In my previous article, I mentioned that to achieve quality work in our practice and enhance the overall patient experience, we must follow a certain framework. This framework is called the Domains of Healthcare Quality.

So, let’s go over these domains and talk a little bit about each one individually.

• Safety: Probably one of the biggest concerns of any patient considering dental treatment is how safe the provided service is, and it’s completely understandable. We hear horrifying stories of patients contracting serious diseases because of incorrect sterilization, suffering injuries due to improper treatment planning or lack of experience and/or standardized protocols. To promote safety in your practice, consider following approved guidelines, conduct safety training for your staff, and emphasize the importance of having a culture of transparency and reporting any safety concerns that might affect your patients.

• Effectiveness: This means reaching the desired outcome of the provided service in a proper and correct manner, by following evidence-based guidelines and best practice protocols, to ensure patient satisfaction and positive health outcomes.

• Patient-Centered Care: Since we’re not working just on teeth, you must look at the bigger picture, you’re dealing with a fellow human being, which means that the care you provide must be respectful and empathetic. The patient’s values and needs have to be put into consideration, you must listen carefully to their needs, and involve them in the decision-making process. Trust and communication are imperative.

• Timeliness: This domain deals with time. You should always be available for your patients, especially in emergencies (Within reason, of course. You’re human and you have to have time for yourself, too!). Don’t make scheduling an appointment with you a hassle for the patients and try to decrease the waiting time in the reception area. Also, timeliness is related to following up with a patient or getting back to them as soon as possible if they’re waiting on you for a decision related to their treatment plan.

• Efficiency: This domain is all about providing the correct treatment for your patient while minimizing waste. Your resources are valuable; therefore, you should be using them wisely without compromising quality. These resources come in the form of materials, time, unnecessary x-rays or tests. Using flowcharts and guidelines for your services will help you achieve efficiency in your practice by directing you towards the least wasteful path.

• Equitability: This means providing care that is essentially blind to race, gender, ethnicity, or any social or demographic differences and making your services accessible (as best you can) to everybody. Training your staff to be accommodating to people from different backgrounds can also help in building an equitable practice.

Applying this framework to your practice will enhance patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes, so start today and embrace the paradigm shift!