Page 3 - GP Spring 2020

Guest Editorial
GP SPRING 2019 You can answer- in a professional manner
by Joseph DiDonato III, DDS, MBA, FAGD
SPRING 2019
and follow a few good rules. There are
one of the best I have seen comes from
ials anymore. We
The Journal of the Nobody reads editor- many organizations offering advice but
Medical Justice and they have offered five
1
New York State Academy hardly expect anyone Golden Rules to follow. First, understand
to have great advice
of General Dentistry or words of wisdom that whatever you do you must remain
New York State Academy of General Dentistry that will improve our HIPAA compliant and don’t fall afoul of
other regulations governing your conduct
19-02 Whitestone Expressway, Suite 204 lives or our practices
Whitestone, NY 11357 and then bury it in as a professional. Our offices are places of
Telephone: 718-747-3353 an editorial column. public accommodation and our response
Fax: 718-747-3355 But people read patient reviews. And they to out of mainstream behavior needs to be
To Contact the NYSAGD, visit our website measured and professional.
at www.nysagd.org expect that someone they don’t know is
Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD going to have some advice or discovery 1. Demonstrate that the practice is
about your practice that will be of value to
Editor them. It all evolves from the need to know, reasonable and takes all critical
Joseph DiDonato, III, DDS, MBA, FAGD because patients want to know what others evaluation seriously, but is not using the
Associate Editor have thought of our practices before they internet to debate the review.
Paula Bostick make the call. 2. Use the opportunity to educate the
Executive Director public on the issue at hand.
2020 Executive Council We have all had the list of beautiful 3. Address the concerns in a general matter
reviews only to find the one or two that demonstrate an understanding and
President – Berry Stahl, DMD standouts of unhappy people and as soon willingness to listen.
4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457 as we see it we know who it is. Yes, they 4. Invite anyone with an issue to call the
President-Elect – Teresa Skalyo, DDS, FAGD didn’t pay the fee or yes, they didn’t like office and discuss problems.
404 W. William Street, Suite 1, Geneva, NY 14456 to hear the news that their bridge is full of 5. Don’t address the author of the review
Vice-President – Shahram Shekib, DDS, FAGD open margins. Or a host of other reasons directly, use it as an example question
rd
2178 63 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 that you, as reasonable as you are and as and answer it for the general public.
Treasurer – Joseph DiDonato III, DDS, MBA, FAGD dedicated as you can be to doing good
608 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 dentistry, just couldn’t please them. Thirty Responding to a negative review can be a
Secretary – Analia Veitz-Keenan, DDS years ago they would have gone home and chance to win over new patients who view
NYU College of Dentistry told their spouse and that would have been your professionalism and genial response
345 East 24 Street, Room 829S, New York, NY 10010 the end of it. But today that opinion is now as an example of how your office will
th
Editor – Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD memorialized on the web for any future treat them. It is a trial run, if you will. As
4827 Broad Road, Syracuse, NY 13215 potential patient to see and equivocate a matter of fact if you view the review as
National Trustee – Ira Levine, DDS, MAGD over. How much does it hurt? Well, for a a chance to present your best side when
111 North Central Park Avenue, Suite 280, practice that is running at full bore, it may dealing with adversity then you could look
Hartsdale, NY 10538 not matter, but, for others who would like at the review as a gift- it just gave you a
Regional Director – Seung-Hee Rhee, DDS, MAGD to see another new patient in the door, chance to show your best stuff. So go to it
110 East 40 Street, Suite 102, New York, NY 10016 this is important. And disgruntled patients and let them know what you are made of-
th
Immediate Past President – Karthilde Appolon, DDS know it. Some have learned to weaponize you’re an AGD Dentist.
250 West 57 Street, Suite 805, New York, NY 10107 the review for almost any perceived slight.
th
The question is what can you do?
1 https://medicaljustice.com/how-to-respond-negative-patient-reviews/?utm_respondnegative accessed 18 Jan 2020
GP – Journal of the New York State Academy of
General Dentistry is published twice a year by
the New York State Academy of General Dentistry. Stanley Markovitz, DDS, MAGD (1927-2020)
The issues are mailed out in March and September
to all the members of the New York State Academy
of General Dentistry and are available on-line Dr. Markovitz passed away peacefully on January 13, 2020.
at www.nysagd.org. All correspondence should
be addressed to the Editor at 19-02 Whitestone Born in Middletown, NY, he served in the Army before attending
Expressway, Suite 204, Whitestone, NY 11357. Syracuse University and NYU Dental School. He practiced for
The views, opinions and recommendations
expressed in this publication are those of the 53 years and taught at NYU for the duration of his career. He
respective authors and are not necessarily was a past president of the NYSAGD as well as a national AGD
endorsed by the Academy of General Dentistry. president. On the national level, he received the Thaddeus
Placement of an advertisement in GP – Journal
of the New York State Academy of General Weclew Honorary Fellowship Award. On the state level, he
Dentistry does not indicate an endorsement received the NYSAGD Lifetime Achievement Award and
of its products or services by the Academy of NYSAGD Meritorious Service Award.
General Dentistry.
www.nysagd.org l Spring 2020 l GP 3