Steve Torbett is Office Manager of Crestview Dental in Westerly Rhode Island.
Seven years ago, Steve Torbett’s wife Dr. Jennifer Torbett told him that her Office Manager was moving. He had been recently laid off from his construction project manager job and thought that he’s help out while she looked for a new office manager… yes, 7 years ago!
“ There was a bit of a learning curve, but with the help of an office manager from another office, I was able to get things moving. We also hired a dental consultant to help bring some systems to the office.” Steve said.
Steve really likes the flexibility, especially since he’s the one that needs to pick the kids up from school if they are sick, rather than disrupt Dr. Torbett’s busy patient schedule. He has been able to get back into “construction” a little; over the last two years they have been designing and setting up the financing for a new 9 operatory office. 
Steve added, “I also like dealing with the patients. We have become friends with a lot of patients, to the point that we get everything from homemade bread, wine, sopressata, coffee to Chicken poo (from a fellow gardener, don’t worry it didn’t come into the office).”
Insurance is his least favorite part of running a dental practice as well as his biggest challenge! He finds that most continuing ed courses are focused on Team Building and dealing with patients. “There should be classes about dealing with insurances and the state laws that pertain to insurances.”
When not managing the practice and the frustrations caused by insurance issues, Steve plays soccer and loves to garden. “The kids do take up most of our time between sports and dance. Living so close to the beach, we spend most weekends at the beach or on the water.”
Steve’s good luck seems to be on a roll. Many years ago on St Patty’s Day in Southie, Steve met his future wife Jennifer! Now, they have 2 great kids, they’ve broken ground on their new office and he’s getting lots of insurance support from other members of the Ocean State Chapter of the Dental Mangers Society!
