Guru and the clinical business of trust

It's little wonder that dentist appointments are tinged with trepidation. Dental terminology can confuse rather than illuminate and when it sounds complicated, it's usually expensive. Dentists are popularly saddled with these perceptions. Of all healthcare providers, their customers are some of the toughest to please. And that's hardly surprising when you consider treatments can be uncomfortable; patients can't see what's going on; end results are often unseen; and, oh, the expense!

These days however, perceptual barriers are assuaged with the right sort of communication, and that often relies on smart technology. At the forefront of this is GURU. When patients understand treatment they place greater value on it and GURU demystifies treatment, thereby enabling you to build better patient trust.

When customer perception is everything, it is incumbent on service providers to speak the language of the people. Good communication uses words that paint pictures; and when words are supported by vivid pictures, patients get the full picture. GURU empowers your dental team with spectacular animations for better communication of the treatment you are proposing. Lights go on and the value for money perception changes for the better!

GURU is an easy to use screen based patient education software, which uses simple animations to explain common conditions and corresponding treatment. Dental jargon doesn't help patients understand why they should have a certain type of treatment, or what you are doing. GURU makes the incomprehensible make sense - and when patients understand they appreciate value and feel more comfortable paying for treatment.

Good patient education is so much more than showing your patient a few short movies or generic images; it is about creating a personalised presentation and treatment plan using your patient's own images. GURU allows dentists to take patients from problem to solution. Effortlessly import your patient's x-rays, intraoral images and photos, highlight your patient's conditions and then showcase the appropriate animation explaining necessary treatment. You can provide a truly interactive experience and be as detailed as you need to be or as simple as you need to be. Patient's see the problem, necessary treatment and relate it to themselves.

Don't just tell your patient what they are seeing on the screen, show them! GURU's unique stop, teach and draw technology allows you to draw and add text to any image or animation as they appear on the screen. This is facilitated by simply adding a touch pad and stylus, such as the Wacom Bamboo, which allows you to easily hand draw on your animations. Your drawings are then automatically saved to create a personalised presentation and treatment plan for your patient. In just a few clicks you can easily create a printed presentation containing the images, drawings and annotations you have made. You may also email a presentation to the patient or upload it to your own GURU webpage, where your patient can view it at any time. You can even see how many times the presentation has been viewed!

Unlike other Patient Education programs, GURU won't take you hours to master; from installation, an hour of training is all that is required for you to be ready to go. GURU comes pre-installed with more than 200 beautifully rendered 3D animations and images and more are being added on a monthly basis. Many of the animations are narrated by real people (not a computer animated 'robot' voice) in various styles and languages or you can record your own voiceovers. Many practices already utilizing GURU are experiencing the many benefits of increased treatment plan acceptance, improved patient dentist relationships and greater efficiencies. Regardless of your existing software, GURU can be easily incorporated into your practice.

The GURU for iPad app is also available and takes patient interaction to a whole new level.

GURU will revolutionize the way Patient education and treatment options are presented and provide an increase in the level of patient care, public relations and marketing within the dental practice.

Increase your treatment plan acceptance today and contact Teamwork Solutions.

About the author

Technology expert Andrew Vanezis is Director of Teamwork Solutions Pty Ltd, an information technology solutions company and exclusive distributors, trainers and consultants for OASIS and EXACT Practice Management Software systems and now distributors for GURU and Examine Pro imaging software in NSW and ACT. He also provides consultancy services to practices wishing to get the most out of their existing practice management systems.