We Reserve the Right to Get Better

WE RESERVE the RIGHT toGET BETTER

Improvement is the heart of our mission and source of action for our values. Improvement typically requires change in three different areas: technology, process & people. Technology is frequently a driver of change because of ongoing technological advancements. Process improvements lead to higher quality & better efficiency. However, the most critical parts of any improvement effort are the people – YOU!

The action at the core of all improvement is change. Doing something differently than we currently do. Using a new technology, improving a process – these changes test our attitudes and drive judgement. Does the change seem positive or negative? Is this change easy or difficult? Does this feel exciting or demoralizing? Is this change vital to our success or seem unnecessary? As each of these questions are considered, there is a core underlying idea that must be addressed – the WHY. Why are we doing this?

In order to serve our role in driving improvement, it’s critical to start with understanding why we are changing at all. Smart Scheduling is an example of a recent improvement effort. Why was it

important to change how we structured our schedules? Some of the reasons included: to reach more families in need of quality dental healthcare (Vital Few #2), operational efficiency within the flow of the practice, scheduling consistency that result in more dependable daily workflows, and more productive schedules for our clinicians. Smart Scheduling required technology changes within the scheduling templates, a process change with how patients were scheduled, and (most importantly) people to drive this operational best practice.

When we reflect on WHY smart scheduling was important, it’s easy to correlate those reasons back to our organizational values. Unleash Potential, Serve First, Move Forward, Improve Lives, Lead Together, Expect Excellence. Many of these values are embedded within the Smart Scheduling example.

After we’ve established a clear mindset around WHY change is required to improve, it’s just as vital to serve as a supportive teammate to others on the team. People can struggle with change. They rely on a strong support network to help them with perspective, feelings and responses to change. Your relationship and support are a vital part of helping assure we’re all headed in the same direction as a team. If you struggle with change, engage with a teammate that seems to be onboard with the change.

Working in Information Technology, our team has chosen a life of continual change. Many of our improvement efforts can be vast & impactful: converting many DCA practices to the Denticon practice management system, implementing more reliable & secure solutions in our new affiliations, upgrading IT equipment, and advancing our enterprise management reporting capabilities. We have also driven recent improvements that are more subtle: implementing a new help desk ticketing system, deploying more wireless hotspots (Cradlepoint devices) for internet backup, & enhancing cybersecurity solutions are a few examples.

DCA is committed to continous improvement, and YOU are the most vital part of that commitment. Thank you for all you’ve done to assist with our improvements to date, and thanks for being a pillar of strength for those that struggle with change. The values we share are a product of our collective mission to improve the practice of dentistry. We reserve the right to get better – every day!