Should my dental practice use an arbitration agreement?
It can be a useful prevention tool, but never grab a template off the internet and start having patients sign it. Arbitration law varies, and an agreement that isn’t valid in your state is worse than none, because it gives you false confidence. Have a local attorney review and tailor it before it goes anywhere near a patient. Used correctly, it sets expectations up front about how a serious dispute would be handled, which alone tends to cool down the patients most likely to turn a disagreement into a lawsuit. But it is a backstop, not a substitute for clear refund policies, honest treatment conversations, and good documentation. Get the legal review first. A signed agreement you can’t actually enforce is just paper that made you feel safe.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.