Q: What type of dentist uses your service?

A: The dentist who puts the safety of both patients and employees ahead of profits. The dentist who is proactive when it comes to infection control. The dentist who sees value in yearly employee training. The dentist who’s standard is delivering the highest quality of care and the highest level of safety. Unfortunately only a very small percentage of dentists fit the profile!

The number one reason for disinfectants being ineffective is because the person using it didn’t take the time to read the instructions on the label. If infection control products are not used according to the manufacture’s instructions the desired result which is the “prevention of cross contamination” will not be achieved. Always read label instructions and use accordingly.

Q: We get children who have problems with keeping the x-ray sensor in their mouth because of gagging or discomfort. A staff member  is required to stay in the room with the patient and hold the sensor in place while another staff member presses the button to take the x-ray. The staff has discussed concerns about radiation exposure with the employer, the employer suggest that we wear a radiation apron when in the room while holding the sensor. Is this safe?

A: NO it is not safe and it is a violation of OSHA, Department of Health Services and Consumers Affairs regulations. I would advise your employer to purchase the proper sensor for children, the cost would be cheap compared to the citations, fine and potential lawsuit by employees!

If you received “OSHA” training, you only received five percent of the needed information to be compliant and reduce risk to yourself and patients. OSHA training is not,

• The Dental Practice Act
• Sterilization
• Patient Safety
• Dental Board Infection Control
• HIPAA
• Radiation Safety
• Environmental Heath Management
• Human Recourses

Dental Professionals must look beyond the “OSHA mentality” and take responsibility to find out what they need in order to be competent in their duties. They also need to change their mindset from doing only the minimum to adding value in everything they do.

Before using chemical products or any product for that matter, first read the label. If you do not understand the instructions ask management before using the product. Take the time and steps necessary to be safe!

Staff and patient safety must be blended into the daily activities and responsibilities. Safety isn’t something that is add-on when it is convenient or cost effective. The mindset of the Dental Profession towards safety in general must change otherwise staff and patient casualties will be astronomical.

Are you working on your business or are you working in your business?

When you are working on your business you are in the driver’s seat. You are in command of business growth, direction, and profitability. You have created a support team that sees to the day-to-day tasks, leaving you with plenty of time to spare or use in another ways, life is pretty good.

However when you work in your business you are trying to get things done by yourself with no end in sight. You are trying to get through the day which seams like an endless loop. Your staff is going in different directions; you have more problems than solutions. Yes you are busy and your practice is busy, but being “busy” isn’t much of a business indicator especially when it comes to profits, after all you can be “busy” reading the mail or digging a hole. First and foremost your dental practice is a business and if you are lacking the knowledge that will take you out of your business so that you can start to work on your business hire an expert, doing everything yourself to save a few bucks is Old School and it doesn’t work anymore!

Assuming that new hires both experience and inexperienced know what to do to maintain the standard of your office is risky business. Take the time and orientate all new hires to the policies and procedures of your office and constantly test their understanding of your standard. I suggest conducting a New Employee Orientation for the first ten days of employment and longer if needed, the areas of focus should be patient safety, patient information security, infection control, OSHA, Consumer Affairs and office policies & procedures. The key to successfully maintaining a standard is making sure everyone is on the same page. By the way, employee training should be conducted a minimum of once a year and for maximum results onsite!

Training is a process that improves knowledge and skills and information is the key ingredient for all training. Information must be current, specific to the job, presented by a qualified instructor and conducted yearly. Reducing employee training or looking to cut training costs by doing it yourself is ludicrous. Investing in employee training will payoff many times over and it is a critical element for a Patient Compliant office!

Q: I updated my compliance manual last year; do I need to update it this year?

A: YES – if your compliance manual is written correctly and contains policies & procedures based upon all regulations and not just OSHA, then all you need to do is revise it as new requirements are released or working conditions change, at the minimum your compliance manual along with employee training is updated once a year.. With all due respect doctor, I evaluate about 55 dental offices each month and haven’t found one office with a correct compliance manual, what I have found was a lot of time and hard work put into a binder with incorrect results. Why would anyone attempt to take on a project that even experts find intimidating at times? If you think you are saving money I suggest you think again.