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I originally planned to be a solo practitioner, but I'm wondering if
working in a partnership or group practice would be a greater benefit.
What are your thoughts?
Of course the answer is "it depends." There are a number of
questions you have to ask yourself. Are you someone who can work
well with others? This is especially important since a partnership
in many ways is just like a marriage. In fact, you may very well
spend more time together than you do with your own spouse! Are you
just getting started and do you think it will be a benefit to see how an
established practice "runs things?" Are you someone who takes great
pride in his/her work and can't possibly tolerate others not meeting
your level of attention?
In a solo practice, you are the alpha and the omega. You may
have to take the garbage out while answering the phone, but you’re
in control. Success is on your shoulders alone. In a
partnership, trust is probably the number one item. If you can
not implicitly trust your partner, then it won't work long
term. Having a partner who balances your own strengths/weaknesses
is probably best. In a group practice, you most likely will have
more resources in terms of materials, staff and equipment to get the job
done. If the office isn't functioning smoothly, a group practice
can be a real headache and stressful environment!
In a well-functioning office, the interactions with colleagues and
staff can be very enriching. Historically, dentistry has been a
"cottage industry" in which a lone doctor with a limited number of staff
faced the dental needs of a community alone. A group practice
breaks this "convention" and may offer the starting dentist an excellent
way to get "wet behind the ears." Good luck in your decision!
Kevin Klatte, DMD
Dr. Klatte is a 1997 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
He is an orthodontist and practices with a group of dentists at
Associated Orthodontics in Philadelphia. You can contact Dr. Klatte if
you’d like to inquire with him further.
Working in a group practice does have many
benefits. However you must make sure that your dental philosophies
are very, very similar and that you both share similar values in regards
to dentistry and life in general. The treatment of patients, staff
and other support personnel needs to be anchored in basic rules of
trust and respect. It sounds simple, but it can be tricky to
find a dental partner to practice with. If you find that match,
then it can be easier to manage an office and patient
treatment. After all, there is much more to life than being
constantly swamped with your career. Good luck!
Jennifer Davis, DMD
Dr. Davis is a 2002 graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania. She practices in a partnership in Cleona as a general
dentist. You can contact Dr. Davis if you wish
to inquire with her further.
As a solo practitioner, I often wonder the same
thing. I have been in solo practice for five years now and have
considered associates, mergers, etc. multiple times. There are
obvious positives such as sharing overhead, sharing emergency calls,
having someone to bounce ideas off of just to name a few. However,
running a practice requires a lot of hard decisions on a daily basis
such as staffing, ordering, scheduling, not to mention long-term
planning. If you work with other dentists, everyone must be on the
same page and have the same goal or friction can develop. Even if
everyone is united in their goals, there is still potential for
conflict. This situation is very much like a marriage, and if for
some reason it does not work out it can be even more complicated that a
divorce. Choose a partner carefully or fly solo, as I have done.
Gino Pagano, DMD
Dr. Pagano is a 2000 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and
later completed a GPR at Allegheny General Hospital in
Pittsburgh. He is a general dentist and solo practitioner at
Comfortable Dentistry in East McKeesport. You can contact Dr. Pagano if you’d like
to inquire with him further.
As a solo practitioner, you will make all of the decisions.
This may sound like a good idea at first, but unless you have run a
business before, the number of difficult decisions you will be faced
with will surprise you. What kind of effort should you expect from
different staff personnel? What kind of salary should you
pay? You will likely make the mistakes that all first time business
owners make. You will have to rely on other dentists to cover calls for
you when you go on vacation or go away for the weekend. As a solo
practitioner, the practice won’t make money if you are away.
On the other hand, you won’t have to share the profits with
other dentists. Your purchase price and setup price should be lower
than buying into a group practice. You won’t have the
headaches of trying to iron out a buy/sell agreement or employment
agreement between you and the other partners.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. If you are absolutely certain
of your clinical skills and you can buy an established, healthy
practice, a solo practice might be a good idea. If you are not certain
whether your clinical skills are optimum yet, or you don’t have
the opportunity to buy a practice from a retiring dentist, I would
suggest being an associate for a year or two. That should give you
sufficient time to evaluate your boss’s personality and see if a
partnership will work, or you may decide at that time you want to pursue
a solo practice. It also will give you the chance to see
how an experienced owner runs a practice. The key to any successful
partnership or associateship is to have a good contract. Talk
with colleagues whom you trust to recommend
an attorney.
Tad Glossner, DDS
Dr. Glossner is a 1997 graduate of West Virginia University and
received his AEGD from West Virginia University in 1998. He is a
general dentist within a group practice in Camp Hill. You can
contact Dr.
Glossner if you wish to inquire with him further.
For the past three years I was practicing with a
partner. My partner recently retired, so I’m still adjusting
to my life as a solo practitioner. There are, without a doubt,
advantages and disadvantages to both situations.
Partnerships: A practice consultant once told me
that there can only be one “captain of the ship” in a dental
practice and that person has to not only take credit for the good, but
also bear responsibility for the bad. Partnerships can be very
complicated, but can be very rewarding. They allow for camaraderie,
the ability to share a workload and to share expenses. However,
your ability to find a dental partner with whom you are 100
percent compatible will directly influence the success of your
practice.
Solo Practitioner: It can be very lonely as a solo
practitioner. The transition from dental school, where you have
constant interaction with your peers, to a solo practice can be
especially difficult. However, the feeling of independence and
ability to make your own decisions can far outweigh the negative
aspects.
I’d advise you to enroll in PDA's Statewide
Mentoring Program. This will allow you to get matched with a mentor
and potentially tour his or her office. Your mentor may
help you learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of solo,
partnership and group practices.
Brian Miller, DMD
Dr. Miller is a 2000 graduate of the University of
Pittsburgh and finished an Orthodontics program in 2003. He is a solo
practitioner at Waterfront Orthodontics in Plains. You can
contact Dr.
Miller if you’d like to inquire with him further.
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