Focus on Patient Safety and Professional Development
Focus on Contrast
Prospective patients have a lot of options. There’s no shortage of dental practices; at most busy intersections, you can see at least two. So how can a dentist thrive in this saturated market? The answer is contrast. Find ways to stand apart from the other dentists in town, and one of the best ways to create this type of unique brand is by addressing patient concerns that other practices ignore.
It’s no surprise that most people have at least some dental fear. A visit to the dentist means laying back and letting another person poke around in your mouth, one of the most private areas of the body—with a drill sometimes! With this in mind, dental patient safety posts that address these fears work to quell concerns and attract new patients.
Sterilization and Germ Mitigation
In the wake of COVID-19, people are especially concerned about disease transmission. Patients understand that dental procedures involve germ-laden bodily fluids, including blood, which come into contact with not only instruments but other objects like dental chairs. Reassuring prospective patients that your office strictly adheres to proper protocols demonstrates a commitment to dental patient safety.
Instrument Sterilization: Posts about instrument sterilization are essential. Make a short video about the autoclave. Show your audience how instruments make their way through stages before being heated. Point out how your sterilization equipment is tested regularly to ensure proper function. Lastly, note how the instruments are stored in sterile bags. Organic videos produce the most engagement online, but infographics and stock explainer videos can also demonstrate your high standards and desire to educate.
Operatory Preparation: Patients understand that pathogens can be present on various surfaces. Demonstrating how your staff decontaminates treatment rooms reassures prospective patients that your team pursues dental patient safety. Take time to explain how wipes and sprays eliminate germs. Show your audience all the surfaces that are cleaned. Be sure to note the disposable chair/headrest covers. Point out the protective sleeves on the examination lights and handpieces. Does your practice mist for airborne pathogens like COVID? Provide a demonstration. Are you running HEPA room filters in your office? Explain why. All your efforts will be noticed by the growing number of people concerned about viruses and bacteria.
Review OSHA COVID guidelines.
Effective Responses to COVID-19
Advice for Dental Teams Struggling with the Coronavirus Pandemic Connect with Patients The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the entire world. No part of the globe or economy has been untouched, so everyone is in the same uncertain position and asking the same question: How do we move forward? How do
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Because of COVID and masking, the masses have become aware of PPE (or Personal Protective Equipment). More of your patients and prospective patients are noticing your PPE. People understand that PPE protects both patient and practitioner. For this reason, social posts that detail your commitment to protective equipment help to establish trust. Consider making a short video about how your staff prepares for each patient. Demonstrate the proper way to put on and remove examination gloves. Talk about the different types of masks. Does your team wear disposable headcaps and gowns? Face shields? You do so much to keep your patients safe. Social media is a great place to showcase your dental patient safety efforts.
Air/Water Quality: Many people only consider the visible safety measures and don’t realize how much occurs behind the scenes. For example, the compressed air and chairside water used in a dental practice are filtered to remove contaminants. Explaining this in a video educates and impresses. Be sure to note how your office takes steps that surpass requirements. Of course, you want to avoid a string of posts about exceptional safety measures, but creating a balanced approach that also includes occasional office highlights can help create and maintain the needed contrast to stand out in your town and grow.
Professional Development
Patients may not understand what you do in the mouth, but they understand things like degrees, awards, and continuing education. Your website should showcase your team’s professional achievements, which should be highlighted and expanded on social media. Maybe your staff recently took CPR certification training, or perhaps you updated your implant skills at a seminar. Have you won any awards? Did one of your staff members recently graduate from dental assisting or hygiene school? Anything that enhances your team’s professional resume enhances dental patient safety. Use social media to share your accomplishments.
Patient Records and IT Security
As we move into a more digital and cyber world, protecting data is becoming increasingly important. This includes dental offices. Some practices store their data on local servers and others use cloud services. However, you’re handling patient records, reassuring your patients and prospective patients is a good idea. Focus primarily on data security. The public hears about data breaches all the time, hacks that expose millions of personal records. What is your office doing to protect patient records from cyber-attacks? If you’re using a cloud service, explain how the data is backed up and encrypted. If you’re using local servers, talk to your IT professional and get details about data security. Addressing these important topics on your social channels further emphasizes your commitment to complete dental patient safety.
