Screens, Notes and Bluecards

Ideal Hygiene Check--Producer Productivity

In this module, Bob shares some of his personal productivity “have to haves.” Try them out in your own practice, or be inspired and take these in your own direction.

Bluecards

At Bob’s practice, dry-erase “blue cards” are the preferred method for moving information around. They are useful for briefing the dentist, giving a heads-up that it’s time for a hygiene check, or any other message between docs and hygiene. They’re silent, they’re small, and they do exactly what you need them to every time. From a patient’s perspective, silence is golden when it comes to the system you choose to communicate between staff. No phones, lights, walkie talkies, or smoke signals can beat the blue card.

Screens
When it comes to screens, again, as in all things, think about it from a patient’s perspective. Use two! Appointment schedules, sharing diagnostic photos and x-rays. The presentation power of the x-ray and photo side by side is not to be underestimated, nor is the impact of a before-and-after reveal. No more buyer’s remorse, and you get a second to be proud of your work. Showing people clear pictures of their teeth can be transformative. Don’t miss out on the power of two screens.

Notes
When you only see somebody two or three times a year, notes about patients are the basis for building and maintaining a warm and trusting relationship. Clinical notes are important, obviously, but we’re here to focus on personal notes. Unless notes about the facts of your patients lives are noticed, recorded, and made available, you’re missing out on the easiest and most effective way to make patients feel cared about: acknowledging that they are a person with a life and remembering something about it.