When working in a fast-paced industry like dentistry, you can often forget even the simplest of tasks if you are not careful. Instead of investing lots of money and time into new software to help you, consider the value of a simple checklist.
Why Use a Checklist?
When you work as a dental hygienist or even a dental assistant for a number of years, you think you know everything. In reality, the more often you do something can actually lead to you forgetting critical steps. While you once knew where every last tool used to be, over time you could easily have forgotten where something was located.
A checklist ensures that you leave no stone unturned when working in a dental office. You can check off patients that have been seen, calls that have been made, and always have an idea of what needs to be done before your shift ends.
Using a Checklist at a Dental Office
At a dental office with employees and freelancers, you are expected to undertake a number of roles with every shift. This means you could be managing a phone line one minute and greeting patients the next. Such diverse tasks mean you are likely to forget crucial steps when under pressure or if you haven’t done a certain task for a while.
This is where a checklist is key. Having a checklist for things like phone calls and patient greetings makes sure you are able to send the right message and get the information you need. These lists make sure everyone is on the same page and reduces the risk of misinformation.
Some Ideas For Your Dental Checklist
While you may already have a few ideas for checklists you might like to implement, we would like to give some recommendations in areas we see dental offices struggling. A big area is setting up patient appointments and monitoring their statuses.
This helps you know what patients have arrived, who has bills to pay, and what patients have booked appointments. It may also be beneficial to create a system for check listing daily tasks that need to be regularly completed.
The Importance of Actually Using the Checklist
Making a checklist is one thing, but actually using it is a whole other story. You need to make sure your entire team is comfortable with and understands the checklist you have in place. Using a checklist is also ineffective if it is several pages long with too many words.
You want your checklists to be short while also conveying the most essential information. There are many software systems that can help you and your team with daily reminders with checklists built-in.
Key Takeaways
Despite their relative simplicity, a checklist can be just what your business needs to thrive. Dental office jobs require flexibility and lots of work, so a checklist will make the entire teams’ life easier. Fill out our form or download our app to join Stynt and find local freelancers near you!