Outsourcing: Orthodontist Gets It

I got braces when I was thirteen. Once a month, I would get dropped off at Doctor T’s office for an adjustment or repair.

And sometimes a lecture about avoiding Good’n'Plenty candy.

I was the only patient each time. Doctor T would wash his hands with Neutrogena soap, fix my braces, wash his hands again, then open his appointment book to schedule my next appointment. I think my Mom mailed him payments because I never had to bring a check.

Doctor T probably made enough money to support his family, since he and Mrs. T had seven children and he drove a nice Volvo. But he did it one patient at a time.

My thirteen-year-old saw his orthodontist this morning. A call from the automatic reminder system last night helped ensure his attendance. Friendly dental assistants performed all of the snipping, clipping, stretching, and tightening that was required. The doctor came in to ensure that all was performed properly, then he walked on to the next four patients for similar reviews. Since automatic bank drafts are required, all the receptionist had to do was hand us a computerized appointment slip as we departed.

This is outsourcing. (You may have noticed that “outsourcing” is the Word of the Year for 2010 in the internet marketing world). It is not limited to low-wage workers churning out t-shirts or trinkets or websites on foreign soil.

Could our doctor make the reminder phone calls himself? Could he tighten and adjust my kid’s braces each month? Could he collect payments and schedule appointments? Sure. He is a smart man (for goodness sakes, he graduated from orthodontist school).

Here is the beauty of outsourcing: allowing competent people to handle the tasks that don’t require your own technical or creative expertise, so you may do more of (and earn more from) the work you enjoy.

(I’ve seen this guy’s car. It ain’t your father’s Volvo!)