I have just started writing a regular column for The Probe journal and this topic is particularly close to my heart. 'The team in practice' is the focus for my presidential year at the BSP and the article below outlines some of the reasons I have decided to put it front and centre.
Everything I strive for - excellent patient outcomes and satisfied referring dental colleagues - hinges on a successful, harmonious and skilful team. Read on to find out more.
“For me, the team is the practice. We invested quite heavily in the aesthetic and technical aspects of our multi-disciplinary practice in south Birmingham but ultimately, whilst it’s great to work in a comfortable environment and provide a relaxing, reassuring clinic setting for patients, it is the people in the team who make or break a practice.
As a specialist periodontist, the team around me encompasses every stakeholder: from the patient right at the heart of it; their long-standing GDP, often their hygienists/therapists; sometimes their GP; to our receptionists, nurses, hygienists/therapists and consultants. It can also involve, especially in our practice, other specialists.
Bringing together the right mix of personalities and experience is something I was very keen to get right from the outset. My practice was two years in the planning and launched at the peak of the pandemic. It started with my shared visions with a long-time colleague and friend: Karun Dewan, a consultant in restorative dentistry. We found that what we wanted from a practice aligned perfectly so we decided to work together in partnership – that’s where our team started.
We brought together as many dental specialisms as was practical and forged a strong perio, endo, ortho and restorative mix, emulating something of a mini dental hospital. We carefully chose our team based on the people as well as their particular skillsets using previous working experiences – in our case Birmingham Dental Hospital. We were committed to having a group of caring, professional people who communicate well and always put the patient first.
The role of the hygienist and therapist is also valuable in building relationships between the patient and our practice; and the referring dentist and their practice. Ultimately, our hygienists and therapists might have more contact with patients than the clinicians so their role in communication and care is vital.
We include the referring dentist in our definition of ‘team’ which reflects how we work together and put the patient front and centre. Also by including the referring dentist fully in our communications and treatment planning it means the tension of referring is less of a concern. By relaying costs, expectations and the assurance that the patient will be returned safely, we build lasting and beneficial relationships. How could we hope to build a referral practice that wasn’t based on transparency and trust?
Part of our commitment to the team is the investment in the surroundings and state-of-the-art equipment. Of course training and CPD for all of us is high on our practice priorities, as is bringing everyone together for regular team meetings. Our front of house staff are integral to the practice brand and set the tone for our patients’ expectations. They also communicate patient plans and organise treatment scheduling, sometimes at quite a complex level, so their involvement and knowledge is key.
In my own role within the team I carry out both surgical and non-surgical periodontal care as I feel this is why the patient has been referred to a specialist – to benefit from an all-round approach for a successful outcome. I work closely with my referring dentists, communicating the treatment at every stage of its progress, before returning the patient to them.
One of the main reasons to develop an effective, intuitive, well-orchestrated team is in how much we all learn from each other. Wherever I’m working, in my own practice or The Campbell Clinic in Nottingham, I’m no longer surprised at the amount I keep learning from the people around me. That’s why I think of the team in the practice as ‘the team in practice’ – we keep learning!”