Short Commentary: How Do I Propose Changes in the Office?

When you want to discuss a change, consider when the dentist and/or team will be most receptive.

This question was raised by Townie “dawnaroo” who was working on a dental hygiene student project about introducing change. For most people, change is difficult, so recognizing a few strategies that worked for other Townies may be helpful for you.

“Suzanna-Suzanna” suggests starting with an evaluation of the current systems in place to see how things work and what could be better. Recommend changes based on current research and established professional and governmental standards like those of OSHA.

“Barry1818” is receptive to changes that make life easier, and more productive and isn’t very receptive to change just for change sake. Anything that needs to be changed to conform with minimum standards and government regulations is always appreciated since keeping up with these onerous rules and regulations are a necessity.

“Shazammer1” has “temped” in 60 offices over the years and brings a wealth of experience to each new position. It’s easy for her to say “An office I worked in was having this same problem and this is how they solved it...” People seem to be more amenable to problem solvers who have already worked through this problem in another office. You don’t have to work in 60 offices to gain experience. Working in just a few, talking to colleagues and discussing problems and solutions with others on Hygienetown.com will provide you with a wealth of information and solutions to problems. If you have ideas, share your experience with your current team.

According to “shazammer1,” reading, attending courses, watching videos and listening to audio programs on the latest scientific and practice information provides evidence and ideas to improve the practice and various ways to address problems in the office. When presenting ideas for change, quote the experts you’ve read or whose programs you’ve attended. Let your team know that you stay on top of your own profession and are therefore a resource for the practice.

When you want to discuss a change, consider when the dentist and/or team will be most receptive. Perhaps at a quiet time, such as lunch or before the day starts. Begin by pointing out the positive before suggesting a change. “Annekerdh” suggests you avoid attacking a person or an approach. Instead, focus on the outcome you want to see. Another suggestion is to schedule a team meeting after a convention or seminar so everyone who attended can discuss new ideas for the practice. If appropriate, prepare a written proposal describing the problem, how best to resolve it, and the benefits of making this change.

These are just a few of the suggestions Townies had for introducing change in the office. Change may be difficult to introduce, but the outcomes are worth the effort.

This short piece was inspired by by the thread “How do I propose changes to the practice” on www.hygienetown.com. Look for future commentaries inspired by townies like you. If you would like to submit an article for consideration, please contact Trisha O’Hehir at trisha@hygienetown.com.