Creating a people-centric work culture could be the key to attracting and retaining employees at dental practices, Ray Caruso, CEO of Lone Peak Dental Group, says.
Denver, Colo.-based Lone Peak Dental Group is a dental partnership organization that operates 65 offices in 15 states.
Mr. Caruso recently spoke with Becker's about workplace culture and how it affects staffing.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: How can dental practices enhance and leverage workplace culture to retain and attract staff in 2023?
Ray Caruso: Share what you believe with every employee before and after you hire them. I believe that every team member wants to do a good job, cares about their fellow team members and cares about their patients. This is shared before and after the hire as it's the foundation of a great employee. These beliefs may appear obvious; however, there are times when it appears not to be the case. By holding true to these beliefs, we look for solutions instead of blame. We identify the problem as it is, process or communication, not the person. This creates a people-centric culture where the focus is on providing a great patient experience! Unfortunately, there are times when an employee proves over and over again they don't want to do a good job, or don't care about their fellow team members, or don't care about their patients. In those rare cases we change out the employee instead of changing our beliefs!