How to Implement Patient-Centered Care
Dr. Jacinta D. Watkins, DDS
How to Implement Patient-Centered Care
Dr. Jacinta D. Watkins, DDS
When patients come to our office, they are expecting that we will listen to their concerns and provide treatment recommendations to help them achieve their oral health goals. Many people are returning to the dental office to resume treatment now that the COVID-19 pandemic cases are starting to decline. This is a critical opportunity for the dental team to show the patients that their needs will be addressed first.
Here are three strategies that will ensure that Patient-Centered Care is the focus for your office.
1. Consistent Communication.
The patient must feel like their needs are being addressed at every encounter with the receptionist, office manager, dental assistant, dental hygienist and doctor.
Team meetings and office scripting are great strategies that will ensure that the dental team is providing the same consistent message to the patients. Every team meeting should highlight that if a patient has a concern, it should be the focus for the visit.
Ultimately, the patient is the customer that you are serving.
The patient will inform other family members and friends about their experience with your office. A positive, patient-centered experience can enhance the public image and revenue for the office.
1. Consistent Communication.
The patient must feel like their needs are being addressed at every encounter with the receptionist, office manager, dental assistant, dental hygienist and doctor.
Team meetings and office scripting are great strategies that will ensure that the dental team is providing the same consistent message to the patients.
Every team meeting should highlight that if a patient has a concern, it should be the focus for the visit. Ultimately, the patient is the customer that you are serving. The patient will inform other family members and friends about their experience with your office. A positive, patient-centered experience can enhance the public image and revenue for the office.
1. Consistent Communication.
The patient must feel like their needs are being addressed at every encounter with the receptionist, office manager, dental assistant, dental hygienist and doctor.
Team meetings and office scripting are great strategies that will ensure that the dental team is providing the same consistent message to the patients. Every team meeting should highlight that if a patient has a concern, it should be the focus for the visit.
Ultimately, the patient is the
customer that you are serving.
The patient will inform other family members and friends about their experience with your office. A positive, patient-centered experience can enhance the public image and revenue for the office.
2. Imagine Yourself as the Patient.
What are some things that you look for when you are trying to find a healthcare provider to address your needs? These factors should be considered in developing patient-centered care policies and procedures for your office. A great exercise to implement with your dental team would be to observe the office.
Take a few moments to
sit in the lobby and the operatories
to see the practice from a patient’s perspective.
Do the lobby and operatories create a welcoming environment? Do they appear neat or cluttered? Review the feedback of the dental team and make adjustments to create a patient-centered environment.
2. Imagine Yourself as the Patient.
What are some things that you look for when you are trying to find a healthcare provider to address your needs? These factors should be considered in developing patient-centered care policies and procedures for your office. A great exercise to implement with your dental team would be to observe the office.
Take a few moments to sit in the
lobby and the operatories to see the practice
from a patient’s perspective.
Do the lobby and operatories create a welcoming environment? Do they appear neat or cluttered? Review the feedback of the dental team and make adjustments to create a patient-centered environment.
2. Imagine Yourself as the Patient.
What are some things that you look for when you are trying to find a healthcare provider to address your needs? These factors should be considered in developing patient-centered care policies and procedures for your office.
A great exercise to implement with your
dental team would be to observe the office.
Take a few moments to sit in the lobby and the operatories to see the practice from a patient’s perspective. Do the lobby and operatories create a welcoming environment? Do they appear neat or cluttered? Review the feedback of the dental team and make adjustments to create a patient-centered environment.
3. Same-Day Dental Treatment.
Many patients must take time away from their places of employment and families to visit the dental office. When patients overcome various challenges to make it to their appointments, the dental team should be ready to optimize their time and offer same day dental treatment.
When the patients believe that their dental
needs are being addressed, they are more likely
to start treatment as soon as possible.
This creates a win-win scenario for the patient and the office. The patient’s immediate needs are being addressed and the office becomes more financially viable. There are several same day services that can be offered to patients such as hygiene, restorations, crown preparations with or without in office milling machines. The patients will feel like their time was
valued and return for additional treatment.
3. Same-Day Dental Treatment.
Many patients must take time away from their places of employment and families to visit the dental office. When patients overcome various challenges to make it to their appointments, the dental team should be ready to optimize their time and offer same day dental treatment.
When the patients believe that
their dental needs are being addressed, they are more likely
to start treatment as soon as possible.
This creates a win-win scenario for the patient and the office. The patient’s immediate needs are being addressed and the office becomes more financially viable. There are several same day services that can be offered to patients such as hygiene, restorations, crown preparations with or without in office milling machines. The patients will feel like their time was valued and return for additional treatment.
____________________
3. Same-Day Dental Treatment.
Many patients must take time away from their places of employment and families to visit the dental office. When patients overcome various challenges to make it to their appointments, the dental team should be ready to optimize their time and offer same day dental treatment.
When the patients believe that their dental needs
are being addressed, they are more likely to start
treatment as soon as possible.
This creates a win-win scenario for the patient and the office. The patient’s immediate needs are being addressed and the office becomes more financially viable. There are several same day services that can be offered to patients such as hygiene, restorations, crown preparations with or without in office milling machines. The patients will feel like their time was valued and return for additional treatment.
____________________
Healthcare is a service industry where patients trust us with their lives. Once the mindset of serving has been acknowledged, everything else including the vision and growth of the office will follow. Implementing these strategies to focus on the patients needs first will ensure that patient-centered care is delivered with every patient and every encounter.
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