Part 1 reviews how much time hygienists spend on meeting and greeting patients, reviewing medical histories, and radiographs
In the March 6 issue of the RDH eVillage, we asked for your data on how long it takes you and contemporaries to perform certain hygiene activities and functions. The survey is now closed, and I am reviewing the information. We had almost 650 dental hygienists respond to the 24-open item questionnaire. I am committed to getting you the results over the next few months.
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Other articles to review
- Flourishing in Changing Times: Up-to-date employee manual a must for your dental practice
- Thursday Troubleshooter: Should associate be compensated for time spent on X-rays?
- Tuesday Tip from Pride Institute: Schedule the hard-to-fill appointments first
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This is first part of the results and includes time averages for the following segments of an average dental hygiene visit:
- Greet/seat and re-establish relationship with patient
- Review medical/dental/behavioral history
- Take bitewings
- Take full-mouth radiographs
I am enjoying going through all of the richness of this data, and thought I would report on two ancillary aspects of the questions:
- The variations in pace, meaning the extremes
- Unique comments.
The Hygiene Speedometer chart above will be updated as each part of the survey is published.
Greet/seat and re-establish relationship with patient
Velocity
Minimum: 30 seconds
Maximum: 10 minutes
Responses:
- “… but actually entire appointment.”
Review medical/dental/behavioral history
Velocity
Minimum: 30 seconds
Maximum: 15 minutes
Responses:
- “But, wait, doctor comes at the end and they tell ya something they forgot!”
- “…usually done beforehand.”
- “… while positioning patient and taking BP.”
Take bitewings
Velocity
Minimum: 0
Maximum: 15 minutes
Responses:
- “Four minutes, conventional. Two minutes, digital.”
- “N/A. Work in perio.”
- “Five minutes when digital equip works properly!”
- “Set up, clean up, confirming they are indeed due and that insurance covers it, convincing them to do it.”
Take full-mouth radiographs
Velocity
Minimum: 0, 3 minutes
Maximum: 30 minutes
Responses:
- “I do not do full mouth surveys. Zero minutes.”
- “Never do this on hygiene time. Feel sorry for dental hygienists that do.”
- “PANO only, never full-mouth Pas.”
Start your engines!
Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, MSEC
Director, RDH eVillage
