The role of the practice manager is to enable dentists, not emasculate them, says BDPMA chairman Amelia Bray.
Speaking on theapexshow on 4 November, Amelia Bray, British Dental Practice Managers’ Association chairman was asked what are three things dentist principals can misunderstand about the practice manager role.
She says: ‘I think some principals can find it very hard to hand over responsibility for the running of their practice to someone else. That’s probably why so many practice managers are spouses.
‘But dentists need to remember that, when it comes down to it, it will always be the actual wet-fingered dentistry that brings in the money and if they’re not practising, then they’re not generating income.’
She adds: ‘The role of the practice manager is to enable dentists, not emasculate them.
It’s certainly been the case in the past that a lot of the responsibilities of management have been thrust upon whoever was available, without proper recognition of what they were expected to do and certainly without that person being adequately remunerated.
‘As the role is more widely recognised within the team, practice managers are being much firmer about training, pay, etc. I think that principals are becoming more aware that in employing a professional practice manager, they aren’t handing over total control of their practice but they are sharing the burden with someone who is more capable of managing.’
In an hour-long interview with presenter, Marita Kritzinger, Amelia Bray answered a range of questions submitted by listeners to the show.
A full transcript is available here.
