DSOs can employ several tactics to support their clinical staff, according to one exec.
Barry Lyon, DDS, is a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry at Sarasota, Fla.-based DSO Dental Care Alliance. He recently spoke with Becker's about how DSOs can best support their staff.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What are the best ways for DSOs to support clinical staff?
Dr. Barry Lyon: When DSOs are looking to consider ways to support their clinical staff, they must consider the demographics of their providers. Since younger doctors and recent grads are gravitating toward DSOs, clinical staffs are made up of a significant percentage of millennials, adults born between 1981 and 1996, or ages 27 to 42 years. Deloitte predicted in 2014 that by 2025, 75 percent of the global workforce will be classed as a millennial.
According to Workstarts.com, support for this generation should include the following:
- A culture fit: Deloitte’s 2016 Millennial Survey reports that millennials desire to work in creative and inclusive cultures compared to authoritarian, rules-based ones.
- Aligned personal and organizational values: Research from LinkedIn found that 86 percent of millennials would take a pay cut to work at a company with the same values as them.
- Timely and regular recognition: Millennials require the most regular positive feedback from colleagues and management compared to other generations.
- Ability to learn and rise through the ranks: Workstarts.com states research from Gallup found that 87 percent of millennials stated professional growth and development opportunities were among their top priorities.
- Work-Life balance: Research from Docebo found that 95 percent of millennials note a healthy work-life balance as a top priority when searching for a new job. This presents a challenge DSOs may have controlling doctor time-off.
- Flexible working: Millennial providers want the ability to have some control over their schedules. Working for a DSO allows their professional lives to align with personal lives.
- Purpose over profit: Employees who believe their company has a higher purpose over money-making are 27 percent more likely to stay. But 43 percent of millennials feel like their company only cares about profits.