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We just returned from our final Prime Practice Workshop held in Sydney over the last two days.
The final workshop covered the integration of associate dentists into the practice to serve the patients better. We also learned about the different Practice Transition models and how they operate.
Although we finished the Prime Practice management programme, we have now progressed to the Team Masters programme, which will enhance our dental team performance and enable us to improve on our patient services.
We look forward to our continued journey of learning with Prime Practice.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
No-shows a problem for dental clinics
Today, The Straits Times highlighted the blight of dental clinics in Singapore - Patients who fail their dental appointments.
Over the past year, the National Heathcare Group (NHG) reported that 40% of their patients failed to keep their appointments while SingHealth said that 30% of their patients failed to turn up for their appointments. This compares with about 28% of Americans who suffer "appointment amnesia" as reported by practice management consultant Sally McKenzie.
These patients who fail their dental appointments deprive other patients of an earlier appointments, resulting in the waiting time for an appointment at a polyclinic to be between three months and half a year.
"When patients fail to keep their appointments or give us advance notice to cancel or reschedule, we are unable to release those slots to other patients who need them," said an NHG spokesman.
This happens despite NHG sending reminder letters out a week before the dental appointment, a Phone message sent four days before the appointment and a SMS message sent three days in advance to remind the patients.
The Straits Times spoke to 12 NHG patients yesterday. A 60-year-old housewife who did not want to be named said, "Yes, they will remind us by SMS, but it's hard to track. It's too easy to forget..."
Since last month, NHG has implemented a $8 deposit for for those who require follow-up appointments to address this problem. Patients who fail will forfeit their deposit. However, if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within at least three working days, the patient will not lose their deposit.
The $8 deposit fee is also waived for those on public assistance or Medifund schemes, the spokesman added.
It is still early days whether these measures will yield a "positive improvement", but it appears to be a step in the right direction.
Over the past year, the National Heathcare Group (NHG) reported that 40% of their patients failed to keep their appointments while SingHealth said that 30% of their patients failed to turn up for their appointments. This compares with about 28% of Americans who suffer "appointment amnesia" as reported by practice management consultant Sally McKenzie.
These patients who fail their dental appointments deprive other patients of an earlier appointments, resulting in the waiting time for an appointment at a polyclinic to be between three months and half a year.
"When patients fail to keep their appointments or give us advance notice to cancel or reschedule, we are unable to release those slots to other patients who need them," said an NHG spokesman.
This happens despite NHG sending reminder letters out a week before the dental appointment, a Phone message sent four days before the appointment and a SMS message sent three days in advance to remind the patients.
The Straits Times spoke to 12 NHG patients yesterday. A 60-year-old housewife who did not want to be named said, "Yes, they will remind us by SMS, but it's hard to track. It's too easy to forget..."
Since last month, NHG has implemented a $8 deposit for for those who require follow-up appointments to address this problem. Patients who fail will forfeit their deposit. However, if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within at least three working days, the patient will not lose their deposit.
The $8 deposit fee is also waived for those on public assistance or Medifund schemes, the spokesman added.
It is still early days whether these measures will yield a "positive improvement", but it appears to be a step in the right direction.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Why the long wait for dental care at govt clinics?
This letter appeared in today's Straits Times forum page.
"Why does it take so long to receive specialist dental treatment at government clinics?
The process starts with trying to make an appointment for a referral letter from a dental clinic, usually located within a polyclinic. When I called last month, the earliest date I was given was next February - four months away.
The next step can be interminable too. Once you get the referral letter, be prepard to wait for at least three to four months for an appointment with the specialist at the National Dental Centre. The actual treatment, such as making dentures, for example, can take another six months.
In my mother's aborted attempt, we tried to shorten the wait when she tried her luck by waiting at the clinic the entire day for an untaken slot. She was lucky as a scheduled patient did not turn up and it took her only a full day's wait to obtain a referral to the specialist.
But when we subsequently discovered how long it would take for my mother to see the specialist and then have her dentures fitted - almost a year in all - we gave up, and I paid private rates for her treatment at the National Dental Centre.
The result: my mother had new dentures within a month.
I worry now about myself. When I grow old, I may not be able to afford to pay private rates. I am single and my CPF-linked medical savings do not cover most dental treatments.
Singaporeans who need subsidised dental care may also be unable to receive treatment in time. What if I had a toothache, or a gum infection? Must I wait for a year for treatment, or as in my mother's case for gum infection, some six months? What will be left to treat?
Paying private rates does not guarantee earlier treatment either. Last month, I made and confirmed as appointment with the National Dental Centre for Nov 19, only to reciev a letter on Monday changing the appointment to almost a month later, on Christmas Eve. Reason: the dentist would be unavailable for my original appointment.
Ho Suit Keng (Ms)"
"Why does it take so long to receive specialist dental treatment at government clinics?
The process starts with trying to make an appointment for a referral letter from a dental clinic, usually located within a polyclinic. When I called last month, the earliest date I was given was next February - four months away.
The next step can be interminable too. Once you get the referral letter, be prepard to wait for at least three to four months for an appointment with the specialist at the National Dental Centre. The actual treatment, such as making dentures, for example, can take another six months.
In my mother's aborted attempt, we tried to shorten the wait when she tried her luck by waiting at the clinic the entire day for an untaken slot. She was lucky as a scheduled patient did not turn up and it took her only a full day's wait to obtain a referral to the specialist.
But when we subsequently discovered how long it would take for my mother to see the specialist and then have her dentures fitted - almost a year in all - we gave up, and I paid private rates for her treatment at the National Dental Centre.
The result: my mother had new dentures within a month.
I worry now about myself. When I grow old, I may not be able to afford to pay private rates. I am single and my CPF-linked medical savings do not cover most dental treatments.
Singaporeans who need subsidised dental care may also be unable to receive treatment in time. What if I had a toothache, or a gum infection? Must I wait for a year for treatment, or as in my mother's case for gum infection, some six months? What will be left to treat?
Paying private rates does not guarantee earlier treatment either. Last month, I made and confirmed as appointment with the National Dental Centre for Nov 19, only to reciev a letter on Monday changing the appointment to almost a month later, on Christmas Eve. Reason: the dentist would be unavailable for my original appointment.
Ho Suit Keng (Ms)"
Monday, November 2, 2009
Arica's Mishap
Arica fell down the stairs and broke her leg last night. She was admitted to the hospital and the last we heard, she was due to go for surgery to reset her leg. It looks like she would be on extended medical leave and she will not be able to walk. The pain must be excruciating.
Arica, our prayers are with you and we hope that you get well soon.
Arica, our prayers are with you and we hope that you get well soon.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Patient inspired to be an Orthodontist
When Raphy's orthodontic adjustment was completed today, we debriefed her mother as to what we achieved today and what we expect to see when she is next in for her orthodontic adjustment.
It was then that Raphy's mother revealed that we have inspired her 13 year old daughter to become an orthodontist.
Mum has booked this year's family holiday to New Zealand to check out the dental schools for her as both patient and mum feel that it is almost impossible to enter dental school in Singapore and they hope that New Zealand will be much easier.
It is still early days yet but it is amazing to see what parents would go through for their children.
We have offered Raphy an intern position as this would stand her in good stead in her application to dental school.
Good luck and you knwo that we will be here for you.
It was then that Raphy's mother revealed that we have inspired her 13 year old daughter to become an orthodontist.
Mum has booked this year's family holiday to New Zealand to check out the dental schools for her as both patient and mum feel that it is almost impossible to enter dental school in Singapore and they hope that New Zealand will be much easier.
It is still early days yet but it is amazing to see what parents would go through for their children.
We have offered Raphy an intern position as this would stand her in good stead in her application to dental school.
Good luck and you knwo that we will be here for you.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pulling out all lower teeth
We had a patient come in asking to have all her lower teeth extracted so that she could have lower full dentures. She did the same thing on her upper jaw and was happy to get rid of her teeth because they were too troublesome to look after!
Lower dentures are very different from upper dentures because they are inherently unstable due to the presence of the tongue. A fact that many patients do not take into account. This gives rise to much unhappiness with the resulting dentures and the problem is more profound in patients that have never worn a lower denture before. Such patients will not know how to control their tongue to aid the stability of that lower full denture.
When patients are told of this problem,they would usually not go through with their original plan of removing all their lower teeth. However, there are some who insist of going ahead with the extraction of all their lower teeth. We make sure that these patients are fully aware of the consequences of their decision so that they do not end up blaming the dentist for their troublesome lower full dentures.
Some of these patients regret their decision and end up having implants placed so that they can have a more stable lower denture.
Lower dentures are very different from upper dentures because they are inherently unstable due to the presence of the tongue. A fact that many patients do not take into account. This gives rise to much unhappiness with the resulting dentures and the problem is more profound in patients that have never worn a lower denture before. Such patients will not know how to control their tongue to aid the stability of that lower full denture.
When patients are told of this problem,they would usually not go through with their original plan of removing all their lower teeth. However, there are some who insist of going ahead with the extraction of all their lower teeth. We make sure that these patients are fully aware of the consequences of their decision so that they do not end up blaming the dentist for their troublesome lower full dentures.
Some of these patients regret their decision and end up having implants placed so that they can have a more stable lower denture.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Looking forward to see the dentist!
One of our patients recommended her friend to bring her 4-year-old to come and seek treatment with Dr Lim.
On her first visit to the dental clinic, the dentist went out to the reception area and asked the child to open her mouth, which the child promptly refused. The dentist told the patient to make an appointment. During the scheduled appointment, the child again refused to open her mouth and the dentist gave up.
When the child came and saw Dr Lim last week, Dr lim started by building a relationship with the child. By the end of that appointment, not only did Dr Lim persuade the child to open her mouth but she also managed to polish the child's teeth. At that visit, the child was found to have 4 cavities.
It was encouraging to note that the patient came back for her restorations four days later. When she arrived, she was happily playing in the office. This time, she even brought her own DVD to watch during her dental treatment. Dr Lim managed to restore two of the cavities and scheduled her to complete the last two cavities.
On her first visit to the dental clinic, the dentist went out to the reception area and asked the child to open her mouth, which the child promptly refused. The dentist told the patient to make an appointment. During the scheduled appointment, the child again refused to open her mouth and the dentist gave up.
When the child came and saw Dr Lim last week, Dr lim started by building a relationship with the child. By the end of that appointment, not only did Dr Lim persuade the child to open her mouth but she also managed to polish the child's teeth. At that visit, the child was found to have 4 cavities.
It was encouraging to note that the patient came back for her restorations four days later. When she arrived, she was happily playing in the office. This time, she even brought her own DVD to watch during her dental treatment. Dr Lim managed to restore two of the cavities and scheduled her to complete the last two cavities.
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