The Front OfficeDelegate to improve productivity
Section snippets
Background
Dentists have experienced high levels of financial stress and frustration as patients have held off spending their discretionary funds on elective dental procedures in light of the world financial situation. Although some signs indicate the recession has eased, few geographic areas show evidence that elective procedure levels have returned to pre-recession levels. In addition, third-party reimbursements for dental procedures have been reduced, lowering the net income for dental practitioners.
Delegable Tasks
The staff members must be appropriately educated and trained to perform the tasks that are delegated. Motivated individuals can become extremely proficient in many of these roles. All delegated tasks must be allowed legally; however, for those that are not currently allowed, dentists may initiate proposals to legalize them.
Patients are well served by the provision of athletic mouth guards by dental personnel. The service can be accomplished in the office by staff in about 30 minutes. In
Controversial Delegation of Tasks
Laser therapy for periodontal disease treatment has proved efficacious, but the delegation of the treatment to staff members is controversial. If the dentist and staff want to include laser therapy in their practice and it is legally allowed, staff persons can be trained to perform the treatments.
Some states do not allow staff members to deliver local anesthetics, but where it is legal, staff with the appropriate training perform well. Dentists can use the time saved to perform tasks only they
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Christensen GJ: Increasing staff functions to improve practice productivity. Dent Econ 104:42, 44, 46, 2014
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