Ben Wild explains why Riverdale Healthcare builds relationships and guides dentists and professionals through their career.
In any industry the succession cycle is a challenge. But at Riverdale Healthcare we believe we have the foundations to provide stability and security for all our colleagues, safeguarding the future success of our business.
From the point of inception, Riverdale Healthcare commits to providing opportunities for everyone. It’s in our DNA.
The first dental group we acquired, Alpha Vitality, successfully embedded a culture of progression, which we continue to nurture.
Ultimately, we want to provide the highest standards of dental care to all patients – in a friendly and professional environment.
To ensure we deliver on this, we are dedicated to making sure that our teams are the best they can be. Providing opportunities for progression, we believe, is paramount to ensuring our teams are motivated and enjoy their work.
Our head of operations began as a trainee dental nurse. As did many of our regional management team.
For us, this level of experience in key roles means they are best placed to make informed decisions. They can have a greater understanding how changes affect every part of the team. And subsequently, successfully manage implementation of change.
In addition, the experience of acquiring the skills needed to develop and progress within the business means that they are also well placed to identify and nurture the potential in those around them.
We work closely with our teams, supporting them through a broad range of training programmes to meet the developing needs of the business.
As a result, many of our staff members benefit from career progression. Either with additional skills that link to their core roles, or role promotion as they progress the career ladder.
Nurturing foundation dentists
On a clinical level, many groups report a shortage of dentists, which can have a massive impact on the business. We are taking the proactive approach used by many premiership football clubs; we are growing our own.
Partnering with foundation training providers, we are nurturing relationships with foundation dentists to develop the lead clinicians of the future.
Assigning mentors, we guide FDs through 12 months in practice, participating in team events, supported in their academic work and guide them through their clinical role.
Foundation training not only provides a unique and stimulating team environment, it also helps to promote best practice. The foundation dentists and their supervisors embrace the latest clinical protocols to enhance patient care. Whilst also involving the whole team around them.
Many of our current clinical team joined as foundation dentists. The legacy of this experience forged many longstanding and valuable professional and personal relationships between team members.
Beyond foundation training, we facilitate opportunities to further develop skills through our own CPD events.
Collaborations with both leading industry speakers and our own home-grown talent provide enhanced clinical training to widen the services they can offer to our patients.
With the opportunities afforded by hybrid teaching models, we offer a broad range of online teaching seminars. As well as F2F one-day and extended practical training programmes at a range of centres close to our practices.
The value of relationships
We recognise that extended practice families make up our group. Each with their own nuances, but all working together to deliver the highest standards of dental care.
We should never underestimate the value of these relationships. None more so than in the past year.
I, myself, as operations director, have strong and enduring relationships with many of our team members. Whether they are clinical directors, dentists, managers or DCPs.
Through these relationships, I was able to see when one person in particular might need support, whether professional or personal.
To this day that culture lives on in the ethos of the practice teams
And that’s what we do. We keep it personal.
People like us, because we are passionate about what we do and we believe in what we do.
That’s why we have a large number of people who have been with us for far longer than many marriages! Some, for their whole working life.
If you’re looking for the secret. There isn’t one.
Just make sure you stay interested in people. Be kind, be supportive but most of all, listen.
Riverdale is on a mission – what’s yours?
Riverdale Healthcare is growing. If you would like to find out more about Riverdale Healthcare and if we are a good fit for each other, speak to Chris Aylward. You can contact him at Chris@riverdalehealthcare.com.
Image and article as featured in Dentistry Magazine
Nurturing the Next Generation – Progression to Succession
/in NewsBen Wild explains why Riverdale Healthcare builds relationships and guides dentists and professionals through their career.
In any industry the succession cycle is a challenge. But at Riverdale Healthcare we believe we have the foundations to provide stability and security for all our colleagues, safeguarding the future success of our business.
From the point of inception, Riverdale Healthcare commits to providing opportunities for everyone. It’s in our DNA.
The first dental group we acquired, Alpha Vitality, successfully embedded a culture of progression, which we continue to nurture.
Ultimately, we want to provide the highest standards of dental care to all patients – in a friendly and professional environment.
To ensure we deliver on this, we are dedicated to making sure that our teams are the best they can be. Providing opportunities for progression, we believe, is paramount to ensuring our teams are motivated and enjoy their work.
Our head of operations began as a trainee dental nurse. As did many of our regional management team.
For us, this level of experience in key roles means they are best placed to make informed decisions. They can have a greater understanding how changes affect every part of the team. And subsequently, successfully manage implementation of change.
In addition, the experience of acquiring the skills needed to develop and progress within the business means that they are also well placed to identify and nurture the potential in those around them.
We work closely with our teams, supporting them through a broad range of training programmes to meet the developing needs of the business.
As a result, many of our staff members benefit from career progression. Either with additional skills that link to their core roles, or role promotion as they progress the career ladder.
Nurturing foundation dentists
On a clinical level, many groups report a shortage of dentists, which can have a massive impact on the business. We are taking the proactive approach used by many premiership football clubs; we are growing our own.
Partnering with foundation training providers, we are nurturing relationships with foundation dentists to develop the lead clinicians of the future.
Assigning mentors, we guide FDs through 12 months in practice, participating in team events, supported in their academic work and guide them through their clinical role.
Foundation training not only provides a unique and stimulating team environment, it also helps to promote best practice. The foundation dentists and their supervisors embrace the latest clinical protocols to enhance patient care. Whilst also involving the whole team around them.
Many of our current clinical team joined as foundation dentists. The legacy of this experience forged many longstanding and valuable professional and personal relationships between team members.
Beyond foundation training, we facilitate opportunities to further develop skills through our own CPD events.
Collaborations with both leading industry speakers and our own home-grown talent provide enhanced clinical training to widen the services they can offer to our patients.
With the opportunities afforded by hybrid teaching models, we offer a broad range of online teaching seminars. As well as F2F one-day and extended practical training programmes at a range of centres close to our practices.
The value of relationships
We recognise that extended practice families make up our group. Each with their own nuances, but all working together to deliver the highest standards of dental care.
We should never underestimate the value of these relationships. None more so than in the past year.
I, myself, as operations director, have strong and enduring relationships with many of our team members. Whether they are clinical directors, dentists, managers or DCPs.
Through these relationships, I was able to see when one person in particular might need support, whether professional or personal.
To this day that culture lives on in the ethos of the practice teams
And that’s what we do. We keep it personal.
People like us, because we are passionate about what we do and we believe in what we do.
That’s why we have a large number of people who have been with us for far longer than many marriages! Some, for their whole working life.
If you’re looking for the secret. There isn’t one.
Just make sure you stay interested in people. Be kind, be supportive but most of all, listen.
Riverdale is on a mission – what’s yours?
Riverdale Healthcare is growing. If you would like to find out more about Riverdale Healthcare and if we are a good fit for each other, speak to Chris Aylward. You can contact him at Chris@riverdalehealthcare.com.
Image and article as featured in Dentistry Magazine
Genuinely proud to be part of the team
/in UncategorisedChris Aylward explains what sets Riverdale Healthcare apart from other dental groups.
Every group will say they are different to the rest: that they aren’t a typical corporate, that they offer clinical freedom, that they are nicer people to work for.
And why wouldn’t they? I say exactly the same thing! Each group is focused on growth. To do that, they need to convince you that they are the best option for you.
So, let’s break this down and talk about Riverdale Healthcare.
We are not a corporate
The word corporate has a bad press in the dental industry. It’s a negative term that implies a focus on process, protocol and standardisation. Rather than the people and what they can do for the business. For many companies this is inevitable. Once growth becomes significant, having more uniform, aligned groups of practices is much easier to manage.
At Riverdale Healthcare, we are very clear that we are a group of individual dental practices. Each practice is different, much like extended families; each have their own successes and challenges, each with its own character.
Our support team recognise the importance of our colleagues in practice, the dedicated professionals who are making it possible for the people in our communities to live life with confident, healthy smiles. The support team focus on how they can make life easier in the practice so the teams can focus on delivering exceptional patient care by tailoring systems to meet the needs of the practice.
We offer clinical freedom
We seek to provide high quality, ethical dental care. Key to this is providing choice to both our patients and clinicians. We believe clinical freedom is not only enabling personal laboratory and material choice but through communication.
Working together as multi-disciplinary teams, supporting each other, developing skills, mentoring colleagues, cultivating an environment which encourages personal and professional growth.
Clinical freedom at Riverdale Healthcare is core to our purpose of fostering a happy, ‘can-do’ team that goes above and beyond for each other and our patients.
We are nice people
I am genuinely proud to be part of Riverdale Healthcare. Everyone who is part of the team has the same passion and commitment for becoming the best independent group we can be. Always with the best interests of our colleagues and patients at the heart of everything we do.
We work together, in collaboration, to find better ways of doing things.
Dentistry is a fulfilling and valuable career. It plays a crucial role in a healthy community.
We understand that without a happy team, we will lose people, waste talent, and underperform. Without gaining our team’s trust, acting responsibly, ethically and caring for our people, we will fail in our mission to serve our patients.
Our teams have fun delivering outstanding care to the people in our community. We want them to enjoy their work and the relationships they build every day. We want them to fulfil their personal aspirations, be developed, rewarded and achieve a genuine work-life balance.
They’re proud to work in a team that goes above and beyond for each other and our patients, that is respected in the community because of the contribution it makes, and the responsibility it takes to protect the environment and care for its people.
The decision to sell your practice is probably one of the biggest steps that you will take. Certainly in your professional life.
You should take it over a period of time once you have gathered all of the information that you need to make that decision. Your head and your heart must agree and then you can feel confident to progress.
At Riverdale Healthcare, we fully understand this huge step that you are taking. We have the knowledge, expertise and experience gained over many years to help and support you through this. So that the end result is great for both of us.
Image and article as featured in Dentistry Magazine
New People and Culture Director Joins Riverdale Healthcare
/in NewsSuzie will lead Riverdale Healthcare’s people and culture strategy to ensure we are delivering an authentic, open and honest, working environment for all our colleagues.
From a career in Operations, Suzie progressed through to Regional Manager for a leading travel agent, Thomas Cook where she managed a large team. It was here that she realised her enjoyment came from supporting her team to develop their skills, which consequently drove performance. Working at Thomas Cook, she progressed to become Strategic Business Partner for the UK and Ireland.
After the collapse of Thomas Cook, Suzie joined Travelodge as HR Business Partner, a role where she says you really felt the culture which was warm and open, something she is keen to develop at Riverdale.
Her experience of organisations which undertake acquisitions, restructuring and driving performance makes her a great addition to the Riverdale Healthcare Leadership team.
Emma Barnes, Riverdale Healthcare CEO said, “We are so happy to have Suzie join us at this time in our journey. We want to embed an open and honest culture which genuinely cares about our colleagues and Suzie’s vast experience is a great fit to make it happen.”
Suzie added, “I am really looking forward to driving a positive and authentic culture at Riverdale Healthcare. There is a genuine warmth about the people I have met and I am keen to develop this further to drive positive experiences in all aspects of the company, from acquisitions to personal development and growth.”
Riverdale Healthcare Continues Drive for Growth
/in Acquisitions, NewsNorthern based dental group, Riverdale Healthcare is celebrating further growth with the acquisition of three dental practices.
The practices, which are located in Newcastle and Durham, were owned by Principal Dentists Deepinder Somal and Akash Ghai.
Village Dental Practice in Whickam and The Grange Dental Centre in Gosforth which both offer NHS and Private Dental Care, whilst Westland Dental Studio in Lanchester provides private dental care.
The latest acquisitions take Riverdale Healthcare to a total of 25 dental practices in just 2 years.
Dr Somal said, “We will continue to play a large role in the practices, but now we have the support and experience of a wider team to ensure security for the practice teams and our patients.”
Dr Ghai added, “The team at Riverdale Healthcare have been really great to deal with. We also work in the property field and appreciate the level of communication and support we have had from both Chris Aylward and the team. This is a really exciting time to join.”
Chris Aylward, Chief Investment Officer of Riverdale Healthcare commented, “These are three really great practices and I am delighted that, even though we were struck by a pandemic, the team at Apposite Capital, Pinsent Masons and Hazelwoods have managed to ensure a smooth process as we welcome Deepinder, Akash and the team to Riverdale.”
Chris added, “The dental community had a tough time last year but at Riverdale, we have procedures in place to ensure our patients can access dental care safely and our practices remain fully supported by a passionate and committed leadership team.”
Riverdale Healthcare is a dental investment group which was formed in 2019, with an industry-leading management team led by CEO Emma Barnes and backed by specialist healthcare investment fund, Apposite Capital. The team continue to actively source ambitious dental practices which share Riverdale Healthcare’s ethos of providing high quality, ethical dentistry.
Dental practice owners interested in finding out how they can secure the future for their team, should contact in confidence, Chris Aylward at chris@riverdalehealthcare.com
InDental Group Joins Riverdale Healthcare
/in Acquisitions, NewsA Gateshead based dental group, has joined the fastest growing, northern based independent dental group, Riverdale Healthcare.
InDental Group which includes InDental Practice, New Biggin Villa Family Dental Clinic and Deckham Dental were owned by Dr Shiv Pabary MBE, who has worked in the Gateshead and Newcastle area for over 30 years and was awarded the MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours List in 2009 for services to dentistry.
InDental Practice, on Fewster Square in Gateshead, is a purpose-built state of the art facility designed by local architects, while Deckham Dental Practice is situated on the Old Durham Road in Gateshead and New Biggin Villa is on Kells Road. All practices provide a comprehensive range of private and NHS dental care and accept referrals for complex dental treatment.
This is the largest acquisition for Riverdale Healthcare, who acquired 3 practices during 2020, taking the group total to 22 dental practices around the North East of England.
The acquisition of InDental Group enables Riverdale Healthcare to further support the region’s next generation of dentists as the practices provide Foundation Training centres.
Dr Pabary said, “After meeting with Riverdale, I was convinced joining the group would provide the best support and fit for the practices going forward. We have an ambitious team and want to develop our practices. With the support from Riverdale, we can continue to grow for the benefit of both our team and patients.”
Chris Aylward, Chief Investment Officer of Riverdale Healthcare commented, “This is by far the largest acquisition investment since the initial purchase of Alpha Vitality Group in 2018. Shiv is a leading figure in the dental community and we are confident we can further enhance and build upon his existing success.”
Chris added, “2020 has been a difficult year for the dental community due to the initial lockdown restrictions, but here at Riverdale, through careful management and support, we are working towards delivering as much dentistry as we can in these challenging times. We have proactively sought ways to continue to see our patients, by securing stable supplies of PPE, installing virus killing clean air technology and implementing video consulting technology for remote appointments.
Our core focus is to ensure patients can access dental care safely and ensure they receive a great experience every time.”
Riverdale Healthcare is a dental investment group which was formed in 2019, with an industry-leading management team led by CEO Emma Barnes and backed by specialist healthcare investment fund, Apposite Capital. The team continue to actively source ambitious dental practices which share Riverdale Healthcare’s ethos of providing high quality, ethical dentistry.
Dental practice owners interested in finding out how they can secure the future for their team, should contact in confidence, Chris Aylward at chris@riverdalehealthcare.com
Linden Cottage Dental Practice Joins Riverdale Healthcare
/in Acquisitions, NewsLinden Cottage Dental Practice, which was formerly owned by three managing dentists, is now part of Riverdale Healthcare.
Riverdale Healthcare currently operates 19 dental practices around the North East of England delivering both NHS and private dental care. The acquisition of Linden Cottage Dental Practice follows the recent acquisition of Bridge Street Dental Practice in Morpeth and represents the group’s commitment to growth in the area.
Managing Partner, Callum Barr, said, “We have completed the sale of our dental practice to Riverdale Healthcare. It has been an easy and good-natured process. Riverdale are a far cry from the large conglomerates who are buying up a lot of practices these days. They are primarily interested in maintaining the practice as it and serving the local community.”
Chris Aylward, Chief Investment Officer of Riverdale Healthcare commented, “Callum and the team are a great addition to the Riverdale family and extends our Group further into the beautiful county of Northumberland. In these unusual times, dentistry has been particularly hard hit with restrictions on seeing patients. At Riverdale, we have proactively sought ways to ensure we can continue to see our patients, by securing supplies of the PPE and installing virus killing clean air technology.”
Chris continued, “Our focus is ensuring patients can access dental care safely and ensure they receive a great experience every time.”
Riverdale Healthcare is a dental investment group formed in 2019, with an industry-leading management team led by Chairman Mark Seekings and backed by a leading healthcare investment fund, Apposite Capital. The team continue to actively source ambitious dental practices which share Riverdale Healthcare’s ethos of providing high quality, ethical dentistry.
For dental practice owners interested in finding out how they can secure the future for their team contact in confidence, Chris Aylward, chris@riverdalehealthcare.com
New CEO for Riverdale Healthcare
/in NewsRiverdale Healthcare has today announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.
Current Chairman and previous CEO, Mark Seekings will continue in his role as Chairman of the company, whilst Emma Barnes will have overall responsibility for the company as CEO from 1st November 2020.
Emma, who has a background in dentistry, has had a successful career in similar positions where company growth was key. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer at Linnaeus Veterinary Group, Emma had grown the Group to 165 practices and 3000 staff, including 700 vets. More recently Emma was an Operations Director for the successful private equity business Laurels, the 3rd largest Funeral Care business in the UK.
Emma’s wealth of experience spans 16 years’ in Retail and 5 years within the Healthcare industry. She has also worked within the care and dental sector, and shares Riverdale’s passion for delivering a strong customer proposition within a clinical environment.
Mark Seekings, Chairman said, “We are delighted to have Emma join the Riverdale Board. Her experience in growing successful companies will be pivotal in the coming months as we continue our ambitious expansion programme and develop our patient experience, in the new digital era.”
Riverdale Healthcare is a dental investment group formed in 2019, with an industry-leading management team led by Chairman, Mark Seekings and backed by a leading healthcare investment fund, Apposite Capital. The team continue to actively source ambitious dental practices which share Riverdale Healthcare’s ethos of providing high quality, ethical dentistry.
For dental practice owners interested in finding out how they can secure the future for their team contact in confidence, Chris Aylward, chris@riverdalehealthcare.com
Bridge Street Dental Practice Joins Riverdale Healthcare
/in Acquisitions, NewsA dental practice in Morpeth has joined a new and expanding, northern based dental group.
Bridge Street Dental Practice, which was formerly owned by Philip Jones, is now part of Riverdale Healthcare.
Riverdale Healthcare currently operates 18 dental practices around the North East of England delivering both NHS and private dental care. The acquisition of Bridge Street Dental Practice enables the group to support the region’s next generation of dentists as the practice is a Foundation Training centre.
Mr Jones said, “After meeting with Riverdale, I was convinced joining the group would provide the best support and fit for the practice going forward. We are an ambitious practice and want to develop the practice and with support from Riverdale, we can continue to grow for the benefit of both our team and patients.”
Chris Aylward, Chief Investment Officer of Riverdale Healthcare commented, “Phil and the team are a great addition to the Riverdale family and extends our Group into Northumberland for the first time.
In these unusual times, dentistry has been particularly hard hit with restrictions on seeing patients. At Riverdale, we have proactively sought ways to ensure we can continue to see our patients, by securing supplies of the PPE and installing virus killing clean air technology.”
Chris continued, “Our focus is ensuring patients can access dental care safely and ensure they receive a great experience every time.”
Riverdale Healthcare is a dental investment group formed in 2019, with an industry-leading management team led by Chairman Mark Seekings and backed by a leading healthcare investment fund, Apposite Capital. The team continue to actively source ambitious dental practices which share Riverdale Healthcare’s ethos of providing high quality, ethical dentistry.
For dental practice owners interested in finding out how they can secure the future for their team contact in confidence, Chris Aylward, chris@riverdalehealthcare.com
VirusKiller System Protects Dental Patients
/in NewsAmid concerns for safety in dental practices, one UK dental group has made a significant investment to ensure safety for both their team and patients.
Riverdale Healthcare, which incorporates 17 dental practices in the North East and North Yorkshire, have announced that they will be first UK dental group to have the revolutionary Radic8, VirusKiller clean air technology installed.
It is now clear that the entire landscape of dentistry will change at least during the transmission phase of COVID-19, forcing the dental profession as a whole to revisit its entire infection control method and policy, bringing about significant policy changes in the wake of the crisis.
Riverdale Director, Ian Gordon explains, “Dentistry has always had excellent standards of cross infection with single use instruments where possible, autoclaving of other instruments and disinfection of hard surfaces. One of the biggest challenges in infection control within healthcare settings is in dealing with the air and whilst there is no real evidence of transmission in a dental practice via this route it has remained an area of some concern.
Therefore, despite the small and theoretical risk of transmission in this way, to make sure our patients receive the best treatment and service, we are the first dental group in the UK to have partnered up with Radic8, who are leading the global fight against airborne viruses and have installed their clean air technology “Viruskillers” in our dental practices.”
The units, which will arrive this week, have a 99.9999% kill rate on all respiratory viruses, including Coronavirus, in a single air pass. The unit aims to completely and constantly recycle the air inside a standard size surgery both during and between patient appointments. While the patient is in the surgery, the unit creates an airflow that drags contaminated air away from the patient and the dentist and releases sterilized air back, creating a continuous cycle.
Ian added “This is a technology not just for now but for the future. Nobody who has lived and worked through this period will forget the impact of Covid 19 – we are confident this additional measure will reassure and protect our patients and staff from what admittedly is already an extremely low risk”.
To find your local Riverdale Healthcare dental practice click here
Having Dental Implant Treatment in the middle of Coronavirus Outbreak
/in Dental, Self CareDuring these unprecedented times we would like to give you some useful tips to help you resolve and reassure any possible dental implant related concerns you may have.
Recently placed implant(s)
If you have had implant(s) placed in the last week or two you will be due to have the stitches removed soon. You will have been informed if these are dissolvable or not. If they are dissolvable then there is no urgency to attend the practice, stay safe at home. A member of our team will give you a call to check on how you are doing. If the stitches are not dissolvable please contact the practice and we will arrange an appropriate time to have them removed.
3-month healing phase
After having had the implant(s) placed you will have a 3-month gap before the next stage of treatment, implant expose. Due to the current situation, several of our patients will be waiting longer than 3 months before this is carried out. Please do not worry, no harm will be done to the implant or you if this stage is not carried out after 3-months. This stage can be carried out any time after 3 months.
Implant expose
This stage is routinely carried out 3 months after placing the implant. Some patients will have had this part of the treatment already carried out. You will have had a small circular disc called a healing cap or healing abutment placed into the implant that protrudes through the gum. It is very important that this cap/abutment is kept very clean. You must brush the cap directly with your toothbrush (electric or manual) twice a day just like your teeth to keep it clean. No harm will be done to it. If it is kept clean and the gums around it healthy you will minimise any risk of problems.
A common issue with these healing caps is that over time they can become loose. Do not be concerned if this happens. Carry on brushing it and it will unwind fully and drop out. Keep the cap in a safe place. The gum will heal over the top and close the hole. Under current guidelines this is not a dental emergency and so you do not need to attend for any treatment. However, please do give us a call so we can make a note of it and plan to get you booked in as soon as we are able to resume normal services. It would also be very helpful if you can send a picture of the cap so that we can reassure you no further intervention is required.
Implant impressions
A small number of patients will have had impressions (moulds) of their teeth carried out to make the implant teeth or to start the stages to make the teeth. With the Government’s advice regarding social distancing and our governing bodies advice of not using any aerosol generating procedures, most laboratories will have closed or significantly limited the work they will be carrying out. Rest assured that when the time comes to fit your new teeth, if there are any adjustments, discrepancies or need for remaking you will not be charged for these. Many cases will be routine and we will be able to fit your new teeth with minimal disruption, once we are able to resume our normal service.
Completed Treatment
If your implant treatment has been completed, you will have been placed on our implant recall list. If you are due your implant check-up, this will be postponed until we are able to resume normal service.
Complications which may occur which are not deemed an emergency:
Complications which may be deemed emergency care: