PROTOCOLS, PEACE OF MIND, OR PRESSURE
Now that you are back at work, and in a position to assess what the new environment is like, what are the opinions out there. Have The Team adapted and come in every morning singing and enjoying themselves in a carefree way as they previously did. Are your patients comfortable with the changed, specific, and rigid instructions and the altered environment? Have you been able to change your habits, work efficiently, take correction from another teammate, communicate clearly and not make any life changing mistakes? If so, I’d love to find out what your secrets are.
CHANGE OUR HABITS
When did you last arrive in the morning fully prepared, on time, have an uneventful team meeting, and be able to slip into your PPEs, greet, inform and agree with your patient about the immediate treatment, sit comfortably, have everything needed for the treatment at arm’s length and not transgress any of the new protocols. Where were your hands at all times, could you see clearly, has the aerosol been dealt with? How many times did you instinctively move to open a drawer, or use something that was not sterilised and bagged? Have you left total chaos for your nurse to clear up? Do you need to change any item of PPE, go to the toilet, have a drink, or simply stop? At the end of the day did you carry out a self-assessment of adherence to the protocols.
By the time I got home after the second day I was horrified at my transgressions in relation to infection-control. Forget about at chair side. Touching other furnishings, keyboard, phone, removing gloves and other PPE, not washing hands, touching face, going elsewhere in the practice where I should not have been. Have you and your nurse been able to communicate and help each other to prevent ongoing unacceptable failure to adhere to all the new protocols.
PRESSURE
It’s all about preparing, rehearsing, remembering, agreeing and understanding all that is involved in providing the required care for each patient? That’s the pressure.
If you cannot be confident that you fulfilled all of the above , you will know what real pressure is when you pick up your first instrument, then the second, wonder where the fourth( wrong sequence) is, discover that the suction is not working (was it serviced and tested during lock down?), the lab work is not available and the patient tells you that they have not taken their required medication. That’s PRESSURE.
Who is responsible? I know it is all supposed to be a Team procedure but who is at the top. Failure to prepare, that’s the pressure exploding.
PEACE OF MIND
Are you having regular briefing and debriefing sessions with all members of staff? Who is in charge of overseeing the various protocols of arrival, social distancing, patient comfort outside the surgery, sterility and x-ray and GDPR. Is the communication between the administrative and clinical staff under control. Is the general cleaning of the premises overseen? Who is responsible for locking up? No travelling home in clothes that should have been binned. Peace of mind at the end of the day allowing for a relaxing evening and good night sleep for everyone.
Angus P Roche PositivePractice.ie
INSPIRED BY LIFE IN DENTISTRY JUNE 2020
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE