July 12, 2021
3 Ways to Improve Efficiency in Your Dental Practice
Office organization, zoning and traffic flow can all contribute to the efficiency of your dental practice. With no central governing authority that guides how they should be designed, dental practices are left to determine their own best practices and considerations. But optimal flow, safety and efficiency require thoughtful planning. Here’s how to achieve space utilization, access and movement in your dental practice with goals, job site conditions, building codes and post-pandemic concerns in mind.
Create zones
Think of your dental practice in terms of functional zones: public, clinical and team. Keeping reception, the business desk, patient corridors and restrooms separated from operatories, consultation, sterilization, designated clean supply storage and the laboratory will only help streamline movement throughout the practice and improve the flow between staff and patients.
Infection control
Creating zones also adds an extra layer of infection prevention by reducing unnecessary interactions, avoiding cross-contamination and making it easier to address air quality. By sequestering the mechanical room, bulk storage and dedicated space for personal protective equipment (PPE), you improve the flow and naturally encourage social distancing.
Spatial planning
Unnecessary traffic jams in the dental office can lead to the risk of cross-contamination and contribute to staff and patient anxiety. In addition to making sure hallways are wide enough, this includes high-traffic areas, such as reception, to allow for extra breathing room while also ensuring patient privacy and sterilization.
What’s next?
Contact the experts at Professional Transition Strategies for more guidance on how to maximize efficiency in your dental practice.