Developing a Sound Philosophy of Practice PDF

DEVELOPING A SOUND PHILOSOPHY OF PRACTICE DR. CLAUDINA E. LAGMAN OBJECTIVE: Cultivate the sound philosophy of dental practice It is said that deciding WHAT IS IT or WHAT IT SHOULD BE merits as the most intricate aspect relevant to one’s philosophy of practice. A Philosophy, generally, is an accumula...

DEVELOPING A SOUND PHILOSOPHY OF PRACTICE DR. CLAUDINA E. LAGMAN OBJECTIVE: Cultivate the sound philosophy of dental practice It is said that deciding WHAT IS IT or WHAT IT SHOULD BE merits as the most intricate aspect relevant to one’s philosophy of practice. A Philosophy, generally, is an accumulated product of one's knowledge skill and experiences. What is practice philosophy? A personal philosophy of practice can be described as a written document that serves as a compass to guide one's practice. The document may include a practice vision, professional values, professional goals, a professional mission statement, and any other elements that may describe how an individual practices Sample written philosophy of practice from the book, DENTAL PRACTICE PLANNING, by William W. Howard is written below: I believe that the current state of the art and science of dentistry makes it possible for almost all people to retain their natural teeth throughout their lifetime. Preventive measures, good services, and timely and high-quality treatment make this a practical objective– one that is essential to enriching the quality of life for all. Those whom I serve will be given every benefit possible within the limits of my knowledge, experience, judgment and economic ability. I will continually strive to improve my knowledge and skill so long as I treat others, sharing my knowledge and experience with all who seek it, for the benefit of all. Achievement of this goal will be sought through the following: 1. Continual awareness of the necessity to provide maximum quality service every moment I am performing treatment or counseling a patient. 2. Readiness to seek advice of others whenever I can it helpful - by means of consultation, conversation, and referral of patients as indicated. 3. Program of continuing education via professional meetings, reading and formal courses. 4. High- quality staff of employees whose standards of performances are the best obtainable. 5. Careful management of financial affairs so that I will be free to perform this best, rather, the highest possible quality of service. 6. Education of patients and others who might benefit from dental care information. -My family will also receive full devotion and will benefit from these objectives and share completely my income 1. Standards of Care 2. Quality of Life for the Patient 3. Continuing Education 4. Clinical Judgement 5. Professional Disagreements / Opinions 6. Disagreeable Patients 7. Elements of Dental Service 8. Dealing with Failure 9. Dental Fees / how to charge the patient 10.Fees on Failure STANDARDS OF CARE -numerous and vary geographically as well as from one individual to another -undertreatment is a most common patient grievance. A Guide in Philosophy: Always offer the patient the highest quality care one is capable of delivering. It is essential to compromise to keep the ideal treatment to be realistic means that will in the end be a satisfactory or adequate solution to individual needs. Treatment should be adequate ---- guards against performing mechanical feats beyond patient’s needs. Efforts of which to achieve it to the highest level of achievement, it is OUR JOB TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION THAT PROVIDES US WITH SUCCESS. QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PATIENT -Quality of life for all people is directly related to their health and comfort, plus self—esteem and self-image , making dental health essential to that philosophy. Continuing Education Toward Better Dental Care - Keep yourself updated after graduation and board exams, improve your knowledge and skills through continuing education – special lectures, seminars, workshops, etc. -Through Continuing education, one strengthens his ability tp improve the standards of care the his/her patients require. CLINICAL JUDGEMENT -when a practitioner has gathered all necessary essential factors to good treatment planning (diagnosis, findings, special request of patient, temperament and other patient considerations) -is a result of the sum total of our education, the immediate problems to be solved, consideration of all factors relevant to the problem, our experience and individual ability PROFESSIONAL DISAGREEMENTS /OPINIONS Disagreements are reasonably to happen in all professions. A set of factors evaluated by one may seem different to another. And the two may develop different treatment plans for the same patient. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NO OIL ERRED. ONLY THEIR OPINIONS DIFFERED. Criteria for adequacy of treatment rests upon the judgment of what an average practitioner would usually do. A dentist is perfectly within the rights of propriety to express a disagreement-–an honest difference of opinion. Just that. Period. One’s difference of opinion should be supported by, good reason thoroughly explained, rather, to the patients who decides on his own case, the object of disagreement between the two professionals. Delay is not the solution, but a judicious postponement is usually resorted to in finally deciding or re-evaluating a questionable case at a later date. “ Mrs. De Santos, let me review your chart and study the situation”…. Would be appropriate in this particular case. Never believed in the remarks of an anonymous dentist criticizing your work and taken negatively by the dissatisfied client. A good ethical move would be to ignore the alleged comments of a confrere or offer to accept a communication from said patient. Disagreeable Patients If the character of a patient is offensively disagreeable and the attending dentist ad lost all willingness to work out an existing problem, the next attending dentist is normally obliged to ask that patient politely to seek dental care elsewhere, at the same time offering cooperation to transmit history and record to another practitioner. Elements or Ingredients of Dental Service Objectives: To produce high-quality professional service. 1. Skill/ responsibility of the practitioner 2. Timeliness of and need for the treatment 3. Expected fee 4. Duration of the result 5. Effectively and efficiency of the treatment 6. Accessibility and promptness of practitioner 7. Patient’s freedom from apprehension or pain 8. Patients education 9. Effect of comfort of patient 10. Appearance and function of the result 11. Past treatment care 12. Mode of delivery Material items rate is VITAL to provide the service but the human factors merit higher priority in the overall concepts. Dealing with Failure All practitioner bear witness to their own respective failures. NOT ONE SUCCEEDED AT ALL TIMES. The fun, enjoyment and excitement of becoming good at or on any thing is in the learning, or anciently termed, TALAMUD. The Hebrew term Talmud (“study” or “learning”) commonly refers to a compilation of ancient teachings regarded as sacred and normative by Jews from the time it was compiled until modern times and still so regarded by traditional religious Jews. AS WE GAIN EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH FAILURE, OUR SUCCESS RATIO INCREASES. Fees – Its Philosophic Consideration It is a fact, that, to operate any kind of business, an income is indispensable. In private practice, fees must be charge, to; 1. Pay for the cost of operating a business; and 2. Provide personal income Our traditional concept of delivery care to the layman is on a FEE FOR SERVICE basis FEES ARE BASED ON 1. Ability of the patient to pay 2. Ability of the operator 3. Cost of producing the services 4. Difficulty of the operator 5. Experiences of the dentist and time spent in self improvement 6. Fees changed by professional men like ability within the geographic area. Fees on Failure It is a fact that all provided services are not 100% successful, yet consistent failure is not a healthy sign of good professional service. When is a dentist a prospective payee to a failure? 1. When service was done bonne foi (in good faith, with sincerity); and 2. When service was performed on a basis well-founded on a normal procedure (treatment or service) normally provided under similar circumstances. Could it have been good if a service fails? If a poor prognosis has been recognized and discussed with the patient, trouble may be avoided. Yet, the possibility of jeopardizing patient relations may transpire as the treatment winds up. Good patient relations may depend upon cancellation or modification of fees that requires a high level of skills and responsibility on the part of the dentist or laboratory. Technically ( and legally), the provider is entitled to his fee if the degree of risk of failure was: 1. Recognized 2. Shared with the patient; and 3. Accepted by the patient In some instances, forfeiting a fee may imply on the part of the practitioner. 1. Create your individual philosophy 2. Then explain how it is applicable in your life as a dental student.