WASTE PREVENTION

In the dental office of a client who has been in practice almost 40 years, the staff recently authored a valuable list of ways to save time, motion, and money. He sent me a copy of their list which is quite detailed and impressive. Besides generating savings, the effort shows staff interest in and commitment to the practice.

A few of their ideas are basic, simple reminders from a mindset of thrift. Some others involve materials and medicaments; some, time, motion, and efficiency (which are, after all, money); some, clinical procedures; and others, business procedures.

A few of the staff’s ideas follow, given as examples of attention to detail which work together to strengthen the practice. Perhaps sharing this effort with your staff will inspire them to create a similar list aimed at waste prevention in your office. Remember, every dollar saved can flow directly to the bottom line as profit. When discussing profit, make certain staff members realize that from profit comes money to put back into the practice---for increases in their compensation and benefits, for additional staff members if necessary, for refurbishing the office, for new clinical equipment, a new computer system, a new phone system, etc. Adequate profit assures growth of the practice and, therefore, job stability for everyone.

WASTE PREVENTION = PROFIT GROWTH

·         Turn off lights when not in a room.         

·         Fix plumbing leaks such as faucet drips so water is not wasted.      

·         Take care to do things right the first time:                       

o   Avoid re-taking x-rays.  

o   Mix material and take impressions carefully – no repeats necessary.          

o   According to the treatment to be done. If standard trays are prepared, place instruments not needed on that particular patient aside out of the field of treatment so they will not have to be re-sterilized.        

·         Do not open sterilized, bagged instruments until use is certain.                   

·         Avoid duplicating tasks such as several staff members working on the same task, patients asked to complete duplicate forms and paperwork, duplicating chart notes, duplicating data entry, etc.

·         Use all supplies sparingly such as ZOE, dycal, probond, and even floss---reel off the font only the amount needed.      

·         Obtain complete information when a patient calls. A Patient Visit Slip can be a check list to assure all information is taken. If the patient must speak with a different staff member, the slip can be quickly transferred so the patient does not have to repeat information.

·         Do not print out duplicate or unnecessary paperwork.            

·         Have all paperwork together for each type of patient appointment so that a clipboard with proper forms can be handed to the patient at check-in.

On and on---this staff’s list of waste prevention ideas was quite extensive and detailed.

Suggestion: ask your staff members to make notes for a week, compiling individual lists of ideas for waste prevention. Then schedule a staff meeting to discuss ideas, eliminating duplicate suggestions. Separate ideas by topics; for example, Physical Facility, Personnel Issues, Scheduling, Clinic and Lab, and Business Desk. Make print-outs of the final list for each team member and the dentist(s). Re-visit the list in a month to discuss progress, measure savings, and congratulate staff members with some type of small, fun reward for a job well done---maybe a bagel breakfast one day the following week. Add new ideas to the list to perpetuate waste prevention and reap increased profit.