Slab is poured!

Hello friends and family,

I know it has been a while since I blogged about the opening of "Kidstown Dental".  Things got delayed a little as we gratefully received the recent rains.  I am still hoping for a June 1st opening, but it will be a tricky thing to accomplish.  Now that the slab is poured it will take the shell builder about 60 days to complete the exterior portion of the building.  After that, my contractors will take another 60 days.  Since we did get a lot of things done prior to the foundation being poured, like the plumbing and some electrical, it could speed things up a bit.

Meanwhile Bill, my fabulous interior designer and friend, and I are working diligently to pick out the finishes.  I am thrilled at the tiles and floor design we have recently put together.  It's funny because I never thought floors would "thrill" me, but it is exciting!  As a side, everywhere I go these days I am looking at finishes and taking lots of pictures.  Staying in budget and finding great stuff is challenging and fun.

I am almost decided on my practice software management.  I am working toward the goal of families being able to do everything without paper.  We should be able to send email and text reminders, allow patient their own log in to schedule and reschedule appointments, fill out forms and submit them electronically.  It's a brave new world and there is a lot of technology that can make things smoothe and easy.

I have also almost hired my first employee.  She is a super girl.  Very reliable, very smart, loves kids and is good with them as well!  I am reading a great book and trying to prepare myself as much as possible for my new role as "boss".  One of the most influential people of my life has been Terry Dickinson.  He was my boss from about 19 years old until dental school.  He and his wife had a significant impact on who I am today and on my life course.  He has become like a father to me and is the person I can always rely on when I am up in arms about something.  I deeply desire to be the kind of boss he was.  I want be the kind of person who influences others because of who I am and how I treat them.  I want to see in young people and employees things they may not see in themselves and help them to reach their highest potential.  I know that ultimately it is God who does this kind of work in others, and I hope to be a useful instrument in His work.

That is where we are.  Waiting on God's timing for the opening of Kidstown Dental and preparing ourselves for the work in the meantime.  I can't wait to show everyone the results of all this preparation and invite you into the place I have been dreaming of for so long!  Until then, blessings on your way!!

Countdown to Kidstown Dental Opening!

First I should say, sorry if you were following this site and haven't been updated since September!  I have two blog sites.  I think I mentioned this earlier, but I haven't mentioned it lately.  I have been updating the other blog, but not this site.  Some people have easier access to this blog while others have easier access to my Wordpress blog.  I intended to update both, but just realized I haven't updated this one for a long time.  So, below is my latest post.  If you want to see the few posts between this newest one and the last one from September that I posted here, go to http://amyluedemann.wordpress.com/  In the future I will cut and paste and update both.  Eventually, pretty soon really, I should have them connected and feeding into "Kidstown Dental" website!

Groundbreaking has happened!!  Officially groundbreaking was supposed to be this past Monday, but as you may remember, Monday brought torrential rains.  I hear if you need rain really badly, schedule a groundbreaking!

Lots happening aside from the groundbreaking.  Time line wise, we have to start plumbing Jan 30, lay foundation early February, then hopefully, March 1st my contractors will begin interior build-out and doors will be open by June 1st...could be sooner.  There has been some issues with my contractor.  I do plan on writing in this blog, in the forum of a dental magazine like "Dental Economics" and possibly even something more substantial to help others in my position.  This entire process has been a huge learning experience.  In this process so far I have had to pick a Realtor, a site, a banker, a lawyer, an architect, a general contractor, an interior designer, and that is only some of the people who have been involved thus far.  I have learned that dentists get taken advantage of often and are sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally mislead in this process.  From the very begining I have sought out articles, books and advice so I wouldn't be one to fall into common traps.  Even still, I have found myself in some difficult situations for which my reading and seeking advice did not prepare me.  These are the things I hope to help others with as I am finishing with this project and it is all still fresh on my mind.  For now though, it is best if I not share the details.  Stepping back a little from the details, my prayer is that I can honor God in my words, my relationships and all of my business dealings no matter what the challenges are.  I find the balance between being a trusting, open, relaxed person and a smart, informed, assertive business person is a delicate balance indeed!

As the construction progresses the things I will be investigating and deciding on are: 

1.  What insurances will I accept? (This is the most common question friends, family and parents of patients ask me lately.)  Will I be "in-network"?  Will we accept Medicaid and Chip?

2.  What practice management software system will I choose?  Exactly how paperless will my office be?  What hardware will I go with for the office (Mac or PC)?

3.  When will I be hiring staff for training and how many persons will I hire initially?  How will I go through the process of finding and hiring people who will enrich the practice?

4.  How many days and which days will the office be open to start?  How many days per week will I practice ultimately?  How much vacation will the office take?  How will I set a schedule that will allow myself and staff to have quality time with our families, a balanced life, and meet the needs of a pediatric population whose parents don't want their children to miss school too often?

5.  When will I have the website up and running (including for scheduling patients) and will I choose a website management company?  If so, who?  Will "Kidstown Dental" have a Facebook page?  (I have one reserved.)  What types of social media will we use?  What are the reasons and benefits to the office and our patients for using social media?  What are the ethics involved in using social media as a pediatric dental office?

These are just a few of the things that occupy my mind these days.  I hope to "blog" and receive your input on these issues.  That is all I have for now.  Again, thank you for reading my blog and continuing to support me in this process!  I am so grateful to each and everyone of you!!

New office open by Feb or March 2012!!

I  am so excited.  I just talked with Dana and groundbreaking will be in a couple of weeks.  She said the shell takes only 60 days to build and the tenants will all be doing plumbing, electrical and roofing stuff along side the shell build out.  She thinks the whole center could be up and running with tennants in by Feburary or March at the latest.  I’m trying to hold down the excitement as my friends keep telling me contruction projects are notorious for going late.  I’ll keep you posted!

Off to meet with the contractors I have chosen, Ted Mohle and Steve Crawford.  They are phenomenal!  My dear friend Bill Stubbs, who happens to be the world’s most awesome interior designer (check him out at “Moment of Luxury” on HD TV or on his website) is meeting with us today to look at an office and work out some cool details of our design.  This is getting really fun.

Thank you all so much for your love and support.  God is good all the time!

Update on construction

Well, it’s actually an update on the lack of construction!  I found out a little while back that instead of Sept 1st groundbreaking, that we are looking at Nov or Dec for groundbreaking.  I am still hopeful that the opening will be June of 2012; however, I am satisfied with whatever God’s timing turns out to be.  The delay in groundbreaking gave me more time (for which I am very grateful) to consider the bids and the contractors before making my final decision.  This is a challenging process for me.  It isn’t about the money as much, because any contractor can apparently “value engineer” the costs and meet whatever number I need him to meet.  So that leaves choosing a contractor based on how my gut feels about the person and company, and how I feel they will be able to help me execute my dream office.  I will be choosing this week!

On another note, although I have had the name “Kidstown Dental” in mind for a long time, and I have reserved several URLs for several years…I forgot one URL and have just discovered there is a “Kids Town Dentistry” in Idaho or Utah.  I am so bummed and now looking into what to do about it.  ”Kidstown” has been the name that has become near and dear to my heart because I have been dreaming about the office under that name for a long time.  It also encompasses an idea that I have in mind.  The real issue is that I don’t want to have that name and later have the other pediatric dentist franchise and have my office confused with a chain.  So, I have been thinking and praying and trying to decide what is the best action.  If anyone has any thoughts or inspirations, I am open.

Lastly, praise God, I have 2 days per week at “Houston Children’s Dental Center” (with a 3rd likely in Oct or Nov) and still my 3-4 days per month at “Katy Dental”.  So the kids and I are on a strict budget; however, I am savoring the time off (1-3 days per week) for the next couple of months.  I am working on ideas for the new office, helping with flow and systems at “HCDC” and “Katy Dental”, and just enjoying a slower pace.  The kids and I are going to San Antonio for some fun courtesy of Dr. Huynh and “Katy Dental”.  Ken and I get to go to Oregon soon to look at equipment (courtesy of ADEC and Patterson), and I hope to get a little personal retriet fit in sometime in the next few months.

So all is well.  God is good.  And things are moving along quickly and slowly at the same time, as they usually do!

Amy Luedemann's new office in Katy coming soon!

(Two days blogging and boy am I learning a ton!  This is a repost of my post on a different blogging site yesterday.  Trying to find a simple way to help keep in touch through this process...)

Thank you to all my friends and family who have encouraged me to start a blog!  I hope to use this blog to keep your posted on the progress of the new office.  I am also excited about using this blog for education and connection to the community.  I have been building the dream of Kidstown Dental in my head for many years now, and part of that vision is empowering parents, through good information, to make the right oral health choices for their children.  This is my first time for blogging (or as my sweet friend Laurel will tell you…for even reading blogs!)…I hope it is fun and useful.

As most of you know, yesterday was my last day at “Kids Healthy Teeth”.  It was a bittersweet day.  I am so grateful to Dr. Griffith and everyone there for the past few years.  When I moved back to Houston from Seattle, just before Hurricane Ike,  if you’d asked what I would be doing in three years I would have said opening a practice inside the 610 loop.  What unexpected things God has brought to my life since then: Kenneth, Virginia and baby Daylan.  Katy has been a warm and perfect home for my little family, and I am so excited that we are digging even deeper roots into the community here.

So, about the new office, Kidstown Dental!  The name was inspired at my inspiring friend Lizzy’s Galveston house, in 2002 when my dear friend Susan was helping me to dream dreams bigger than ever before.  It was so much fun imagining the “Rio room” where my dog Rio would be the inspiration, as well as a therapy dog for the office. We envisioned a wall where all the children could bring pictures of their pets.  I think we may have had a 10,000 square foot office in mind with all the exciting ideas we had to make it a dream dental office for children…and me!  Turns out the office will be 2800 square feet, but since I have saved all our ideas and added to them, you can be sure it’s going to be a pretty wonderful place!  The new address is 27110 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy, TX 77494.  God willing, I hope to be opening the doors June 1, 2012.  I just found out the ground breaking is pushed back a month or two, so it could be later for my opening, but I am trusting God knows just the right time and is looking after things for me.

I am grateful to have a little time to rest after a very busy summer.  For the next 10 months I hope to work 3-4 days per week so I have plenty of time to prepare for the new office and to devote to the kids before it gets really busy!  I have been working at a surgery center in North Houston.  It is the first of its kind in Houston, and I am thrilled to be involved there.  At Houston’s Children’s Dental Center, children can have all their work done at one time under deep sedation or general anesthesia.  The masterminds/businessmen behind HCDC are wonderful people, who I deeply admire, and they have a heart to provide services to all children who need this type of care.  As a result the center accepts most insurances, is in network for most if not all plans and accepts Medicaid.  As a pediatric dentist who works with Medicaid populations at Katy Dental, I can tell you this is monumental and a huge asset to Houston.  Okay, I can already see I am getting off topic.  You can check out their website by googling Houston Children’s Dental Center or click on the link to find out what we are up to at the center.  I will be there 2-4 days per week until my office opens.  I am also continuing to work at Katy Dental 2-4 times per month.  This is a small office where I am privileged to serve lower-income families who are on Medicaid, Chip, or just on regular insurance.  Of course there are a few other things up in the air, but I’ll keep you posted of where I am actually working as I go.

Signing out now.  Will try to bring pictures soon to this blog of the groundbreaking, the floor plan, and other exciting things as they happen.  May even start a Kidstown Facebook Page, who knows?  Oh my gosh…here we go!

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