Before you open your dental practice (or purchase a dental practice), you must have detailed office procedures in place. Office procedures should address administrative tasks such as:
- Opening and closing the office
- Booking appointments
- Billing patients
- Handling emergencies
- Answering the phones
Every practice owner also needs clinic procedures that outline specific steps related to patient care, such as:
- Taking a patient history
- What to do if a patient exhibits signs of a stroke
- Discussing and obtaining informed consent
The following are some guidelines to ensure that employees clearly understand the office and clinical procedure guidelines:
- Keep sentences short and simple
- Avoid using legalese and overly complex dental language
- Date every page of the manual and any revisions that are made
- Use a tone that makes the employee feel they are part of the team