Andre’s Eaglesoft Training Rant!
Several people have asked about me coming in to help with “training” and over on the “other” Eaglesoft Facebook page, there was a discussion about “training”. The statement was made that “Eaglesoft training is so expensive!”.
Full disclosure: I spent more than a decade as a “Patterson Certified Technology Advisor” and before that trained offices to use Eaglesoft to the fullest potential. Now on my own, I still help people with “squeezing” the most out of Eaglesoft. So of course, in the end this is a self-serving rant. Just so we’re clear. LOL.
There are LOTS of people out there who “train” offices how to use Eaglesoft and there are many options when it comes to getting training, but…… not all training is good and when you don’t understand the subtle things that happen to Eaglesoft when changes are made you can have long term “things” that will haunt you for a long time.
Since that post, I have had calls, emails, texts, FB messages (might have even had a carrier pigeon drop off a message) from current and former Technology Advisors relaying horror stories of work that had to be done after some “trainer” tinkered with preferences in ES that left Associate Dentists receiving incorrect salaries, entire treatment plans being lost forever, important documents deleted and lost and even data corruption. I have personally had partnerships torn apart from changes made by a “consultant” who said the “knew” Eaglesoft and made changes that cause partners to believe that another was “stealing”. NOT TRUE! Bad stuff.
Like those in the Eaglesoft Field Guide, there are lots of great ideas. That being said, not every “idea” is a great protocol, UNLESS you can see three, four, five steps down the road and see how it will affect Eaglesoft.
A simple thing (very common) like putting “*” in front of a patient name for inactivation or financial reasons seems harmless until someone searching for the patient can’t find their name (because the * changes the name alphabetically) and they create a second version of the same person. No big deal? Well, it counts as a new “person” in your system. It changes statics in the patient demographics report. No big deal. Right?
Anyway. Please, before you hire someone to train you on Eaglesoft, realize, there is a difference between someone who is showing you how they might have used Eaglesoft in their office, someone who knows the innerworkings of Eaglesoft, or someone who knows both and can apply that knowledge to your practice. Heck, I’m not “certified” in Eaglesoft 19!
By the way…. If you’re looking for Eaglesoft “training”, Don’t call me. I do NOT do “training” and I will refer you to your local Patterson Certified Technology Advisor that I know, and who is GREAT at training. Call me If you would like to develop skills related to Eaglesoft and we can make Eaglesoft help manage the practice.
There are 4 stages of Eaglesoft learning opportunities:
1) Do it yourself (the Drivers Ed manual)
2) In-Office Training (Drivers Ed in the car with someone)
3) Hands-on use (Diving on your own)
4) Continued Education (Learning how to race)
At each stage there are resources and experts who can help. If you go out of order, you run the risk of getting "a ticket" or even "losing your license".
Simply…
If you want to learn to “drive” call a Certified Patterson Technology Advisor (“Trainer”).
If you know how to “drive” and you’re ready to “race”…. Call me.
Who Have had Training 2023 Poll
Who have had training 2021 Poll
DISCLAIMER:
This is a resource guide and all decisions on each dental office setup should remain the sole decision of the dentist/owner of the practice. Eaglesoft is a registered trademark of Patterson Dental Company. All other software or products mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Although Andre Shirdan was an employee of Patterson Dental, he is not associated with Eaglesoft or Patterson Dental Company or endorsed by Patterson or any other Company Mentioned in this blog
