If you watch basic cable TV, you may be familiar with the show Bar Rescue on Spike. In it, consultant Jon Taffer visits a failing bar and turns it around. Generally, this involves upgrading the menu, correcting some operational problems, weeding out unruly staff, remodeling the interior and renaming the establishment. Add a healthy dose of drama and yelling and you’ve got a recipe for a successful turnaround.
As an unabashed fan of the show, I am regularly amazed by the parallels between the rescue projects on the show and the operating challenges for dental and orthodontic practices. How could I possibly compare the average watering hole with a professional practice? At the essence, you’re simply running a business in both cases so key similarities are present.
Specifically, and without any yelling or drama, here’s what I’ve seen:
