As an orthodontist, staying informed about the economic factors influencing our profession is important. One such factor that significantly impacts orthodontic care, patient costs, office overhead, and orthodontic businesses is rising wages for talent retention. In his book Performing Arts: The Economic Dilemma, the economist William J. Baumol described a phenomenon called Baumol’s cost disease, where we see rising costs in labor-intensive professions. We will explore Baumol’s cost disease and discuss its implications for orthodontics.
Understanding Baumol’s Cost of Disease
Baumol’s cost disease, also known as the Baumol effect, is an economic theory proposed by William J. Baumol and William G. Bowen in the 1960s. It explains a phenomenon where certain industries, such as healthcare and education, experience rising costs despite stagnant productivity improvements. We experience a rising labor cost, and overhead and expenses increase without increased productivity.
The central idea behind Baumol’s cost disease is that some sectors, like manufacturing, have the potential for significant productivity gains through technological advancements. On the other hand, service-based industries, like orthodontic care, rely heavily on labor-intensive processes that do not benefit from the same productivity improvements.
Impacts on Orthodontic Care
Orthodontic care is primarily a service-based industry that heavily relies on skilled professionals, such as orthodontists and orthodontic assistants. The nature of our work requires significant human involvement. This limits our ability to achieve large productivity gains through automation or technological advancements. As a result, the cost of providing orthodontic care tends to rise over time.
This cost increase affects various aspects of orthodontic care, including treatment fees, equipment expenses, and staff salaries. Orthodontic practices often face the challenge of balancing the rising costs while providing high-quality care to their patients.
Patient Costs and Affordability
The rising costs associated with orthodontic care due to Baumol’s cost disease directly impact patients. As the expenses of running an orthodontic practice increase, it becomes necessary to adjust treatment fees to cover these costs. Consequently, the cost of orthodontic treatment for patients rises, potentially making it less affordable for some individuals and families.
Orthodontists are keenly aware of the importance of making orthodontic care accessible to many patients. However, the cost pressures imposed by Baumol’s cost disease can present challenges in maintaining affordability. Orthodontic practices often strive to balance providing quality care and managing treatment costs, aiming to offer flexible payment options or explore insurance coverage options to assist patients.
Office Overhead and Operational Challenges
The rising costs associated with Baumol’s cost disease also impact the overhead expenses of orthodontic practices. Equipment, supplies, facility maintenance, and administrative costs are all influenced by the general increase in labor costs. These overhead expenses are essential for patient care. Still, they can become increasingly burdensome for orthodontic businesses, especially as rising labor costs and decreased access to local talent create a labor shortage.
Orthodontists must carefully manage their practice overhead to maintain financial stability and deliver excellent patient care. Strategies such as optimizing practice operations, streamlining administrative processes, and exploring cost-saving measures can help mitigate the impact of rising costs associated with Baumol’s cost disease.
Adapting Orthodontic Businesses
Orthodontic practices must adapt to the challenges of Baumol’s cost disease to remain viable in a changing economic landscape. Embracing technology and innovative techniques that can increase productivity without compromising the quality of care becomes crucial. Leveraging advancements in digital orthodontics, such as 3D imaging, virtual monitoring, improved treatment appliances, and orthodontic software, can enhance efficiency and optimize workflows, reducing costs in the long run.
Furthermore, exploring new practice models and strategic partnerships can help orthodontists navigate the economic challenges of Baumol’s cost disease. We have seen a tremendous increase in practitioners adopting different practice models, teaming up into group practices, multi-specialty practices, or forming OSOs to manage these challenges.
In addressing Baumol’s cost disease in healthcare, orthodontic practice organizations can take specific steps to mitigate its impact. One key area to focus on is staffing, and here are three strategies to consider:
- Attract and retain talent: orthodontists can compete with other industries for the same talent by offering attractive benefits, such as flexible work opportunities beyond the pandemic. Restructuring operations to accommodate remote work or flexible schedules can expand the talent pool and improve staff recruitment and retention.
- Provide growth opportunities: It is essential to offer clear growth paths for entry-level staff and avenues for the senior team to expand their skills and take on additional responsibilities. By ensuring staff members see opportunities for professional development and career advancement, organizations can increase staff satisfaction and avoid overburdening them with excessive workloads.
- Embrace automation: Leveraging automation technologies can help elevate the efficiency and productivity of healthcare staff. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, orthodontists can free up their teams to focus on more complex issues or patient-facing roles. Empowering your team with automation can enhance their job satisfaction and drive increased revenue for the organization.
While Baumol’s cost disease will continue to impact healthcare, embracing automation and technological advancements presents opportunities to mitigate rising costs.
Conclusion
Baumol’s cost disease presents significant challenges for orthodontic care, patient costs, office overhead, and orthodontic businesses. As orthodontists, we must recognize these challenges and seek ways to adapt and thrive in a changing economic landscape. By embracing innovation, managing costs, and exploring new practice models, we can continue to provide high-quality orthodontic care while maintaining affordability for our patients.
