Practice Updates ADA Releases New Guidelines

Let’s talk about flow today. We talk about flow sequences in our library as well as our consulting. It’s important. As water flows from source to recipient, patients flow in the same way. We’ve talked about the kink in the garden hose that restricts flow and results in less than ideal patient scheduling, results, and income. The principle of flow continues even during a pandemic. Can patients flow to you? Can they get help from you at this time? Can they discuss their appointments with you? If the answer is no, then look again. The automatic referral to the oral surgeon during this time means that you are diverting the flow. And once you’ve diverted the flow, that flow is difficult to revert back.

Today, we saw five emergencies. Some could pay a little, some could pay our regular fees. But they were flowing into our office and grateful that they could be here. Our income today was not much but it covered our expenses and gave us some additional money to pay for some of the PPE and other items that we are ordering to better protect our staff and patients when we get back.

What are we planning now?

1. Disposable gowns are difficult to find. Our supplier is rationing and is selling supplies only to its regular customers. I wanted disposable gowns. My monthly ration will last us about one day. So, it’s now the reusable, washable gowns that we are looking for. And with that will be the additional requirement to be able to wash them within the office. Our staff will also change into their work clothes at the office. Their work clothes will remain here where we will wash them. What does that mean? We’re buying an additional washer and dryer. That means two washers and two dryers on premises and a staff member to handle the laundry.

Face shields, disposable hoods, level 3 masks or KN95 or N95 masks, disposable or reusable gowns as above, and shoe covers will be used in every aerosol producing procedure and changed out in the operatory upon completion of the procedure.

2. Additional equipment–Extraoral air filtration unit (described in Update #19) and UVC installed in the air handler systems
3. ADA updated guidelines. The update is quite complete. I recommend that you read it.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-OYw_W–PsGnoBjvKLshIz6BoH5ufzJ/view

We will get through this and flourish.