New Research Proves the Economy is Not the Reason for Downturn in Many Dental Practices

New Albany, IN (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

New research compiled from multiple sources by SmartBox Web Marketing suggests many dentists have fallen prey to a misconception. They assume that the economy has been the major cause for dampened revenues. Because the economy has fallen, and in some locations the number of lay-offs have been larger than average, many dentists just naturally assume this has lead to a diminished market for their services. Research suggests, however, that one has not necessarily led to the other.

Most dentists have relied for decades on things like Yellow Pages advertising to find new patients. In the past this was always seen as the method of choice because it worked so well. Due to past experience and old school mentoring, most dentists have failed to look at other avenues. In fact, times have changed. In scenarios where dentists relied on Yellow Pages advertising, a trackable phone number was inserted in the ads. Year after year, even before the downturn in the economy, results were dismal and kept getting worse.

At the same time, Google & Bing have repeatedly reported that the vast majority of consumers go online in rapidly increasing numbers to find what they are looking for, even in their own local cities and towns. Google reports that over 97% of people look online for local services, including dentists, rather than going to the Yellow Pages. In addition, 87% of online searchers end up making a phone call.

Now, couple these statistics with the fact that less than 20 percent of dentists have an active website, and it isnt hard to see the disconnect. With 97% of the population turning to the internet as the first choice in finding local services, and with fewer than 20% of dentists using the internet actively for advertising, it is no wonder that those without active web pages are falling behind. Those dentists who aggressively market their dental practice online report that they are growing their practices year after year, bad economy or not.

SmartBox Web Marketing has found through extensive research that dentists marketing online can not only attract new qualified patients consistently, they can also target the type of patients they want: those needing implants, sedation, periodontics, orthodontics, cosmetics, etc.

Unfortunately the problem for many dentists is found in the antiquated notion that old ways are always the only way. If Yellow Page advertising worked in the past it must always be working, therefore the economy is what is really affecting their revenues. Research suggests otherwise.

SmartBox Web Marketing has posted several dental marketing case studies of dentists in large, competitive markets who are finding and pre-qualifying new patients in the dental niche's they specialize in via the internet and local online searches. These particular dentists have since enjoyed steady growth in their practices while doing away with all other types of advertising.

Dentists interested in learning more should request a free copy of SmartBox Web Marketing's new special report, "The New Yellowpages." It is available at no charge on their website: http://www.smartboxwebmarketing.com/the-new-yellowpages.htm

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Election 2010: State-by-State Data; How Many People with Mental Illness are Being Served?

Arlington, VA (PRWEB) September 30, 2010

State mental health agencies (SMHAs) provide direct services to between 15 to 60 percent of people living with serious mental illnesses in their states, according to state-by-state figures reported today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

State mental health services are being cut dramatically, however, even as need has increased due to the nations economic crisis. Medicaid is the other major funding source of mental health care for people with serious mental illness, but also has been subject to cuts (see table below).

State mental health agencies cannot do it alone, said NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. They serve only a fraction of those who need helpand they struggle to do so with shrinking budgets.

Even without budget cuts, low percentages of people with serious mental illness served by SMHAs may point to weakness in the reach of a states overall system of care. Congress has some responsibility to help strengthen state mental health care systems. Federal mental health block grants have been reduced or frozen over the past 10 years. The impact of cuts in Medicaid-funded state programs also has been softened only through use of federal stimulus funds.

The state figures are offered as part of NAMIs fourth alert in an Election 2010 series reminding editors, reporters and others to ask all candidates what they intend to do about the nation's mental health crisis. Protecting and strengthening state mental health care must be part of the Election 2010 dialogue. In editorial board meetings and community forums, please ask candidates what they will do to help, Fitzpatrick said.

Every issue in the election involves mental health carefrom unemployment to troops returning from war. For example, unemployed workers are four times more likely to report symptoms of mental illness and veterans are twice as likely as civilians to die from suicide.

The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Research Institute reported in Feb. 2010:

Total SMHA budget reductions from FY2009 to FY2011 were about $ 2 billion.
Approximately 90 percent of SMHAs were experiencing budget cuts in FY2010. Almost 75 percent had experienced cuts in FY2009 and the same level proportion expected cuts in FY2011.
Over 50 percent have responded by cutting community mental health services and reducing the number of people served. At the same time, SMHAs experienced increased demand for community services, including crisis services, emergency rooms and hospital acute care.

Weak state mental health care systems end up costing communities morethrough lost jobs and careers, broken families, more homelessness, higher insurance costs, more welfare and much more expensive costs for hospital emergency rooms, nursing homes, schools, police and courts, jails and prisons, Fitzpatrick said.

Below is a list of states that have adults with serious mental illness (SMI), rounded to 1,000, and the percent served by State Mental Health Agency (SMHA).

Source:Grading the States 2009: A Report on America's Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness