Clinical Innovations

Every new technology, process or procedure comes with a learning curve or some barrier, no matter how small. You and your team will need to slow down in order to incorporate anything new that will ultimately lead to your working life becoming easier and more impactful. Therefore, key to moving beyond outdated procedures, is coming up with systems that allow you to commit to the improved technology and communicate confi dence to the team. Without both improved technology and eff ective communication, no one will push through the resistance to change that will lead to the positive transformation of your practice.

Dr. Bryan Laskin

Clinical Director & Innovations

It is always easier to do what you used to do, even if it is more work, more stressful and worse in every way.

So, use these 10 steps to keep your eye on the prize and successfully implement any transformative upgrade to your practice!

1) Determine what success looks like prior to implementation. Preschedule follow ups with metrics that match your success goals. 2) “Presell” any new technology

to team and patients to build

anticipation. Your team should be most excited prior to implementing the technology, so that when you inevitably run into snags inherent in change, you will be motivated to carry on to reach success.

3) Determine how you will

communicate the benefi t to your

patients. Often this is not obvious, so spend some time with your team discussing the end benefi ts the new technology provides from your patients’ perspective. Or, better yet, ask a few patients whose opinion you value.

4) Never just “try something out”. Trials are for before implementation. Once a new technology has been decided on, you must commit or it will fail.

5) Communicate to the entire team why you are implementing the

technology. Key areas to stress are positive impacts to your:

a) Clinical quality

b) Patient experience

c) Team health

6) Lift any restrictions. Prior to implementing the technology, obtain a list of any technological restrictions that may be lifted for a successful launch (software/hardware requirements, updating systems, fi rewall restrictions, etc.)

7) Assign a champion. A single person must be accountable for the successful integration of the technology. While only 1 person should be ultimately accountable as champion of the technology, they should ask for assistance from others when needed.

8) Make adequate space in your schedule. Give 100% of your and your team’s attention to implementation training.

9) Make sure you have enough

availability of the new

technology. If there is too much scarcity in the technology, it will always be assumed that it isn’t available, so it will go unused.

10) Do as much research as you can before implementation. This will allow the time spent during implementation to be a deeper level of conversation and knowledge.

Bringing on anything new is hard work, but often leads to benefi ts that far outweigh the eff ort of implementation. If you are having challenges with change with your team, pass along these tips or reach out and ask for help from the DCA team… we’re here to help!

LEADING THE WAY WITH THE NEW DCA DR APP

Coming in early 2020, Dental Care Alliance will launch a mobile application for our doctors – the fi rst of its kind in dentistry! The DR app will turn our doctors’ mobile devices into miniature powerhouses of function and communication. Capabilities will include DCA News, doctor email integration, schedule viewing, calendar of events, digital case collaboration, and links to important resources like D.I.C.E. in a secure, HIPAA-compliant atmosphere. The app is currently in development and capabilities will be rolled out in a thoughtful, phased approach. The future is limitless with the potential of a communication vehicle like this… and will offer other exclusive innovations such as teledentistry and a live environment for complete communication.