"I Quit!" The Link Between Turnover and Production

High turnover rates significantly impact any orthodontic practice, not only in terms of team morale but also in terms of production and profitability.

Orthodontic practices rely heavily on their teams for patient care, scheduling, treatment coordination, and practice management. When team members frequently leave, and new hires are not set up for success, this creates a ripple effect that can hinder your practice's productivity. At the heart of this issue is a lack of clarity and strategic onboarding systems.

The Link Between Turnover and Production

It's no secret that turnover disrupts the flow of your practice. When an experienced team member leaves, they take the knowledge, skills, and relationships they've built with patients and team members. The impact of their absence can be felt immediately as you work to fill their role with a new hire.

Here’s how turnover can disrupt production:

😖 Decreased Efficiency: New team members need time to acclimate. Without a clear onboarding system, they may struggle to learn their role, reducing efficiency.

😲 Patient Experience: You typically see your patients every 8-12 weeks, and the team develops trust with them. Frequent staff changes can disrupt that relationship, leading to dissatisfaction, decreasing patient retention, and a poor experience.

💸 Increased Costs: Turnover is expensive. You lose time and money recruiting, hiring, and training new employees. Additionally, lost productivity during the transition can hurt your bottom line.

👿 Impact on Team Morale: A revolving door of employees can lower team morale. The remaining team members may feel overworked as they cover the absence of a departed employee and deal with the challenges of training someone new. ⬅️ Read that again, and again, and again! A burnt-out team is less effective, which can lead to a further decline in production.

The Role of Strategic Onboarding

A strategic onboarding process is critical to reducing turnover and boosting production. Here’s why:

• Sets Expectations Early: New hires who understand their role, the practice’s goals, and how they contribute to success are more likely to feel engaged and stay long-term. 👈🏼  Rare these days.

• Accelerates Learning: A structured onboarding process ensures that new team members are trained in every aspect of their job before they take on full responsibility.

• Improves Retention: Employees are more likely to remain in a position where they feel prepared and supported.

• Supports Team Morale: When onboarding is strategic, existing team members don’t feel overburdened by training new hires in addition to their duties. 

Turnover in any orthodontic practice is a serious challenge, but the solution is within your grasp. By implementing a strategic onboarding system, you can effectively prepare new hires for success, reduce turnover rates, and maintain consistent productivity. Investing in the development of your team is not only beneficial for your staff but also vital for sustaining a thriving and efficient practice.