By Dr. Gordon Christensen
Embezzlement and fraud are rampant in dental practices. Here are two of the most common methods of dishonesty:
1.
Patients on the day sheet should be the same as those on the
appointment schedule. It is simple for an employee to drop a patient who
paid cash off the day sheet, make an “adjustment” (reduction in fee on
the patient’s record), and pocket the cash. Dentists should COMPARE
THESE RECORDS AND FOLLOW UP ON ANY DISCREPANCIES.
2. You should
check each fee adjustment on a daily basis. Dishonest employees can
easily make their own adjustment to a patient’s account, pocket the
money, and never be detected unless the dentist is observant.
Our
newest video, V4739 “Protecting Your Office from Embezzlement &
Fraud,” is an absolute must for dentists to see. The sad truth is, the
majority of dental practices have been or are now being embezzled!
Jan/Feb 2010 Preferred Client Guide
Vol. 15, Issue 1
Dr.
Christensen is a practicing prosthodontist in Provo,Utah, and dean of
the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry. He is the founder and director of
Practical Clinical Courses, an international continuing education
organization initiated in 1981 for dental professionals. Dr. Christensen
is a cofounder (with his wife, Rella) and senior consultant of
CLINICIANS REPORT (formerly Clinical Research Associates), which since
1976 has conducted research in all areas of dentistry.
