ABSTRACT
Dental schools use a variety of clinic management models with the goals of promoting patient care, student education, and fiscal responsibility. In 2004, the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry transitioned to a more generalist model with these goals in mind. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of this clinic model change relative to the quantity of specific procedures completed by students. The quantity of procedures completed by each student from the classes of 1995 through 2009 were compiled from our electronic clinic management system and analyzed. The post-transition group (2004-09) showed a greater number of completed oral diagnosis and treatment planning and root planing procedures per student compared to the pre-transition group (1995-2003), but fewer crowns, root canals, operative procedures, and dentures. Because the higher procedure numbers were for low-cost procedures, our transition to a generalist model did not necessarily enhance clinic income but may support student learning and enhanced patient care.
Subject(s)
Dental Clinics/organization & administration , Faculty, Dental/organization & administration , Schools, Dental/organization & administration , Crowns/statistics & numerical data , Curriculum , Dental Care/economics , Dental Care/organization & administration , Dental Care/statistics & numerical data , Dental Clinics/economics , Dental Clinics/statistics & numerical data , Dental Restoration, Permanent/statistics & numerical data , Dentistry, Operative/education , Dentures/statistics & numerical data , Diagnosis, Oral/education , Education, Dental/organization & administration , Efficiency , Efficiency, Organizational , Endodontics/education , Financial Management/economics , Financial Management/organization & administration , General Practice, Dental/education , Humans , Income , Learning , Management Information Systems , Patient Care Planning/statistics & numerical data , Periodontics/education , Prosthodontics/education , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Root Canal Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Root Planing/statistics & numerical data , San Francisco , Students, Dental/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Leadership opportunities are all around us as dental professionals. In fact, dentists may not realize the expectations that are placed on them as health care professionals to provide leadership. This article will address the various stages of a dentist's career giving examples of leadership opportunities and responsibilities that a dentist encounters, with ideas as to how these might be approached and managed.
