Click here to enlarge imageWhile my professional life evolved, the space and location where I was practicing did not. I needed more space and wanted to upgrade technologically. I had a vision of what I wanted my building and office space to look like. But I found that purchasing land and trying to build an office in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area was financially prohibitive.
So I readjusted my thinking. I located a condo space and then relied on a team of experts to help my vision become a reality. By taking a course with T.H.E. Design, I had a template with which to work. I then consulted with Patterson Dental's Steve Smith, who has been designing offices since 1980 and has completed hundreds of projects.
The space had a unique layout around the elevators and the entrance. It was important to me that the reception desk face the glass entry so patients could be greeted face-to-face upon entry. We do not have a sign-in sheet and the staff reviews the photos of scheduled patients so they can be greeted by name. This created a split reception area.
At first, this setup appeared awkward, but it has proven to allow a level of privacy for patients and those accompanying them. The flat screen monitor near the entrance provides a continuous digital photo album of completed cases. A bound print version is found in the other section. In addition, portraits of rejuvenated smiles are framed in designed niches and suspended by wire.
All the operatories were designed to follow the windows on the sides of the space. The sterilization area is a custom design that maximizes space and provides the image of an upscale kitchen, demonstrating our commitment to cleanliness and sterilization. These design features are accentuated by an ideal flow from reception to treatment, with a natural spacing of staff and personal space for the doctor.
The largest impact from a technological aspect was the conversion to all digital. We use digital X-rays, panoramic, photography, and computerized charts. I worked with Rosie Smith from Patterson Dental and chose Patterson's EagleSoft software. I transferred to this software while in my old office the year prior to the move so that our front desk staff would be well versed in its usage and could serve as tech support for the rest of us in transition.
My staff, while nervous, shared my view of eliminating paper charts in our new location and worked diligently to make that happen. We moved in, trained for two days, and started seeing patients with a limited schedule on the third day of training. We kept old charts. Occasionally, we refer or scan information on an as-needed basis. I chose Patterson Dental for our hardware because of its seamless integration and support.
