Assisted Hygiene - Model of Efficiency, Productivity and FUN
By Dianne Glasscoe Watterson, RDH, BS, MBA
Course Description:
The phrase “assisted hygiene” causes some hygienists to envision running from operatory to operatory like their lab coat is on fire. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The assisted model allows the hygienist to practice with a qualified assistant, much like the doctor, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity. For the hygienist, imagine never having to wait for the doctor to do the hygiene exam and always having someone to help with periodontal charting. This course examines all aspects of a properly constructed assisted hygiene model and what it takes to be successful. We will compare productivity with and without an assistant and learn about how the model can be sabotaged.
Course Objectives:
- Understand what assisted hygiene is and is not
- Know the pre-requisites for assisted hygiene to be successful
- Compare productivity models for solo and assisted hygiene
- Understand what can sabotage the assisted model
- Measure downtime
Course Topics:
- What assisted hygiene is and is not
- Disadvantages of solo hygiene
- Pre-requisites for the assisted model
- Productivity comparison between solo and assisted hygiene
- Duties of the dental hygiene assistant
- Scheduling
- Advantages of assisted hygiene
- How to sabotage the model
- Salary/production ratio
- Measuring downtime
