HCD Headlines 3-2-22

Rachael
Mar 2, 2022
3 min read

There are some points in this week's headlines that we can review as a team at our meeting tomorrow. Please always remember that even though there is A LOT of marks to hit and checkmarks to mark at every appointment and throughout your day, you do not work at this clinic alone. If you need more training in a certain area to strengthen your skills, it's not a weakness to ask for coaching. If you need someone to step in so you can complete a different task, it's not a weakness to ask for help. We succeed together, we fail together, and sometimes we eat donuts together. Plan your day for success by remembering we're all here to help one another.

3-2022 Schedule

Lots of changes in March with the schedule. Please keep an open eye for your times on the schedule. Thank you!

Happy Visits

We are blessed to have new patients coming in with their families that are under the age of 3. As you know, we start their journey with us using a happy visit. As providers, you are to decide when your patient has graduated from a happy visit to a child prophy and/or oral exam for <3. The definition of a prophylaxis per the ADA's recent CDT Coding book is as follows:

Removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the tooth structures... to control local irrational factors.

If you feel as a provider that you've met this criteria, please code out the treatment as such. If your patient didn't allow you to provide any care, they can come back and take as many visits as needed before you can actually complete a prophy. We're not limited on happy visits as we're helping to create willing, happy patients that work with us and not against us.

Comp Exams for Existing Patients

Time for a quick review on how we handle x-rays for comprehensive exams that happen every 3 years per our standard of care. Every 3 years we take a pano and 4 bitewings for every patient. We take PA's as necessary, such as patients with implants or areas that are being "watched." A full series is not necessary unless the doctor and the hygienist deem it necessary for the patient's health. Otherwise, we follow the protocol ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable. As little radiation as possible for our patients. If it's not necessary, don't do it.

Treatment Plans

Treatment plans are a vital piece of our practice. Without them, we are a 3-legged chihuahua in a greyhound race. We can still race, but we're going to fall on our face a lot and go really slow. With that in mind, let's all be on the same page for presenting treatment plans to our patients.

The following is each step of the treatment plan with the options listed as best, better, and good.

Where to present the treatment plan:

BEST: Chairside.

BETTER: Consult Room.

GOOD: Front Desk.

OKAY: Email after they leave.

DON'T: Tuck into their pocket as they leave the operatory.

How to present the treatment plan:

BEST: Side by side seated in operatory.

BETTER: Side by side standing in operatory.

GOOD: Side by side at front desk.

OKAY: Asking front desk to present.

DON'T: Paper airplane made out of the treatment plan thrown gently at the patient as they leave the clinic.

Signing the document:

BEST: Review the ESTIMATE for the patient/insurance including any outstanding debt/credits, and discounts. Patient signs and the presenter signs the form. Form is scanned and returned to patient.

BETTER: Review the ESTIMATE for the patient/insurance. Patient signs and the presenter signs the form. Form is scanned and returned to the patient.

GOOD: Ask the front desk to review the ESTIMATE for the patient/insurance and have them sign as the presenter. Form is scanned and returned to the patient.

OKAY: Show the patient the treatment plan and their estimated co-pay, patient signs the form. Form is scanned and returned to the patient.

DON'T: Tell the patient to not worry about it and/or forge the patients' signature.

SERIOUSLY DON'T: Leave the treatment plan at the front desk without reviewing with the patient or the front desk.

There are times when we find ourselves in the OKAY section - it happens. What we must strive to do every day is stay between the BEST and BETTER sections. If you're falling behind in your tasks or schedule, look to your team for support. Someone can turn your room over. Someone can help setup for your next patient. Someone can help you ensure your patient receives the BEST presentation for their treatment plan from their trusted clinician in a manner that ensures conversion to treatment and commitment to schedule.

Goals Accountability

Remember... tomorrow is the day we choose a winner for the $100 personal goals and lunch for reaching department goals. You have a few bonus days to complete your February goals. Good luck!