Part 3: Investing in your Team
Practical Tips Series to Improve Your Efficiency in Veterinary Dentistry
by Maggie Burley, Clinic Support & Education, iM3 | 19 Sep 2024
Dental education & training for your veterinary team improves efficiency and equips them with the knowledge and skills to provide the highest standard of care and improved patient outcomes.
In this Series, we have examined how to improve efficiency in veterinary dentistry by Part 1: Reviewing your instruments and Part 2: Equipment Maintenance. This month’s topic focuses on your team and the far-reaching benefits of investing in their training.
Thanks to research and development, innovation and new technologies, veterinary dentistry has come forward in leaps and bounds over the past decade, and a range of new diagnostic tools and treatment modalities are now available. However, veterinary education has traditionally been modelled on medical training, which means that most veterinarians graduate with only a few hours of training in dentistry.
Their further education in dentistry has been via on-the-job training or attending CE events to fill the gap in their knowledge. Yet, dental procedures are being performed in practices nationwide every day of the week. Our veterinary teams are now expected to advocate for patients requiring dental treatment, which means even more dentistry procedures are being performed than in the past.
However, in my experience, many veterinary teams are not enjoying dentistry. They find it challenging, which not only causes stress in the workplace but also hampers the quality of care they can provide.
So, how does upskilling your team improve efficiency in dentistry?
The short answer is – it just does!
When your veterinary team stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field, continuing education equips them with the knowledge and skills to provide the highest standard of care and improve patient outcomes.
Investing in training for your team is not just about improving efficiency in dentistry. It also boosts morale, job satisfaction, and staff retention rates, making it a worthwhile investment for your practice.
Training your team in veterinary dentistry.
I’m sure many of you have attended a CPD event, found new ideas you wanted to implement in practice, and then hit a roadblock when trying to get other team members on board.
When your entire team receives training, it fosters a culture of excitement and commitment to change. This allows for a more successful implementation of new skills and ensures everyone is on the same page, delivering consistent service to your clients and patients.
Training the nursing team will significantly impact the efficiency of procedures and empower them to perform all the tasks for which they can best be utilised, for example:
- dental radiography
- scale & polish procedures
- care of the equipment and instruments
- providing homecare recommendations.
When it comes to dental care, it’s not just the vets, nurses, and technicians who play a crucial role. Your Customer Service Team is often the first point of contact for clients with questions about dental procedures and products. They are also the ones who handle price comparisons and client concerns about following the veterinarian’s recommendations. Therefore, it’s essential that they have a basic knowledge of dental procedures, the products to recommend, and the importance of good oral health.
Investing in your team’s training will ensure the sustained success of your year-round dental care services (remember, there are 12 Dental Months each year) and move your practice toward a more proactive rather than reactive approach to dental care.
You will find ‘on-demand’ webinars on a variety of topics through the Education tab on our website freely accessible by veterinarians and veterinary nurses alike.
iM3 supports many hands-on training events throughout the year to upskill your team.
At iM3, our passion revolves around advancing animal health. We are committed to consistently delivering the products, solutions, and educational resources upon which our valued customers have come to depend.
You can trust that iM3 will meet your needs at every stage of your development and diversification within the field of veterinary dentistry. Our extensive involvement in continuing education worldwide means the iM3 staff responsible for developing new products also know how to use them.
For more information, contact us at info@im3usa.com.
