Practice Meeting 12/02/2025
Practice meeting summary 12/02/2025
Present CN,MC,ML,SB,NL,ZT,NH, OC and RS on facetime
General
- Policies- we have all recently signed our annual policy review declaration. As I review the policies each year, I do often make small changes so even though we sign to say we have reviewed- please can we all actually have a read through; especially Employee handbook as this is all information relevant to your roles. Also nurses, please review the Infection Control Policies- for example, I have recently changed the Social Media policy to include WhatsApp as this is a social media platform. Also, on both our WhatsApp groups can we please not message after 9pm. In an emergency, please WhatsApp me directly.
- Treatment blocks- please do not book exams/views in treatment blocks unless the block can be moved. I have now set a monthly task to check the treatment blocks have not been booked over- any appts over the blocks will be reappointed. Emergency blocks- try and save for same day- if dentists asked for them to be booked over, emergencies will have to be squeezed in ☹.
- New patients- CN/MC currently no treatment appt till 03/03- we are currently telling CN new patients 6-8 weeks, MC happy to have some new patients but try and get with LG if poss.- Don’t forget, LG can see downstairs pts on Fridays.
- New patients and returning patients- please remember to take payment up front.
- Reminder as per last staff meeting- no telephone payments over £130.00- over this must be BACS as it is more secure- so if sending statements, adjust the email to make this clear.
- Debts- if not paid on the day, put reason on the contact’s tab.
- Voicemails- if leaving voicemails, please also send text as VM’s often missed.
- Reminders- family appts- a separate text needs to go to each family member with a portal link.
- Estimates- sometimes the ‘include treatment’ completed is ticked, some patients getting confused.
- Scan/shred often gets missed as on end of day log- I will change to morning log so it gets done during the day.
- Kitchen- reports of washing up getting left and general clutter- Can we all keep clean and tidy & please do our own washing up, dry and put away at the end of lunch. ZT often going up to do it later in the day when she is needed on reception.
-Lab work- in the morning, still check if anything in the boxes.
Clinical
- Scanners- CN/MC happy with the new scanners. To speed up the process, CN/MC need to train their nurses in their gaps- Nurses can you get CN/MC to show you what they need.
All scans need to be recorded on treatment course so we can track scans like we track xrays – on fee list code SCAN- this needs to go on all treatment plans for preps, TW1 etc. This also allows reception to see when scanners being used in case LG needs one. There is also a SCANREV code for when CN/MC need scanner to discuss scans.
- Hyg codes- if BPE codes 3 or 4, we need to record as ‘Hygienist Supportive therapy’ to record a true reflection on the pt. notes (or if hyg deems supportive i.e.. High bl index)
CODES are H1-SUPP & H1-SUPP D ESS (for Essentials) previously said H1-AGP.
- Views- especially Essentials- we should be charging- pt’s always expect to pay and are always surprised when no payment come through- A decision was made that all views are chargeable (T/A, # tooth. Views within a course of treatment like soft tissue reviews, endo reviews CN/MC/LG will amend accordingly on treatment plan
Private fee for 15 min view £46.00- Pt on D Ess £39.10
- Wires- particularly new apex locator in CN surgery- but all wires including foot pedal for U/S in hyg and MC- do not wrap round as it can break the wires inside, just place loosely beside.
- Dentist OH advice- in line with the hyg advice, please stress that OH needs to be daily and 1-2 hyg appointments per year will not prevent bop/perio disease- as Nicky says ‘it’s what you do at home that is the most important’ 😊
- Boutique- they are now using their own lab- not S4S- if pt not having full whitening kit we can call Boutique and buy a voucher code over the phone which will then be invoiced to the dentist.
- Website- we are looking at revamping the website slightly just using the existing software to see if we can liven it up a bit- maybe a walk round/virtual tour & some new staff pics?
- CPD There is very little CPD action these days- July will soon come round- Infection Control, Radiography, Information Governance – lots to choose from- pick your own!
We discussed making a CPD chart for the kitchen wall. We can all see where we’re up to and love a competitive element !! 😊- I’ll see what our competition star Becky can come up with!!
Belfast- I will set up separate group for anyone interested.
Cinema- some of us fancy going to see the new Bridget Jones film on Thursday 06/03/2025. Tasha will set a group, let her know if you fancy.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Mandy