Do's and don'ts for an office shutdown

At one time, shutting down your office for an extended period seemed an unlikely scenario, given how well your practice was doing. But after the challenges of the past couple of months, it's commonplace. The good news is that the U.S. will get through it, and so can you. Just because the office is closed doesn't mean you should stick you head in the sand. Communication will be key. Make sure you're staying in touch with everyone.

Communicate with your patients weekly. Update them on the status of the practice, how emergencies will be handled, and how to get in touch with you if they have any questions. This seems easy enough; however, regulations and policies on how emergencies should be handled vary by state. Clear and consistent communication will eliminate confusion and comfort patients.

Don't forget to reach out to your team. As practices shut down and staff members are sheltering in place, practice teams are finding that social media or smartphone communication isn't nearly as comforting as actually being with peers in the office each day. In the same way you are reaching out to your patients, you must make the effort to communicate regularly with your team. Keep them up to date on what is happening, address rumors to the best of your ability, and provide some level of assurance that this will get better and the practice with be up and running as soon as possible.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Dr. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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