We as dentists experiment and use a wide range of materials; equipment compared to any other health care provider, hence we have a different process which should be organized and methodical.
This process includes policies and procedures that guide the availability, safe storage, prescription, dispensing; administration of medications. It also includes care, maintenance and the process to maintain all the dental equipment hassle-free by organizing it and setting up systems to counter audit it and prolonging the life and durability of the equipment you have procured.
Material selection and its procurement is one of the integral part in running a successful dental practice and hence you should always use materials which are accepted and tested for their durability; strength worldwide.
The procurement process should be documented and audited periodically and all the material procured should be stored in temperatures and in conditions preferred by manufacturers for the material to be ready for use anytime you need it. Manufacturers’ instructions and expiry dates should be considered stringently before use on patients.
Complicated procedures like use of implants should cater extra care and use of implants approved by bodies like FDI, ADA, ISO etc. should be used as they are widely accepted by everybody.
All the equipment we use should be accounted for and should have annual AMC contracts with the providers so that they can serviced regularly and proper care can be taken as it is a huge investment and I am sure you all will agree to this.
Equipment that needs periodic calibration should be calibrated and documented,
Some key points to help are:
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- Keep your clinic constantly under CCTV surveillance.
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- Buy globally known equipment and have contracts done for AMC; Breakdown backup.
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- Periodically check contents of emergency medication and do the necessary changes in them and get all of them together in one place where all staff has access to it.
The intervals where the above criteria should be evaluated and kept in check will increase both efficiency and effectivity of the clinic and you will get your expected returns as everything is accounted for and you are in a right direction.
Our mission is to spread knowledge about healthcare quality and safety standards amongst the dental practitioners and encourage them to upgrade their services so that it compliant to the standards.
This will not only upgrade the quality of services that is offered at the healthcare organisation but also increase patient’s confidence in the organisation and help you retain more loyal patients in the practice.
One more key advantage of being compliant is – it helps you to document everything that you perform in the practice & thus avoid mistakes and further complications.
So at Dental business Masters we encourage you to start Accreditation Journey – Because Healthcare Can’t Be Compromised!
This article is authored by Dr Sameer Bhandari, Clinical Director and Co-founder, Dental Business Masters. He is the author of the best selling book – Because Healthcare Cannot Be Comprised ; a go to guide for all dental practitioners who want to provide quality healthcare to their patients and have the clinic accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)
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