How eAssist Changed My Life-Christine Ducas

This story is written by Christine, in first person. When learning more about her story, her the details and heartfelt nature of her experience were too important to change or rewrite. Please enjoy this personal narrative of how eAssist changed Christine’s life.

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I first read about eAssist as a tool for my office (2 years ago). It was an ad, I think in my Office Managers Journal. At the time, I was running a one man show: front office staff, manager, treatment coordinator, accounts receivable, accounts payable, insurance specialist and even the bottle washer…

The office was growing and the pressures of all those responsibilities were becoming more and more overwhelming for one person. Because the owner provided each staff member with, holiday, sick leave, vacation pay, and a year-end bonus which was over and above our goal bonuses, another employee’s salary was not in the budget. That’s when I stumbled upon eAssist.

I thought eAssist was the perfect solution. Outsourcing some of the work would eliminate the added expenses that typically accompany an additional in house employee.  I couldn’t have been happier and more relieved with the discovery and I was more than ready to begin coordination to retain some help.

It was already Thanksgiving and unbeknownst to me at the time, it was then end of an era and icon.  Behind the scenes, the owner had decided to sell the practice and retire.  The decision was final and the process was already in the works.  At Christmas he made the announcement. The new owners were a corporation with their own systems and teams.  Eventually, my job was taken over internally by two of their existing team members.

Living 50 + miles outside of the Phoenix area in a small Western Town, finding local work was impossible and my Prius already clocked in with 200,000 miles.  Things were looking a bit more challenging as I explored various options.  Retirement was not one of those options, (I am 68) I needed to work.  A few years ago my husband and I inherited our 12 year old grandson who desperately needed us.   Then a stroke of genius, I remembered eAssist and made contact.

At first the idea of being home for my grandson, Dylan, was the main attraction.  Of course, the car’s current and future conditions travel and expenses were also on my mind. eAssist was beyond appealing.  I could maintain my Prius, keep an eye on an active teen and earn money.

Little did I know that these physical accommodations would be the least of the pleasures I would enjoy as part of my new life working with eAssist. Working in dentistry for almost 50 years I have seen and been through it all. I began by studying 4 handed dentistry, some front office, filling out claim forms that at the time only gave a long shot to patients to receive minimal money back.  We used no gloves, no masks, had no OSHA or HIPAA requirements, no computers, developed x-rays in a dark room hoping for a good angle. I had personally spoken to Henry Schein when he first started his catalog and sales for dental supplies and equipment in Queens NY. Through it all~ even all these years later  as offices evolved and developed, the office drama, politics and employee dissatisfaction and burnout were the worst conditions to face and maneuver through on a daily basis.

With eAssist all the nightmare personnel challenges and escapades are no longer an issue. The hardest part of a manager’s job has been removed.  With eAssist everyone has a stake in the pot, since it’s their money too. eAssisters are dedicated and have only their offices best interest at heart, certainly no clock watchers here.  I’m sure every one of us never thought how much time and energy we actually had to give to these areas and how much it distracted us from getting real work done.

I can’t be more grateful for what eAssist has given back to me. A career in the field I am passionate about and surrounded my life with – without the headaches and pains that typically accompany the work.  I love that I am independent with my strengths and skills while being supported and highlighted.  I love the flexibility to balance my career with my home life and personal matters. I love having the network of others to give and gain support from. I love my new family and friends.