Practice Design Group
PDG has unparalleled experience in consulting on and designing dental facilities across the country. As advocates for the profession of dentistry, PDG is passionate about assisting dentists and dental specialists to maximize their investment return in new and remodeled facilities as well as enhance their quality of life as practitioners.
PDG and the Carters have earned an admirable reputation in today's dental industry. They are respected contributors to all the major dental publications and requested speakers at many professional conferences.
The Carters have contributed to the body of knowledge that has dramatically advanced the practice of dentistry. Dental office design has become an intrinsic element in enhancing the patients’, practitioners’ and staff’s overall experience.
PDG is proud of its tradition of channeling clients’ individual professional aspirations. The Carters assist in envisioning a completely personalized concept for implementing each practitioners’s ideal working environment.
The diversity of PDG's portfolio demonstrates that for the practitioner, dental office design & construction can be an empowering and enriching experience. One that should make coming to work everyday a rewarding and enjoyable occasion. Practice Design Group's focus on service, strives to make every project as straight forward and predictable as possible.
Pat Carter IIAD
Since 1979, Pat has participated in the design and construction of over 2,000 dental facilities and is arguably considered among the leading expert on the provision of comprehensive dental office design services both throughout the US and internationally.
Pat is at the forefront of the ongoing evolution of dental office design that utilizes architecture and interior design to elevate the profession by improving both the experience of the patient and the staff. Utilizing her highly honed sense of design and a visceral understanding of the behavioral sciences, PDG creates environments that both optimize the quality of health care while psychologically catering to the patients’ legitimate concerns.
Pat attended Clemson University and graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Tennessee in 1975. As a practicing interior designer, Pat started her career with hospital and hotel design projects for several large architectural firms.
As vice president of T.H.E. Design Inc. of Austin for twenty years prior to 2002, Pat, and later with Dr. Jeff Carter, pioneered many of the design criteria that have become the highest standards for the profession today.
Incorporating texture, color, light and structural details, PDG focuses on designing dental offices that delights the practitioner, their staff and patients alike. Judicious use of volumetric spaces and open asymmetrical environments, helps create a feeling of harmony and visual surprise that make these offices as pleasing to be in as they are functional.
Pat and Jeff formed the Practice Design Group - PDG, in 2002. They were inspired to develop a firm that would focus exclusively on the dental profession. This vital component of the overall healthcare industry is continuing to rapidly evolve as it responds to increasingly sophisticated consumers’ expectations and emerging technologies.
Pat and PDG are proud of their reputation as “hands on” designers. extremely busy dentists that are managing a demanding practice, appreciate PDG’s “single source” responsibility. On larger projects, Pat expertly serves as the project’s over all manager, continuously coordinating with the several other licensed construction disciplines. All major project decisions go through Pat and she has taken the lead in developing a unique, orchestrated process that PDG utilizes to deliver comprehensive services that continues to distinguish the firm. Clients appreciate her meticulous attention to detail and come to rely on Pat to faithfully represent their own interests.
PDG has achieved a considerable renown within the dental profession. together and individually, Pat and Jeff have written numerous articles on dental office design in Dental Economics and other respected publications. She is a frequently requested speaker at many national and state dental meetings including; the ADA Annual Meeting, the Hinman Meeting, Texas Dental Association Meeting, Greater New York Meeting, Chicago Midwinter Meeting and the Southwest Dental Conference. Pat and Jeff are also considered valued resources for many of the major medical equipment manufacturers and are included as trusted members of their own design teams.
Pat and Jeff take every effort to make the difficult and arduous process of building out a new dental facility a rewarding and fulfilling experience for the practitioner. Using a controlled collaborative process, the final project reflects many of their clients’ own sensitivities. The visual diversity of PDG’s portfolio of finished facilities attest to Pat’s ability to create environments that incorporate the distinctive character of each client. They feel that the project’s success can be measured everyday when the dentist, coming to work, is accompanied by a tangible sense of pride and accomplishment.
Improving Patient Comfort in a Dental Facility - Pat Carter IIDA
Using interior aesthetics of lighting, color, sound, and furniture can significantly improve patient comfort within a dental facility and contribute towards a greater dental treatment experience.
Jeff Carter DDS
In 2002, Pat and Jeff formed the Practice Design Group - PDG, to focus specifically on dentistry in response to practitioners seeking a more collaborative and innovative design resource than was available through dental supply houses and other formula-driven dental office design companies.
Jeff graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biological Science in 1976. In 1980 he received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Colorado, School of Dentistry. In his years as a practicing dentist, Jeff worked as a young associate dentist, a group practitioner in a large clinic setting and as a solo-practitioner in his own practice.
Jeff's background as a former practicing dentist serves him well in design. He views himself as a “Health - Technology Coordinator” with the operative word on health. He and PDG seek to optimize the delivery of healthcare through its architectural surroundings, utilizing carefully designed environments to enhance the experience for the patient, the practitioner and the entire staff.
For close to two decades, Jeff has been involved in the design and construction of over 500 dental facilities including dental schools and large multi-specialty facilities.
In 1997, Jeff joined T.H.E. Design, Inc., of Austin, Texas. During his tenure there, Jeff implemented technology integration services as a much needed adjunct to the firm's dental office design business.
Jeff’s additional experience as a licensed investment broker benefits PDG’s clients as well. Whether working with individual practitioners, groups or corporations, Jeff understands that a new facility is primarily viewed as an important financial investment. Evaluating the trajectory of the practice and even the practitioner's own lifecycle, PDG’s comprehensive financial models of the new facility, play an Integral role in maximizing of the investment’s return, from the initial practice development phase through to its ultimate disposition. The firm’s detailed financial projections and spreadsheets have assisted clients in pursuing a full spectrum of funding options from traditional financing to sale-leaseback agreements.
Jeff continues in the tradition of the architects' involvement in all aspects of a project's design. His knowledge of architecture as well as dentistry and IT’s up-to-date and emerging technologies enables Jeff to specify equipment that will improve the delivery of healthcare, increase workplace efficiency and assure PDG clients that their practice will maintain crucial and competitive professional skills well into the near future.
Two decades of close relationships with major manufacturers has afforded him significant input into the design process of the equipment Itself. In 2000 for example, Jeff developed the Workstation and Pendulum Mounts to effectively integrate dual monitor systems in the dental operatory and other medical settings.
Jeff’s reputation in the field is further enhanced by PDG’s many awards for design and innovation, he has published over 50 articles on office design, equipment and technology integration. He is also a frequently requested speaker, teaming with Pat to present CE courses on the newest developments Dental Office Design nationwide.
Jeff graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biological Science in 1976. In 1980 he received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Colorado, School of Dentistry. In his years as a practicing dentist, Jeff worked as a young associate dentist, a group practitioner in a large clinic setting and as a solo-practitioner in his own practice.
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| Jeff's original dental office staff. |
In 1997, Jeff joined T.H.E. Design, Inc., of Austin, Texas. During his tenure there, Jeff implemented technology integration services as a much needed adjunct to the firm's dental office design business.
Buying an Existing Dental Practice Vs Starting a Brand New Dental Practice - Dr. Jeff Carter
How do you envision your career in dentistry? Are you ener¬gized by thoughts of entrepreneurship competing in a rigorous marketplace? If so, what are your alternatives? Here are some factors to consider in buying an existing dental practice Vs opening your own dental practice.
