Synergy Practices Dental Podcast

In this week’s episode, Sasha catches up with Arminco’s very own - Penny Gulick; Director of Architectural and Design for Arminco, Inc.   Penny dives into what to look for when designing a dental or medical practice, focusing on design.  From how design has changed in the past few years, to what the “first impression” area is,  which is also where the right investment is recommended.   We bread down all the trends, from Gold being back in, to veining for reception areas, and how wall coverings are now back in!  This is one episode you do not want to miss!

In this week’s episode, we dive into ambulatory care - what it is and how to go about it.  Our team goes over what to look for and where to even start with this process, having a study period is crucial to really understand the full scope of what you’re getting into prior to finalizing the agreement.  Having the right information and all of the information is key in any scenario.  Artin and Sasha dive into what to look for in a contractor when having a requirement such as ambulatory care, as well as what to look for in a space when having an ambulatory care requirement.  This is one episode you do not want to miss!

In this week’s episode, Sasha and Artin take you down the lane of mechanic liens.  We’re working with a doctor out of the PA area whose project has been 99% completed, paid the contractor in full and now has subcontractors who he never spoke to reaching out to him threatening with a mechanic lien.  There are minor punch lists that need to still be completed, needless to say, the doctor is very concerned.  Our team breaks down what to look for in the terms of the contract that deal with mechanic liens, what a mechanic lien is and the options there are and what is/isn’t a possible liability given a mechanic lien that may be in place. 

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by a special guest - Dr. Ingrid Murra.  Dr. Ingrid Murra, DDS, MMSc is a Harvard-trained orthodontist and the founder and CEO of Two Front, the collaborative care platform connecting dentists and orthodontists to provide the most convenient and efficient Invisalign.  

Artin and Sasha dive into what Two Front does and how it can help doctors across the industry.  Being able to provide better care and better financial returns in the process of receiving orthodontic treatment.   With a unique twist, Two Front is a bit like Uber meets BnB but for teeth, helping Orthos run hybrid practices by leveraging space from local dentist offices so that patients can continue to receive expert dental care, with a seamless digital experience, resources like payment plans- all from their dentists.  This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Doctor called in with a project out of North Carolina. He signed with a local contractor in April of 2021, there were a few issues with the lease but they’re now ready go move forward with the project.  The issue is that now that they’re ready to start the project, the contractor recently reached out to the doctor to have a conversation  with him regarding price increases from the manufacturers that has put a bump in the plans.  Covid has continued to have a big play in price increases, labor prices have also increased.  Construction costs have gone up an average of 45% in the past year, higher in some areas than others depending on the material.  Listen to what our team suggests to our doctor to help with the current scenario and to help future doctors make the best decisions.

In this week's episode, a  General Dentist called dental chairs have been delivered and now has change order issues with contractor.  Turns out the architect designed the chairs to be rear delivery but the actual chairs that were sent to the property where chair delivery.  Many fingers are pointed, check out this episode so we can help you narrow down how to avoid a finger pointing, sticky situation and where this actually went wrong and how to help avoid this.

This week’s Red Card segment hits close to home, working with a doctor from Maryland.  She’s been recently told that she needs an elevator.  Our team dives into this scenario, we go into the initial offer where a study period is presented, making sure you’re protecting yourself.  We go into the difference between a change in use scenario vs a space that was meant to be a dental practice.  Listen to this sweet episode 

In this week’s episode, we spoke with a Doctor that called in frustrated with his permit fees.  He’s based out of NYC as, Orthodontist and finds himself frustrated with his current permit fees.  He mentioned he had a specific number in mind that it would be for the permit fees, approximately $1,500.00.  He now finds himself dealing with quite different numbers. He was quoted at around $7,000.00 in permit fees.  There are many variables that go into permit fees. Understanding the fees that go into the total number of permit fees is key to best understanding everything that’s being taken into consideration to get to the total number.  It depends on the space you’re going into, the number of restrooms, and if the restrooms were already there v.s. constructing new restrooms.  The number of sinks is a big variable and deciding factor in permit fees.  Check out this episode to better understand what goes into permit fees. 

In this week’s episode, we dive into it with a general dentist who has recently signed on with a contractor to help build their practice but now wants to back out of the contract.  Our team dives into what the doctor needs to consider, it’s not always as easy as just backing out of the contract with a contractor, other variables can come into play.  Our team helps identify other issues the doctor could be facing such as; whether there’s a signed lease in place.  In this case, there is a signed lease, as well as the project being in the design phase.  Artin and Sasha break down their recommendations on how to approach this sticky situation.  

Dental office expansions.  In this week’s episode, we work with a doctor that has an existing dental practice, and the opportunity to expand next door.  What do you do? How do you do it?  Phases, how to deal with a project that requires a shutdown, can it be done in phases or is it better to just deal with the shutdown?  Is there a right/wrong answer to how many weeks shutdown a project would require?  We tap into what to consider when thinking of expansions.  We talk about a shutdown, how to tackle a shutdown, what to expect.  Our team shares their expert knowledge to help you avoid getting into a sticky situation.