Your Practice Prosperity Advisor
Empowering individual leadership while aligning your team and technology for enhanced performance and maximum productivity.
Testimonials
Dental Pro's from all titles are talking
Stephanie was absolutely instrumental in helping us navigate going fee for service. She is thorough in determining if this is a smart move for your practice and establishing a realistic timeline for implementation. She coordinated efforts with our entire team on and off site. She is an excellent coach in formulating the ideal wording and delivery to patient families. We never imagined the process would be as seamless as it has been. Stephanie has been amazing. I highly recommend working with her!
-Sonni Pellillo DDS MS
Hannapel and Pellillo Orthodontics
We have used so many different advisors over the years and sometimes they leave a sour taste in your mouth. Stephanie has been absolutely the best advisor we have used in 20 years of practice. Such a great asset to our team. I’m hesitant to leave review because she is such a diamond in the rough and I’m afraid the secret will get out that she’s the absolute best and every practice will be fighting over her all over the country 😉
Thank you again Stephanie for everything you’ve done for The Smile Lodge
Eric McMahon DDS MS
The Smile Lodge Pediatric Dentistry
Clifton Park, NY
"I have been extremely impressed with the strategy that Stephanie has brought to my office. As we prepare to make a significant change in our practice, her analysis and motivation has given us confidence and the enthusiasm to move forward without trepidation. She is a rockstar! I could not recommend her highly enough."
~Gary Scott DDS
Family Dentistry of Caledonia
I have been very impressed with how Stephanie coaches my employer through the transition of going ffs!
It’s very scary at first (I’m front office) to go to ffs. However it’s been totally worth it and I would strongly encourage an initial consultation as soon as possible to see if you can take this step with your practice.
It takes a village to go ffs in a dental office , and I’m so glad that Stephanie is part of my village
I can’t wait to see what our future holds after the big break ups with insurance companies this year. Kudos to you Stephanie for helping dentist get what the ultimately deserve!
-Jasmine Shear
Jason Dopp DDS
"Stephanie has been a trusted advisor for my office and team for the past few years. She takes the time to understand her clients and their concerns. Importantly, she offers constructive advice as well as a guiding hand in how to apply it."
~Pat Condit DDS
"Can't recommend IAS enough. Stephanie has dramatically changed the course of my career in the best way."
~Ross Nelson DDS
Newaygo Family Dentistry
"Stephanie is beyond professional and it shows. She is honest, resourceful and determined to put your practice in high gear. If you have ever considered looking into a consultant to improve the logistics and functionality in your office and help you reach your goals, this is where you need to start."
~Carla Mack
Stuart Pettijohn DDS
I highly recommend Stephanie Smith and Innovative Advisory Solutions for anyone looking to organize the systems in their practice, improve efficiency and reduce the stress of running your dental practice. I started my oral surgery practice just over a year ago and I am so grateful that I was directed to Stephanie by friends and colleagues. One of the key things that differentiates Stephanie is her ability to connect with people. She has helped my team members grow personally and professionally by listening to them and coaching them. Consultants can sometimes cause friction in an office, but Stephanie is quite the opposite. She finds your strengths and knows just how to tease it out of everyone so that they can perform at their best! I'm so thankful for all her insight and look forward to all the great things to come with Stephanie's guidance!
Mark Jesin DDS
Advanced Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Studio
"Stephanie is great! She really takes the time to make sure you understand how to tackle the little details that go into running a practice. She is always there to answer questions when you need her!"
~Sabrina Wadood DDS
"Stephanie is a great coach and leader. She can bring you a wealth of ideas and experience. She can help you grow your practice or offer tips for better communications with your team. She can help you find lost productivity and to schedule more smoothly. She brings a clear focus and motivates with her inspiration! I highly recommend her! She is terrific and one of my favorite people that I have ever met."
~Jessie Boone - Office Manager
Chris Nelis DDS
"Stephanie has proven herself to be an extremely effective consultant in my dental business. When entering my business to observe for the first time, she was able to quickly identify our strengths and weaknesses and develop an action plan to implement the necessary changes needed. She is more than capable of solving complex issues in mere minutes that have taken my front desk staff weeks to solve. Her knowledge of business operations and insurance runs deep and she always seems to have the right connection to solve issues that cannot be resolved in house.
Since implementing said changes, the quality of my life has drastically improved. I'm working shorter hours and producing more. My office runs smoother with less daily headaches.
I know that as my business grows and improves, her team will be a very valuable resource to lean on to make sure I am maximizing my opportunities and never getting too complacent. Innovative Advisory Solutions wholeheartedly received my endorsement!"
~James Shaheen DDS
Smiles of Grand River
"Stephanie has been fantastic in helping me every step of the way and is extremely knowledgeable. She has been irreplaceable and she will always guide you in the right direction. Definitely give her call to have her help you! "
~Adeeb Haque DDS
"Stephanie has been an invaluable resource and advisor over the past many months. Her insight into our practice has uncovered many issues that were not readily apparent but needed to be dealt with. Helping to lay the framework to guide our practice toward insurance independence, providing an invaluable recruiting service for staffing needs, and updating office workflow and computer systems are just some of the things she’s provided for us. It would have taken us a few years to work through what Stephanie has helped us achieve in a relatively short time. I’ve worked with some top national consultants in the past, but nobody has drilled down to what needs to be done and laid out a clear, customized plan like Stephanie. Just call her today and get to it!"
~Jason Dopp DDS
Portage, MI
“Stephanie has been our knowledgeable and accessible leader in transforming our office to fee for service. We have wanted to go fee for service for years, and she gave us the experience and support that we needed to do it successfully.“
~Jocelyn Davis DDS
"I have found working with Stephanie Smith of Innovative Advisory Solutions to be a superior experience. She has energy, business expertise, and personal management skills that benefit my clients. She helps dental practices achieve their full potential. Whenever Legacy Practice Transitions Team Michigan works with dentists having practice growth and management concerns we look to Stephanie as our “go to “resource. Adding Stephanie to your practice team as a strategic analytical coach is sure to help your office blossom. "
~Erick Rupprecht DDS
Dental Transitions Analyst
Legacy Practice Transitions Team Michigan
I was lucky to have had Innovative Advisory Solutions LLC assist me during a very stressful merger. Stephanie was able to use her years of experience to guide me, as well as my office staff, through the transitional period.
Stephanie was able to break down my past unsuccessful business systems and establish new systems that have allowed our practice to grow in an organic manner. I appreciated her professionalism, her honesty, and her direct, clear communication. Her knowledge also allowed us to break the cycle of being dependent on taking every dental insurance and PPO on the market.
Stephanie was instrumental to our success. She helped me to develop an amazing office staff, of which I enjoy working with every day. This task, as all dentists know, is the most challenging one our practices face. She is quick to communicate with me at any time and always ready to present solutions to any challenges I may have.
I would recommend Innovative Solutions LLC to any established or new dental office looking to improve their business,
~Ben Zarzecki DDS
Evart Dental Care
Love Stephanie with Innovative Advisory Solutions!
Every time I’m in a bind or need advice I Know I can count on her to walk me through it. She is currently helping me with the transition from being an RDA for 22 years to an Office Manager. I couldn’t have done it without her support and guidance. From learning the ins and outs of Dental insurance to helping a young office grow!!! Skies the limit💕
~Carrie Todd RDA, Office Manager
Miller Dental
Stephanie is wonderful to work with. She truly utilizes ALL of her skills and expertise to make a unique and individualized plan for your office and you as the doc based on your goals and desires. She is a coach to you. A coach and cheerleader for your team, helping each person find a fit that is purposeful and brings out their personal best. After having three other “consulting” scenarios in the last 6 years she is the fit I needed to help me organize and put into action each of those plans when it was the right time. She has helped me unearth the leader I knew was within. Many other consultants try to use a cookie cutter approach that doesn’t necessarily fit every office or every doc. She excels at even helping young and inexperienced docs learn how to be smarter business owners and understanding the capabilities within their software and themselves. She has a way of truly seeing and hearing what your needs are. Highly recommend and endorse her services!
Meggan McCone DDS
Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Our office went through some drastic changes and Stephanie stepped in and really made the transitions in our office and new staff run smoothly. Stephanie has helped our office grow through modern technology and as made our team a stronger unit! She goes above and beyond not only for the Dentist but for all staff members as well. She truly has been a wonderful help in the growing of our practice and the continued safety of our staff and patients! She has been a great motivator and always comes with a smile and high energy. I highly recommend Innovative Advisory Solutions!
Lashawnda Sweet
Dockham Dental Care
Stephanie is amazing! She helped us merge a digital office to a computer-less office and merge two staffs to one doctor in a very short time. Her enthusiasm and belief in us never wavered. She has a way of reading people and finding strengths. I highly recommend her!
~Sheila Weaver RDH
Evart Dentistry
Stephanie is a rockstar!! She knows her stuff and will make your practice better and more efficient. Not to mention she is a blast to be around. I highly recommend Innovative Advisory Solutions!!
~Faith Garvelink - Office Manager
Dr. K Family Dentistry
"I have come to know Stephanie as honest, dependable, incredibly hard working and possessing an unmatched work ethic. Beyond that, she is very impressive on her knowledge of dental software which is the best I have seen in my 20 years as a dentist.
Her knowledge of computers and expertise in the dental field has been a huge advantage in my office. During the time she has worked for me she was personally responsible for adding over 40% to my gross production. From an employer’s point of view, this is extraordinary.
Along with her undeniable talent, Stephanie has always been an absolute joy to work with. She is a true team player and always manages to foster postive discussions and bring out the best in other employees. She is a professional, organized and a fantastic team leader.
Without a doubt, I confidently recommend Stephanie. As a dedicated and knowledgeable employee and an all around wonderful person, I know that she will be a beneficial addition to your organization."
~Ellen Tavarone DDS
Lake Eastbrook Family Dentistry
In my 12 years of practice management, I have found that it is just as important to continually enhance practice management skills as it is to refine clinical skills. Seminars and courses have proven somewhat helpful, but we’ve achieved our most tangible results through the in-house service that Stephanie Smith has provided for us. We have benefited greatly from Stephanie's careful analysis of our practice, her periodic instructional visits, and her weekly phone consultations. Drawing from her years of experience in the dental field, Stephanie has provided us with very insightful advice and practical suggestions on matters ranging from internal marketing to patient scheduling to staff benefits. Stephanie has played an instrumental role in a buyout transition, software transition, insurance negotiations, and the list goes on. Her follow through is her best quality in my opinion. Stephanie's straightforward, credible nature generates solid confidence and trust. She has come to be viewed as a reliable advisor, not only by me, but by our entire staff, as well…All of us have come to appreciate her candid input on any matters regarding our practice. I would highly recommend Stephanie Smith to any dentist who is seeking solutions to specific practice challenges, or who is simply striving to improve the overall quality of the practice experience.
~Dee Carlisle
Midwest Dental Care, Director of Operations
"I would like to take the opportunity to express how much Stephanie Smith, owner of Innovative Advisory Solutions, has helped me and my practice. She is very knowledgeable, and more importantly, extremely talented at sharing her knowledge in a way that best suits her customer.
I called Stephanie February 8, 2017 looking for help. I had just purchased my dental practice 3 weeks earlier and had planned 2 days of training on new equipment and charting software for my staff on February 16 and 17. The software company called to cancel, apologetically saying they had double booked and had nobody available to help us those days. What were we supposed to do? Close the office two more days? When I called Stephanie, she rearranged her schedule to help us out in a difficult situation. I was thrilled things worked out the way they did!
Prior to changing ownership in January, the staff at my office was accustomed to paper charts, film radiographs, and an appointment book. Stephanie helped us to give our office the huge push into the 21st century it needed. However, she realized the stress and anxiety these large changes can have on employees of an office. My office manager, Charlene, has done her job in a certain way for 30 years. Now she was being asked to do it completely differently. Stephanie was there to help her through every step. Charlene feels comfortable calling her whenever she gets into a bind. Instead of a transition characterized by stress and anxiety, my staff was excited about the changes and quickly realized how much more efficiently they could operate. The importance of this difference in attitude cannot be understated. Now, we are enjoying a seamless digital workflow including more efficient charting and scheduling and automated appointment reminders. The transformation is incredible. Even our patients have been impressed.
Of course, this letter is not intended to sell the services of Innovative Advisory Solutions, as it may sound I Instead, consider it a testimonial of how great of a service Stephanie provides. For a few short minutes, it seemed like a huge inconvenience when my software company cancelled on me with short notice. It turned into a great blessing. I can only imagine how difficult our goals would have been to achieve without Stephanie's help. Stephanie has also given me great insights on other improvements that I am hoping to make in the office. I look forward to a continuing consulting relationship with Stephanie and certainly the success it will help me and my team achieve!"
~Jake Miller DDS
Stephanie is amazing! From helping us organize and prioritize with our materials and storage, to helping the team work smarter and not harder. She is a leader and it definitely shows! Her attitude is always positive and uplifting! I highly recommend her!
Samantha Jones
Evart Family Dental
I highly recommend Stephanie. She has been a great help for my practice. She has an amazing attitude and she is full of energy. You can tell she loves her job and she loves what she does. I look forward to continue working with her.
Bardha Krasniqi DMD
Dr. K Family Dentistry
"Stephanie with Innovative Advisory Solutions is remarkable at what she does! Her detailed analysis reports provided us with accurate data to improve our practice!"
~Lacey Savaya
TriMed Services, Vice President of Operations
"Stephanie with innovative advisory solutions is amazing at what she does!
She is precise, thorough, and concise in her delivery of practice analysis reports. Working with her is an eye opener!"
~Ivan Samano DDS
Bloomfield Hills Dental Associat
I've had the privilege to work with Stephanie at a number of my practices and she has made a big impact in the areas she was hired to address. In addition, I've found she's always willing to go above and beyond for the sake of the client. Off the clock Stephanie has her client's back! If you're looking for someone who understands the dental business and will work for you, hire Stephanie.
~Carrie Bott
Midway Dental, Business Development Representative
About Us
Our Experience
Our Experience
Our Experience
Close to 20 years in the industry, I decided to share my passion for digital processes and utilizing practice data to drive performance and efficiency in private practice dentistry.
Innovative Advisory Solutions empowers your team with the communication customized to their strengths and weaknesses and outfit them with the tools they need
Close to 20 years in the industry, I decided to share my passion for digital processes and utilizing practice data to drive performance and efficiency in private practice dentistry.
Innovative Advisory Solutions empowers your team with the communication customized to their strengths and weaknesses and outfit them with the tools they need to succeed.
Talk to us today about how we can support your growth and put you on a solid track for success.
IAS Approach
Our Experience
Our Experience
You know the importance of your patients having consistent exams, but when is the last time your practice had one?
Innovative Advisory Solutions provides one of the industries most comprehensive practice assessments that gives you the details of an inside look of your practice performance in everything from the usability of your software,
You know the importance of your patients having consistent exams, but when is the last time your practice had one?
Innovative Advisory Solutions provides one of the industries most comprehensive practice assessments that gives you the details of an inside look of your practice performance in everything from the usability of your software, communications within your practice and team, code utilization, fee analysis, missed revenue opportunities and everything in between.
Our assessment is tailored to your specific practice and provides you a 30 page detailed report on areas that need attention and areas your are excelling in.
Anything from Hygiene specific growth and opportunity, insurance training and utilization to healthy leadership and communication skills, the Team at Innovative Advisory Solutions will provide the tools you need for success!
So next time you are educating your patients on flossing techniques and complimenting them on brushing, ask yourself when is the last time your practice had the same thorough exam.
That’s how we ensure your success.
Why Us?
Our Experience
Why Us?
Innovative Advisory Solutions is not a nationwide consulting firm. We don't come into your office trying to "reinvent the wheel" nor do we believe you should be cut from the same mold as other practices.
We pride ourselves on observing the current technology, processes, individual and practice uniqueness to enhance performance and strat
Innovative Advisory Solutions is not a nationwide consulting firm. We don't come into your office trying to "reinvent the wheel" nor do we believe you should be cut from the same mold as other practices.
We pride ourselves on observing the current technology, processes, individual and practice uniqueness to enhance performance and strategies for your exclusive practice. Our goal is to provide you and your staff the tools needed to have less work, more production and faster processes to grow your practice.
We pride ourselves on continuing education and staying current with the latest technology and software and tailoring your success to the uniqueness of your practice.
With 20 years of software management experience, implementations, integrations, and mergers, we will assist you in any hurdle you have with modern dentistry. Anything from implementing new technology or software, paperless assistance, or your latest upgrade within your current technology, Innovative Advisory Solutions is here to help.
Together we’ll create and refine your plan for success. We didn’t get there alone. And neither will you.
Additional Services
Leadership Coaching
Practice Management Software
Practice Management Software
This area of my company was a given.
With formal business education, military experience and strong interpersonal strengths, identifying the individual strengths and weaknesses of each team member is an IAS sweet spot.
I believe everyone has a leader in them. That we should all seek to lift others and use their strengths to our weakness and our weaknesses to their strengths.
Let IAS show you how to elevate your potential as a business owner and get your entire team to enhance their individual performance and eagerness to learn!
Sound too good to be true? Check out the testimonials below to see for yourself!
Practice Management Software
Practice Management Software
Practice Management Software
Do you ever wonder why the software you use is referred to as 'Practice Management Software'? Let me tell you, it is because it IS supposed to manage your Practice through streamlined processes and boost of your practice. But are you reaping the benefit of this or frustrated by it? Your practice management software isn't supposed to cause you and your staff a headache or additional work. It is supposed to work for you and grow your Practice.
Most dental offices don't know HALF of the capacities and functions within their current practice management software!
Innovative Advisory Solutions helps get you back on the fast track with your practice management software. With a knowledgeable Advisor who listens to what you want out of your software and focuses on how your unique office is run, you can unlock the power inside of your existing technology.
Contact Innovative Advisory Solutions today for a free evaluation of how we can help unlock your digital world.
Fee For Service
Fee For Service
Fee For Service
It's time to break up.
Yup. I said it.
"It's not you, it's me" can't even be used in this break-up. Because it is most definitely them.
Why do we continue to allow insurance companies to tell us how to care for our patients? Or that we can't bundle or unbundle codes, yet they do it to us? When is the last time you billed two fillings on a tooth? TWO SEPARATE FILLINGS and the insurance company basically replied: "Nah, you did one, 3 surface filling".
I have another one: Patient comes in with a broken tooth, I mean, the entire posterior lingual cusp is GONE! The tooth has clinical evidence of a fracture, you as a clinician know that the missing cusp alone is enough for a crown, but the fracture takes the cake. Bitewings were taken 8 months ago, PANO about two years old, patients chief complaint is sensitivity and the tooth is sharp. You also know as a clinician that a filling is not going to last and a crown is best. You give your patient an estimate for 50% and a deductible and have time in the schedule to prep. I should note, this is a long time patient, but quite vocal about not wanting to wait 3-4 weeks for the next opening in your schedule for a prep. So you start.
2 weeks later:
Insurance Company: Denied! But with some obscure code: at33s.
Administrator: Scans EOB for relating at33s code: "This service requires current radiographs for consideration". Sends previous BWs and PANO to be safe
Insurance Company: Nah. I want a current PA.
Administrator and Doctor: Crap. We don't have one.
Two situations happen:
A: Doctor and Admin feel pinched and just write it off. Sometimes doctors don't even know when it is written off.
B: Writes Narrative. Asks the patient to further call the insurance company. Insurance says they didn't get it twice, we send again and again and then another denial.
The patient is furious! Claims you (the provider) should have known what do to before prepping the crown. States the insurance company said a predetermination should have been sent; but, forgets he was wanting that crown prep right away and not weeks later and would have waited had you told him it had a likelihood of getting paid if a PreD was sent.
Either patient owes the other half of the crown OR practice has to write off. To keep the patient happy, or risk getting a bad review, his family leaves and he tells his co-workers at your practice? Its a tough call.
This happens ALL OF THE TIME. Here are some examples I am sure your practice can relate to.
-All 4 quads of SCRP denied because only two can be done at a time
-All 4 quads denied because FMX is not less than 1 year old. BUT, of course, the insurance company would have denied it because Mrs. Jones had one 2 years ago.
-The core can not be done on the same day as a crown.
-The core can not be done prior to the crown.
-Prophy denied and you have to write off because it can only be completed every 155 days. (WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO COUNT THIS WHILE A PATIENT IS WAITING??)
-Prophy denied because it is only allowed 2 times in a 12 month period and we are helping a college student out.
-The bone graph at the time of implant denied as it is considered part of the implant procedure.
-Gingivectomy denied placing a Class V restoration that needed it to provide access and clear margins.
BUT should we have dismissed billing any of these because we are trying to be compassionate to the 90-year-old and decided not to bill for it, it may be considered fraud?? HOW IS THIS FAIR?
What I am getting at is that I truly believe that if a practice wants to provide care for how they learned in school or within their study group they consistently attend, we need to consider removing the network provisions that restrict our care, create more work and inefficiency and force write-offs that hurting our practice growth.
I get frustrated for my practices that do not see any reason to increase their fees annually because "what's the point, the insurance hasn't increased their reimbursement fees for several years". They feel as if it is only hurting their cash patients. Why can't we focus on how the insurance is hurting our entire patient base? After all, some of the insurance companies have rules that also hurt your cash patients as well.
What is the solution? FEE FOR SERVICE. Educate your patients that you as a provider promise that you will never practice by allowing their insurance or any other to dictate their care.
Now, it might not be for everyone. You might have a saturated area of general dentists refusing to do it. You might practice in a location that has more "Medicaid" patients and perhaps below the poverty line and as we know, many insurance companies will not pay anything out of network.
So it is not for everyone. But it is definitely time to consider it. There are too many "umbrellas" that have the same insurance companies listed that create cherry-picking of reimbursements and don't get me started that you might be sold on one insurance company being listed under your new in-network umbrella but not all of their group plans are paid on this. And then insurance companies with different levels of provider status and not allowing new members into it.
I could go on and on. And you don't need to use my company for this! Honestly! Google anyone and see who helps take practices fee for service. Get a consultation, quote, anything. BUT START THE CONVERSATION. You owe it to yourself and your patients.
Ditch the paper
Fee For Service
Fee For Service
Many people think the switch to paperless will cost more, in terms of training, hardware and software.
And, while these expenses do exist, the return on investment is enormous. For some dental offices, you already have the necessary software to do the work. The switch to paperless can pay for itself within a matter of weeks or months depending on the size of your office.
Paper is extremely time-consuming to work with as it requires a great deal of time and labor to organize and retrieve. How about searching for those misfiled charts? On average, dental staff spends about one hour per month searching for and replacing charts. Searching for charts while a patient is on the phone or waiting in front of you is not an efficient process, where digital charts could have been instantaneously at their fingertips. If this is the case at your dental office, the move to paperless could pay for itself within a month!
Does these sound like familiar struggles at your office? Contact Innovative Advisory Solutions today to have a trusted and experienced Advisor assess your office for it's next step into your paperless world!