Today’s RDH: Leveraging SimpleCert to Achieve Continuing Education Program Success

admin March 20, 2024 0 Comments

Today’s RDH: Leveraging SimpleCert to Achieve Continuing Education Program Success

In the world of Dental Continuing Education, you don’t have to search very far before you will find Today’s RDH. Founded in 2018, Today’s RDH is a digital media and education company for Registered Dental Hygienists, dental hygiene students, and other dental professionals. Today’s RDH has become a leader in the dental industry by producing and publishing high-quality articles, videos, podcasts, live events, and online continuing education. For Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Ben Buzbee, the gratifying success of Today’s RDH also comes with that business-owner-stress of needing to find ways to scale and grow his company, without being overwhelmed by manual work and lengthy processes.

Given its reach and brand awareness, it was a clear business decision for Ben and the Today’s RDH team to become an approved Continuing Dental Education provider for both the American Dental Association (CERP) and the Academy of General Dentistry (PACE). Today’s RDH currently holds live virtual continuing education events, in addition to a variety of self-study CE courses. 

 

Proactive versus Reactive

It’s a saying we’ve all heard bantered around, and for good reason:  being proactive is an essential part of any growing business.  For Ben, looking through the entire CE workflow –  from the initial coursework and marketing, all the way to distributing individual Certificates of Completion –  led him to the realization that he needed a solution to streamline the certification process for potentially tens of thousands of certificates over the course of a year.  While searching for possible solutions, Ben discovered SimpleCert.    “I looked into over a dozen different solutions and SimpleCert was the only one that met all our requirements for what we were looking for, ”  says Ben.  “There were a lot of other solutions I looked at before, but none of them met our specific requirements of easy certificate design, easy uploading large lists of people to send the certificates to, and easy emailing & storage options. Every other potential solution I looked at seemed to meet just one of the requirements, not all of them like SimpleCert.” 

Building for Future Success, in 5 days or less

Having settled upon SimpleCert as their Certificate Management System, Ben and team turned their attention to onboarding, and setup of their process.  Ben estimates that it took less than a week to go from signing up for a test account in SimpleCert, to designing templates and then sending out their first course certificates.  Having completed the set up process, Today’s RDH can now reap the benefits of automation, time saving and automatic recordkeeping that SimpleCert provides.  “Once attendance has been verified that each attendee met the minimum amount of time to receive a CE certificate, it takes less than an hour to get certificates ready, realistically more like 20 minutes, ” says Ben, for an unlimited number of Attendee Records to be created, and automatically distributed to recipients. 

Room to Grow

Automation can bring time savings, and increased efficiency.  Increased efficiency and time savings can then be reinvested into other important aspects of your business.  With the utilization of SimpleCert, Ben and the Today’s RDH team have been able to focus their energy into scaling Today’s RDH, and continually improving their coursework – without getting buried by manual workflows that are a byproduct of his success.  “I can’t even imagine manually creating and emailing over 10, 000 certificates for each event, ” says Ben.  “I mean that would probably take months when now it is literally uploading our verified attendee lists and sending the certificates out.”

Hands typing on a laptop keyboard.

A true Measure of Success

Oftentimes the true measure of a successful CDE program is not just within the CE Providers’ eyes, but also in the overall experience for the dental professionals who take their coursework. Here too, the Today’s RDH program shines bright. “People really love the [Recipient Portal], where all their certificates are stored in one place, ” says Ben. “Now that we are seeing repeat attendees to our events, it is very useful for them to have all certificates from all events in one place.” Using a professional Certificate Management System like SimpleCert has enabled Today’s RDH to provide a 100% professional experience for their students, throughout their entire Continuing Education program.

A 75% Reduction in Support Response Times

By utilizing SimpleCert, Ben estimates he has reduced the amount of time his team spends on handling support related certificate inquires by a full 75%, compared to the time it would take without the SimpleCert platform. “A lot of the questions revolve around not receiving their CE certificates or not receiving all of them because they waited a few weeks, ” says Ben. “I can then easily lookup their email in SimpleCert to see if all their certificates were sent and then send them to the portal for them to download all of them. Saves a lot of time from having to lookup each course and downloading each individual certificate to send to the person requesting help.”

The Path Forward for Today’s RDH

Looking ahead to the future, Ben is eager to explore ways to further integrate and automate his business processes.  “I’m really looking forward to making things a little more white label in terms of integrating directly with our website. I’m a huge fan of using SaaS products whenever possible because I don’t want to be in the software development business, ” says Ben. “I want to focus on our business and what we do best. Paying another company to handle all the intricacies of maintaining software is worth every penny because I don’t have to deal with any of the headaches that come with keeping the software updated and maintained. I just want something that works and I don’t have to think about – SimpleCert is exactly that!” 

SimpleCert

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Exploring the Differences: Is Supplemental Security Income the Same as Social Security?

admin March 20, 2024 0 Comments

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security (SS) programs are vital assistance programs that provide monthly payments to support aged or disabled individuals. However, it’s crucial to recognize the fundamental differences between these two programs. 

The SSI program is designed to finance the basic needs of elderly individuals or those with disabilities. It offers a safety net for those facing financial challenges. On the other hand, the SS program supports the retirement, disability, and family income of individuals who have contributed adequately through SS taxes. Discover the two programs’ similarities and differences to know if one or both apply to your case.

What is Supplemental Security Income?

Supplemental Security Income is a crucial program that provides monthly payments to support basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. These payments are directed toward eligible individuals who have limited income or resources. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees SSI, which is financed by general tax revenues.

Each month, recipients must report their forms of income and any changes in their living arrangements. This process ensures their ongoing qualification for SSI benefits, reflecting the program’s commitment to meeting the essential needs of vulnerable individuals.

Who Qualifies For SSI?

To clarify, individuals eligible for SSI benefits include: 

  • Children or adults facing disability or blindness,
  • Adults 65 years or older, and
  • They have limited income and resources. 

The program is designed to support those in need, ensuring a safety net for those facing challenging circumstances.

What are Social Security Benefits?

Social Security (SS) benefits constitute monthly allowances based on reported earnings. These benefits are extended to retirees, individuals with disabilities, or their beneficiaries, aiming to provide financial support during critical phases of life.

Who Qualifies For Social Security?

Qualification for Social Security benefits is contingent on acquiring sufficient work credits based on annual earnings. These individuals, whether U.S. citizens or lawfully present non-citizens, become eligible when they 

  • Reach the age of 62 or older, or
  • Experience disability or blindness before 62 years old.

What are the Similarities between Supplemental and Social Security Income?

Exploring the commonalities between Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security (SS) benefits sheds light on their shared features. Presented below is a table illustrating key similarities:

 

SSI Benefits

SS Benefits

Monthly Payments

 Yes Yes

Medical Standards (18+)

 Same Same

Medical Standards (Below 18)

 Different Different

Administered by SSA

 Yes Yes

SSI and SS benefits encompass monthly payments to maintain financial support for recipients. The medical standards for individuals aged 18 and above align for both programs. However, distinctions arise in the medical standards for minors, with SSI and SS having separate criteria.

What is the Difference between Supplemental and Social Security Income?

While Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security (SS) programs serve overlapping populations, distinctions emerge based on the unique circumstances of recipients. Below is a comparative table presenting critical differences in a scannable and informative format:

 

SSI Benefits

SS Benefits

Calculated by

 Current countable income Amount of SS taxes paid over the years

Funded by

 General taxes SS taxes

Eligibility

 Disabled, Blind, or 65 years old or more, and have “limited income.” Disabled, Blind, 62 years old or older, and have enough work credits.

Who can Receive the Recipient’s Benefits

 Recipient Recipient and certain family members

Types of Benefits Each Program Has

 In most states, SSI recipients can receive Medical assistance (Medicaid), Food assistance, Supplemental payment Medical coverage (Medicare), retirement benefits, spousal benefits, disability benefits, survivor benefits

As depicted, SSI and SS benefits differ in their calculation methods. SSI benefits hinge on limited income, whereas SS benefits are determined by the cumulative SS taxes paid over the years.

Limited income in SSI is based on countable income staying within the allowable limit. Countable income is the difference between gross total income and income not counted by SS, such as income tax refunds.

SS taxes earn work credits. A person can collect up to 4 credits annually. Most individuals need to amass 40 credits to qualify for SS benefits.

In essence, SSI benefits serve as income for the recipient’s basic needs, while SS benefits cater to recipients during retirement or individuals with disability, spouses, and children.

Can I Get Both Social Security and SSI Benefits?

An individual can receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under certain circumstances. The combined benefits from Social Security and SSI can help ensure that the individual’s total income meets the minimum level set by the SSI program.

It’s important to note that eligibility for both programs is subject to various factors, including income, resources, and other individual circumstances. Consulting with a Social Security lawyer or contacting the Social Security Administration directly for personalized advice based on specific details is recommended to determine eligibility for both benefits.

Take the Best Course of Action for SSI and SS Programs

By understanding the differences between SSI and SS programs, you can better decide what benefits apply to your case. If you need help applying for any program, why not get the assistance of an SS lawyer? A seasoned SS lawyer can help expedite the application process so that you get benefits earlier. If you want to know more, why not book a free consultation with us? Schedule your appointment today to get your benefits early and efficiently.

Marken Law

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