"Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."
-Goethe
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Taking Health Care Outside the Box
http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_dishman_take_health_care_off_the_mainframe.html
Dental Hygiene can be (and is) taken off the mainframe for better OUTCOMES.
Dental Hygiene can be (and is) taken off the mainframe for better OUTCOMES.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Quote to illustrate how big-time changes have historically happened in the world, and in health care systems, and finally in oral health care systems:
"Productive Outrage: Sometimes outrage is the first step in innovation. Not outrage at some-one, outrage at some-thing. Productive outrage says, 'This is ridiculous. There's got to be a better way.'
"There's nothing wrong with frustration and outrage. It means you care. The issue is what you do with that feeling. You have the choice every minute to channel the energy into a solution or blame others for making you feel frustrated." -Mark Shapiro, E-Myth.com
Monday, October 10, 2011
Words to live by
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Stanford 2005 commencement address
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Indie partnership
Two indie hygienists put their practices together this week! (At least for a day.) Lilli Kemp, RDH-LAP came to my practice yesterday to offer her soft denture reline services. What fun. That's what I'm talkin 'bout, hiipsters!! :) *hiip = hygienists in independent practice
Lilli, an ultra-wonderful hygienist and person, is becoming a stellar provider for the underserved ~ she's getting more patients all the time. Her mobile practice serves the McKenzie River corridor & other underserved populations. Lucky me, she was willing to come to Oakridge to provide her excellent soft denture reline services on a difficult case for me.
Working in tandem in my tiny office was a bit of a physical challenge, but we sure had a lot of fun. Afterwards we enjoyed a picnic lunch in my lobby area (it was too hot to go outside!). It was so wonderful to truly collaborate as professionals in an unhurried environment.
Lilli, an ultra-wonderful hygienist and person, is becoming a stellar provider for the underserved ~ she's getting more patients all the time. Her mobile practice serves the McKenzie River corridor & other underserved populations. Lucky me, she was willing to come to Oakridge to provide her excellent soft denture reline services on a difficult case for me.
Working in tandem in my tiny office was a bit of a physical challenge, but we sure had a lot of fun. Afterwards we enjoyed a picnic lunch in my lobby area (it was too hot to go outside!). It was so wonderful to truly collaborate as professionals in an unhurried environment.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Marketing (1 of 30 types) :)
Oh yes...marketing. Sometimes you have to take to the streets. Ok, this picture isn't of Oakridge, but it captures the feel of the Keg & Cask Festival that happened on August 13th. Two whole blocks right in the heart of Old Town were blocked off.
The health care providers within the Mountain Therapeutics building: Sariantra Kali, LAc (acupuncturist), Laura Robson (LMT), and myself (RDH) created a booth and schmoozed the day away with the locals. It was a great way to raise awareness of the health care services offered, and Sariantra was a BIG draw... she offered free acupuncture treatments the whole day. Most of the people who tried it had never had acupuncture before! For a couple of hours, Laura and I had to sort of vacate the tent to make room for all the folks who wanted to try it.
We were always right there though, talking with the locals. All of us got new patients that day... and we also got to try some new brews. Both big plusses!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Great day at work today:
- I had an absolutely delightful new patient today
- .... had a delightful recall patient too.
- My preventive, therapeutic, and educational skills were especially rockin.
- My new piezo ultrasonic and I are getting along much better now. :)
- My SmartPractice shipment arrived ... fast as ever.
- I had the morning to write to my heart's content.
- Tomorrow is the Keg & Cask Festival in the heart of Old Town Oakridge. Yahoo!!! Read about it here and come on up between 2pm and 8pm if you like. Laura Robson, friend and owner of the Mountain Therapeutics Building where I rent space, and I are sharing a booth!! It's going to be a great way to get our names and services circulating again in the community.
Ah life just keeps getting better and better. . .
Word game about progress....
Just for fun, let's adapt this famous quote:
to our specific profession:"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people." -George Bernard Shaw
"Reasonable hygienists adapt themselves to traditional dentistry. Unreasonable hygienists attempt to adapt traditional dentistry to the world . All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable hygienists. -Christa Olsson, RDHThat was fun and true at the same time! :-)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
relax...
What is a mistake?Sometimes it takes a while to get it right. Oral health care in Oregon is a prime example. It hasn't worked as well as it could. No worries. We're making something better.... see more by clicking the ''Read more" link:
Nothing but education,
nothing but the first step to something better.
--Wendell Phillips
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Great thought
The highest reward from your working is not what you get for it but what you become by it. -Sydney Harris
Friday, August 5, 2011
Chair donation...
I inherited an old dental chair from Lane Community College. A couple of years ago this chair that had been lent to U of O's physiology department for a study on dental hygienists and work related body problems (stemming from repetitive movement/movement dysfunction).
Look closely at the picture... you may remember Luke, the blond guy on the ground, from a LCDHA meeting last fall. Remember? He gave a short talk to the room full of hygienists about the aforementioned study and requested more participants. I think he received a TON of willing guinea pigs! The study did get completed, and it is undergoing a peer-review process as we speak. Publication may be a while off, perhaps even a year, but nevertheless the department is very excited for its publication and future applications!
HIIP may get a special summary talk about the study and the results at a meeting very soon! Professor Karduna and I are looking at September or October.
Read more about the day's adventure by clicking the link below:
Look closely at the picture... you may remember Luke, the blond guy on the ground, from a LCDHA meeting last fall. Remember? He gave a short talk to the room full of hygienists about the aforementioned study and requested more participants. I think he received a TON of willing guinea pigs! The study did get completed, and it is undergoing a peer-review process as we speak. Publication may be a while off, perhaps even a year, but nevertheless the department is very excited for its publication and future applications!
HIIP may get a special summary talk about the study and the results at a meeting very soon! Professor Karduna and I are looking at September or October.
Read more about the day's adventure by clicking the link below:
Busy day ahead...
... all the more reason to touch a little inspiration:
"Love broadens vision, love enables creativity, and love expands intelligence." -Humberto Maturanaand it follows:
"If your definition of success has little or no measure of love in it, get another definition." -Brian Holden, PhD
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Outside our world
Hmm... I always like to orient myself as a dental provider by checking out the experience of other types of health care providers. One doesn't know the world unless they know something outside their world.
Here is what some medical professionals are moving towards to eliminate some of the problems inherent in corporate health care:
http://www.idealmedicalpractice.com/info.html
Here is what some medical professionals are moving towards to eliminate some of the problems inherent in corporate health care:
http://www.idealmedicalpractice.com/info.html
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Note to self
Note to self: change my ad in the paper... it's been the same since last August... yikes!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Every Day...
I drove home from work today in a deeply reflective state. I don't know what it was that was different today, but all of the sudden the statement "I'm so grateful that you are here" that I hear from my patients, every day, took on new meaning.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wow, hygienists are getting busy!
I got word from 2 hygienists tonight (within 2 hours of each other) that their direct care practices are getting really close to starting! Woohoo!
Equipment for hygiene practice
Hi everyone... welp today I'm diving into equipment projects. I'm on a x-ray journey. Having received (finally!) the x-ray machine, I am now diving into the process of getting it registered. This is one of the many things that did not used to be part of my job description. Heheh. But I like it. It's fun. I'll tell ya all about it soon.
Speaking of soon, our next HIIP meeting is August 20. I've arranged a live demo of DentalEZ's Star Identafi Oral Cancer Screening Device. This imaging/screening technology is developing fast so let's keep up with the latest! Come to the HIIP Study Club Meeting on August 20, 2011. See more info... click "Read more" (below) to get the details.
Speaking of soon, our next HIIP meeting is August 20. I've arranged a live demo of DentalEZ's Star Identafi Oral Cancer Screening Device. This imaging/screening technology is developing fast so let's keep up with the latest! Come to the HIIP Study Club Meeting on August 20, 2011. See more info... click "Read more" (below) to get the details.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
My Clinic Schedule
Summer of 2010, I had some fun creating a work schedule. :-)
Here's what I did:
Here's what I did:
- Determined what I hours I most enjoyed working.... and what hours would be best devoted to personal time.
- Determined what hours would best serve the community of Oakridge, OR.
- Coordinated these hours.....
Moving forward every day.
The law of my land:
"Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it." -Goethe__________________________________________________________________________
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