No way. They are needed. But the problem is, if they are used without thought, you can turn your employees into robots. That could turn off your patients.

Systems need to be evaluated occasionally so you can maintain a healthy environment in your office. To keep your employees - the faces of the practice - happy and motivated, you can't make their days boring. Systems put in place and not re-evaluated can lead to boredom. Patients can pick up on the vibe of the office, and your patients are your ambassadors. Patients like seeing smiling, happy faces when they come in.

Efficiency is important, and we should never lose sight of that. There are a lot of areas where we can get caught in a rut, thinking we are doing all right and there is no need for change. A course with the staff can revitalize them AND you. Sure, you might learn something that disrupts some of your established systems, but sometimes you need to shake things up to take yourself to the next level.

Imtiaz Manji is a wonderful teacher, and the course that he presents with Sameer Puri, "Optimizing the CEREC Practice," contains so much information it is bound to make you rethink a lot of what you are doing every day in your office. It will make your team members rethink their roles.

This one course will open your eyes to the potential that is there. Make a plan to attend and bring your team to Scottsdale, Aug. 12-13.