- Email: [email protected]
Selecting a suitable location
S e le c tin g
a
s u ita b le
lo c a tio n
L. M. Anderson, J r .,* Tampa, Fla.
The selection of a suitable location to discharge your responsibilities as a mem ber of the dental profession is the most important decision you will ever make. A decision having so profound a bearing on your future commands much time and thought. There is hardly a senior in dental school today who has not at one time or another visualized his own professional building, beautifully landscaped, modernly equipped and blessed with an abun dant influx of patients who sing his praises to their neighbors. At the same time, he has pictured a beautiful home for his family and the numerous priv ileges that he would like to provide for them. This vision need not be just an idle dream, but one must be thoroughly fam iliar with the road to be traveled and the proper m ap to guide him to his destination. CH O O SING A GEOGRAPHIC LO CATIO N
The first step is the selection of the sec tion of the country in which you would prefer to live; a choice made, of course, with your wife or wife-to-be, so that she may share with you this important de cision. It is always well to take into con sideration your hobbies or recreational habits and those of your family— whether you enjoy invigorating winter sports like skiing and tobogganing, hikes and cam p ing in a mountainous terrain, or the sun,
swimming and boating which the sea shore or lake regions afford. One thought to bear in mind in weigh ing this problem is that no degree of professional success can ever bring con tentment unless a man and his family are happy in the area of the country in which they live, and in the neighbor hood of their choice in that area. Available to every dental student is a world of valuable information from the American Dental Association on the dis tribution of dentists throughout the United States. While considering various sections, you could peruse these brochures to great advantage in your spare time. Once a selection is made as your pos itive preference, the next step should be your choice of a dental dealer in whom you have complete confidence, to supply you with up-to-date information con cerning this area, which would help you evaluate the opportunities within its bounds. This progressive dental dealer, as a result of constant research by his sales representatives, would have avail able such data as the ratio of patients per dentist in the area you are consid-. ering. He would be able to post you on the purchasing power per capita, and familiarize you with the dental I.Q . of the average person you would be treat ing. Further, he would be able to help you evaluate your prospective location by in forming you of the pay habits of the
AN D E R SO N .
people in this section. These facts are readily procurable from banks, depart ment stores and merchants. He could en lighten you about the general acceptance of dentistry in its entirety. For instance, is it accepted only as an emergency me dium to relieve pain? T o improve ap pearance? O r is it to some degree at least, accepted as a way to better health? And I speak, naturally, of complete dentistry per patient and not one-tooth dentistry per person. In the area you are considering, here are some pointers on what to look for in spotting a progressive community: 1. Bank deposits. You can secure from any bank on request, brief operat ing statements to make comparison of its growth over any specific period. This information will serve as an unimpeach able barometer of the flow of capital in a given community. 2. Chamber of commerce. Take a look here to see if it is ambitious, indus trious and if it has a plan for the con tinuous growth of the community. 3. School program. Is this commu nity building to take care of increased population, or are its schools adequate for an indefinite time? (M any a success ful practice of tomorrow is built around the children of today.) 4. Local dental society. Is it well or ganized and supported? Is it progressive? Does it have a study club? 5. Stores. Are they modern and invit ing? Is the merchandise attractive? Talk to the owners about the pay habits of their customers. D o they take pride in paying their bills when due, or do they have the Chinese custom of squaring them away once a year? 6. Churches. T he steeples can tell you a story. Is this a community that supports its religious activities? H as the church program kept pace with building prog ress, the school program, the business establishments?
. V O LU M E 60. M A R C H I960 • 2 5/287
7. Housing. T our the outlying districts of the community. Are the homes of good style and quality? Drive around the suburbs and take a look at the cars parked in the driveways. Are they old and dilapidated, or do they suggest pride on the part of the owners? Are the yards pretty and well kept, or run down and weedy? These are all indications of the type of people living in the community and of their dental I.Q. Last, but certainly not least, visit with / many of the dentists in the community —not just one or two, but quite a few. Some may discourage you, others encour age you. See if one, two, or possibly more, offer to send you patients from the over flow of their practice. These many facets of a community must blend into one composite picture that will say to you, “ Here is where you may play an important part in the dental health of our people.” When you have obtained all of this information and carefully studied it, you will be able to determine your future opportunities for serving mankind in the manner in which you would like. For exam ple: If the purchasing power per capita in your chosen area were low, and the dental I.Q . and general accept ance of dentistry were also low, you would need a very high ratio of patients per dentist— possibly 4,000 or 5,000 per dentist. In which case, you would have to be able to serve from 25 to 40 patients per day, practicing every phase of den tistry in your office. On the other hand, if your objective is longer appointments per patient, prac ticing more dentistry per tooth and more dentistry per mouth, then within this area you are surveying there must be a reasonable purchasing power per capita and a reasonable dental I.Q . per patient. And the general acceptance of dentistry must be good. These things being true, you with your professional skills and your personality, in the proper atmos
2 Í/2 8 8 • THE JO U R N A L O F THE A M E R IC A N DENTAL A S S O C IA T IO N
phere of your smartly appointed office, can further educate your clientele to complete and good dentistry. CH O O SING AN OFFICE
When looking for practicable space for your office, there are times when you might place too much emphasis on rent and, consequently, pass up wonderful potentials because the monthly rent seems to be too high. It is true, of course, that there are some landlords who price themselves out of business with space. However, in your planning and your thinking, be certain that you weigh the amount to be paid for rent with the ad vantages which that particular location would offer over others where the rent is considerably less. What are the advantages you should look for, and what comparisons should you make? Here are just a few: Is this a location having a natural draw to a professional area? Is this a location accessible to Mr. and M rs. Public? Is this a location where several thou sand people a day will see your name? Is this a location which has a natural draw to a community shopping area? Is this a location convenient for the housewife? I f the answers to the foregoing ques tions are “Yes,” rent should be secondary, just so long as it is within keeping with the potential that is offered. At this point I might issue one other word of caution, and that is the length of lease. It hardly seems necessary that you would ever be required to enter into a lease agreement beyond five years, and in many ways it could be to your definite advantage to have the lease limited to three years, with proper renewal clause, of course. Leases beyond either of these periods, merely for the purpose of insur ing rent at a fixed cost, could be detri
mental, as it is highly probable that with in that period you will have outgrown the space, requiring a move to larger quarters, or you will have found ways and means of building your own pro fessional building. Neither of these would be permitted if you had entered into a lease of a longer term than was necessary or advisable. You proceed then, from the point of placing your office in an area that is ac cessible and convenient to your patients, to the laying out of an office that will insure a restful environment, reflecting professional dignity. These plans should be completed only after much time, thought and study, in collaboration with the dental dealer in whom you have con fidence. Now you are ready to start to insure your professional future and your ambi tion to be a respected professional man in this community of your choice. The best insurance known in guaranteeing this future is the treatment you give your p a tients. T he first 500 patients who come into your office will be the foundation of your practice and, if you please, the stepping stones to your ultimate objective. The selection of a suitable location is of no value to you or your family if another selection does not follow. I refer, of course, to the patient’s selection of you. Although it seems farfetched at this moment, your practice will reach a point where it becomes impossible to render professional services to all of those who seek appointments. At this stage will come the selection of those patients within your practice you choose to continue serving. T he greatest satisfaction of a successful practice is found not so much in the monetary rewards, but in the inner satis faction of knowing first, that your pro fessional skills have aided your patients. And second, that you have brought hap piness and comfort to those you love. •P residen t, L. M . Anderson D ental Supply C o., P. O . Box 1080.
a
s u ita b le
lo c a tio n
L. M. Anderson, J r .,* Tampa, Fla.
The selection of a suitable location to discharge your responsibilities as a mem ber of the dental profession is the most important decision you will ever make. A decision having so profound a bearing on your future commands much time and thought. There is hardly a senior in dental school today who has not at one time or another visualized his own professional building, beautifully landscaped, modernly equipped and blessed with an abun dant influx of patients who sing his praises to their neighbors. At the same time, he has pictured a beautiful home for his family and the numerous priv ileges that he would like to provide for them. This vision need not be just an idle dream, but one must be thoroughly fam iliar with the road to be traveled and the proper m ap to guide him to his destination. CH O O SING A GEOGRAPHIC LO CATIO N
The first step is the selection of the sec tion of the country in which you would prefer to live; a choice made, of course, with your wife or wife-to-be, so that she may share with you this important de cision. It is always well to take into con sideration your hobbies or recreational habits and those of your family— whether you enjoy invigorating winter sports like skiing and tobogganing, hikes and cam p ing in a mountainous terrain, or the sun,
swimming and boating which the sea shore or lake regions afford. One thought to bear in mind in weigh ing this problem is that no degree of professional success can ever bring con tentment unless a man and his family are happy in the area of the country in which they live, and in the neighbor hood of their choice in that area. Available to every dental student is a world of valuable information from the American Dental Association on the dis tribution of dentists throughout the United States. While considering various sections, you could peruse these brochures to great advantage in your spare time. Once a selection is made as your pos itive preference, the next step should be your choice of a dental dealer in whom you have complete confidence, to supply you with up-to-date information con cerning this area, which would help you evaluate the opportunities within its bounds. This progressive dental dealer, as a result of constant research by his sales representatives, would have avail able such data as the ratio of patients per dentist in the area you are consid-. ering. He would be able to post you on the purchasing power per capita, and familiarize you with the dental I.Q . of the average person you would be treat ing. Further, he would be able to help you evaluate your prospective location by in forming you of the pay habits of the
AN D E R SO N .
people in this section. These facts are readily procurable from banks, depart ment stores and merchants. He could en lighten you about the general acceptance of dentistry in its entirety. For instance, is it accepted only as an emergency me dium to relieve pain? T o improve ap pearance? O r is it to some degree at least, accepted as a way to better health? And I speak, naturally, of complete dentistry per patient and not one-tooth dentistry per person. In the area you are considering, here are some pointers on what to look for in spotting a progressive community: 1. Bank deposits. You can secure from any bank on request, brief operat ing statements to make comparison of its growth over any specific period. This information will serve as an unimpeach able barometer of the flow of capital in a given community. 2. Chamber of commerce. Take a look here to see if it is ambitious, indus trious and if it has a plan for the con tinuous growth of the community. 3. School program. Is this commu nity building to take care of increased population, or are its schools adequate for an indefinite time? (M any a success ful practice of tomorrow is built around the children of today.) 4. Local dental society. Is it well or ganized and supported? Is it progressive? Does it have a study club? 5. Stores. Are they modern and invit ing? Is the merchandise attractive? Talk to the owners about the pay habits of their customers. D o they take pride in paying their bills when due, or do they have the Chinese custom of squaring them away once a year? 6. Churches. T he steeples can tell you a story. Is this a community that supports its religious activities? H as the church program kept pace with building prog ress, the school program, the business establishments?
. V O LU M E 60. M A R C H I960 • 2 5/287
7. Housing. T our the outlying districts of the community. Are the homes of good style and quality? Drive around the suburbs and take a look at the cars parked in the driveways. Are they old and dilapidated, or do they suggest pride on the part of the owners? Are the yards pretty and well kept, or run down and weedy? These are all indications of the type of people living in the community and of their dental I.Q. Last, but certainly not least, visit with / many of the dentists in the community —not just one or two, but quite a few. Some may discourage you, others encour age you. See if one, two, or possibly more, offer to send you patients from the over flow of their practice. These many facets of a community must blend into one composite picture that will say to you, “ Here is where you may play an important part in the dental health of our people.” When you have obtained all of this information and carefully studied it, you will be able to determine your future opportunities for serving mankind in the manner in which you would like. For exam ple: If the purchasing power per capita in your chosen area were low, and the dental I.Q . and general accept ance of dentistry were also low, you would need a very high ratio of patients per dentist— possibly 4,000 or 5,000 per dentist. In which case, you would have to be able to serve from 25 to 40 patients per day, practicing every phase of den tistry in your office. On the other hand, if your objective is longer appointments per patient, prac ticing more dentistry per tooth and more dentistry per mouth, then within this area you are surveying there must be a reasonable purchasing power per capita and a reasonable dental I.Q . per patient. And the general acceptance of dentistry must be good. These things being true, you with your professional skills and your personality, in the proper atmos
2 Í/2 8 8 • THE JO U R N A L O F THE A M E R IC A N DENTAL A S S O C IA T IO N
phere of your smartly appointed office, can further educate your clientele to complete and good dentistry. CH O O SING AN OFFICE
When looking for practicable space for your office, there are times when you might place too much emphasis on rent and, consequently, pass up wonderful potentials because the monthly rent seems to be too high. It is true, of course, that there are some landlords who price themselves out of business with space. However, in your planning and your thinking, be certain that you weigh the amount to be paid for rent with the ad vantages which that particular location would offer over others where the rent is considerably less. What are the advantages you should look for, and what comparisons should you make? Here are just a few: Is this a location having a natural draw to a professional area? Is this a location accessible to Mr. and M rs. Public? Is this a location where several thou sand people a day will see your name? Is this a location which has a natural draw to a community shopping area? Is this a location convenient for the housewife? I f the answers to the foregoing ques tions are “Yes,” rent should be secondary, just so long as it is within keeping with the potential that is offered. At this point I might issue one other word of caution, and that is the length of lease. It hardly seems necessary that you would ever be required to enter into a lease agreement beyond five years, and in many ways it could be to your definite advantage to have the lease limited to three years, with proper renewal clause, of course. Leases beyond either of these periods, merely for the purpose of insur ing rent at a fixed cost, could be detri
mental, as it is highly probable that with in that period you will have outgrown the space, requiring a move to larger quarters, or you will have found ways and means of building your own pro fessional building. Neither of these would be permitted if you had entered into a lease of a longer term than was necessary or advisable. You proceed then, from the point of placing your office in an area that is ac cessible and convenient to your patients, to the laying out of an office that will insure a restful environment, reflecting professional dignity. These plans should be completed only after much time, thought and study, in collaboration with the dental dealer in whom you have con fidence. Now you are ready to start to insure your professional future and your ambi tion to be a respected professional man in this community of your choice. The best insurance known in guaranteeing this future is the treatment you give your p a tients. T he first 500 patients who come into your office will be the foundation of your practice and, if you please, the stepping stones to your ultimate objective. The selection of a suitable location is of no value to you or your family if another selection does not follow. I refer, of course, to the patient’s selection of you. Although it seems farfetched at this moment, your practice will reach a point where it becomes impossible to render professional services to all of those who seek appointments. At this stage will come the selection of those patients within your practice you choose to continue serving. T he greatest satisfaction of a successful practice is found not so much in the monetary rewards, but in the inner satis faction of knowing first, that your pro fessional skills have aided your patients. And second, that you have brought hap piness and comfort to those you love. •P residen t, L. M . Anderson D ental Supply C o., P. O . Box 1080.