Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1274423
10 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 3 AUGUST 2020 DENTAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS DSO leaders weigh in on best dental infection control practices By Katie Adams and Gabrielle Masson D entists and dental service organizations across the U.S. shared with Becker's the most effective safety measures they've implemented in light of the pandemic. Below, dental professionals discussed well-received and effec- tive infection control measures at their organization. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Andrew Matta, DDS, chief medical officer and founding member of Pittsburgh-based North American Dental Group: The safety measure that we have put in place with the best feed- back has been the hold-off or limited use of ultrasonic [tools] companywide. This showed that we are committed to our hy- gienists' safety. Jack Dillenberg DDS, MPH, Dean Emeritus Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, ATSU: The focus for every dentist should be to keep the patients and staff safe. One key way they do that is to keep patients separated when they arrive; they can remain in their cars until they're able to enter the operatory. This is an opportunity for dentists to show their patients they care about them, and to build a relationship that goes beyond dentistry that includes their wellness in general. Letting patients know you care about them and their overall health promotes a climate of safety. Dentists across the Chicago-based Aspen Dental network said: To provide patients and care teams a safe dental experi- ence through the COVID-19 pandemic, Aspen Dental's clinical and non-clinical care team members moved quickly to adapt new personal protective equipment standards: Front desk staff greet patients with surgical masks while clinical teams wear res- pirators, disposable gowns and full face shields. The new safety standards have been supported through education for the pro- fessionals, making them comfortable transitioning to the new best-practice protocol. Reinventing PPE guidelines was a first step in the diligence given to safety standards across every Aspen Dental office, bringing added safety in what is today's normal. Additionally, adjustments to patient workflow and schedules were made to eliminate walk-in appointments, minimize waiting room time and capacity, transition fully to digital check-in/getting rid of pa- per, and using COVID-specific health questionnaires to screen care teams and patients. Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, chair of associate platform de- velopment and the first dentist supported by Irvine, Calif.-based Pacific Dental Services: To ensure the safe- ty of those around us, we've implemented the follow- ing measures to support our team members and patients: • Ongoing review of all applicable requirements and guide- lines, including those issued by OSHA, ADA, CDC and local dental boards. • Implementation of processes to ensure all such require- ments and guidelines are followed. • Source control: o Chairs in the reception area are a minimum of 6 feet apart. o Removed magazines, reading materials, toys and other objects that may be touched by others, and which are not easily disinfected. o Patients call the office once they are in the parking lot; then the receptionist texts them when we're ready for them to enter the building. This process decreases wait time and allows a "direct to operatory" approach. o Masks are required for everyone, including patients when they're not receiving treatment. o All patients and team members, as well as any visitors and service providers, are required to go through a COVID-19 screening daily, which includes questions and a temperature check. o Enhanced disinfecting and cleaning protocols. o We continuously monitor the pace of spread and infec- tion in the local community. o Prioritize care based on the urgency of dental condi- tions. o Stagger patient appointments to minimize pa- tient-to-patient contact and observe social distancing. • Conducted a detailed risk assessment and implemented a site-specific protection plan. Since my office is a group practice, we've expanded hours and days to include Satur- days and Sundays to safely accommodate our patients. • Conduct ongoing inventory of PPE to ensure adequate sup- ply for all team members. • Follow proper donning and doffing of PPE at all times. • Focus on efficiency in delivering care to decrease the num- ber of visits needed by each patient; this helps reduce ex- posure and preserves PPE. • Practice infection prevention protocols that include a com- bination of standard precautions, contact precautions and droplet precautions. n