:05,154 opinions will continue to sway. 182 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:07,870 But I I am glad to hear that 183 00:07:07,870 --> 00:07:10,290 AI can be used in multiple different fronts 184 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:12,910 of health care, which is really nice. And, 185 00:07:13,149 --> 00:07:14,669 Cammy, before I let you go, the last 186 00:07:14,669 --> 00:07:16,189 thing I wanted to ask you is, what 187 00:07:16,189 --> 00:07:18,285 do you think the most effective health care 188 00:07:18,285 --> 00:07:20,525 leaders need in order to be successful in 189 00:07:20,525 --> 00:07:21,805 the next 2 to 3 years do you 190 00:07:21,805 --> 00:07:22,305 think? 191 00:07:23,564 --> 00:07:26,444 Yeah. I think that recruiting and retaining strong 192 00:07:26,444 --> 00:07:26,944 talent 193 00:07:27,324 --> 00:07:28,785 really focus on 194 00:07:29,579 --> 00:07:31,579 retaining those a players is what we like 195 00:07:31,579 --> 00:07:33,919 to call them. If you can develop trust, 196 00:07:34,060 --> 00:07:37,100 be have good communication and transparency with your 197 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:37,600 team, 198 00:07:38,220 --> 00:07:40,779 motivate them by listening, listen to their ideas, 199 00:07:40,779 --> 00:07:43,194 and implement it into your your practice and 200 00:07:43,194 --> 00:07:43,935 your workflows, 201 00:07:44,394 --> 00:07:46,894 I think that you will boost their productivity 202 00:07:47,035 --> 00:07:48,795 and have good retention. And they'll be happy 203 00:07:48,795 --> 00:07:50,555 in their role, and they don't want to 204 00:07:50,555 --> 00:07:51,455 leave your organization. 205 00:07:52,875 --> 00:07:54,235 It's hard to grow when you don't have 206 00:07:54,235 --> 00:07:55,995 good talent. And I think that not only 207 00:07:55,995 --> 00:07:58,095 applies to your direct reports, 208 00:07:58,550 --> 00:08:00,790 but also to the dental practices as well 209 00:08:00,790 --> 00:08:03,189 and to your dental providers. You know? I 210 00:08:03,189 --> 00:08:04,889 always say if you've got happy doctors, 211 00:08:05,270 --> 00:08:07,370 and a happy team, you have happy patients. 212 00:08:07,670 --> 00:08:09,670 So really thinking about how you can retain 213 00:08:09,670 --> 00:08:10,650 your good talent. 214 00:08:11,954 --> 00:08:13,954 Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, thank you so much 215 00:08:13,954 --> 00:08:15,794 for those final thoughts, Cammy. This has definitely 216 00:08:15,794 --> 00:08:18,115 been an informative discussion. So, again, I wanna 217 00:08:18,115 --> 00:08:19,634 thank you so much for coming on Becker's 218 00:08:19,634 --> 00:08:21,235 Healthcare. I hope you had a good first 219 00:08:21,235 --> 00:08:22,375 time on the podcast. 220 00:08:22,754 --> 00:08:24,274 And I look forward to connecting with you 221 00:08:24,274 --> 00:08:25,014 again soon. 222 00:08:25,884 --> 00:08:27,504 Yeah. Thank you so much. Appreciate, 223 00:08:27,964 --> 00:08:29,964 you asking me today. Have a great day. 224 00:08:29,964 --> 00:08:30,704 You too.