New ‘clinical group practice’ helps
fulfill mission
 |
| In the School’s new “clinical group practice” format, students will provide dental care to approximately 35 patients—closely supervised by faculty as they provide comprehensive care. |
The School’s new mission statement sets
high standards for our faculty and students. In strategic planning sessions,
faculty are setting a course in which everything we do will help fulfill
our mission to provide a place where students “learn to provide high
quality oral health care based on sound scientific principles while our
patients “receive competent care which is preventive in purpose,comprehensive
in scope, and provided with compassion and respect.”
A patient may feel pain in a tooth when drinking
something cold, have the problem “fixed” in one of the School’s
clinics, and then wait until another problem occurs before seeking further
care. How can we do our best to make sure they do not leave through the
revolving door, receiving no oral health care until they return several
years later, in pain?
During the past year a group of faculty looked
at how we provide care to our patients and, with input from students,
staff, and faculty, discussed ways for faculty and students to give the
highest levels of oral health care to our patients in keeping with our
mission statement.
The group that looked at how we can fulfill
our mission included Drs. Paul Richardson, Tom Rogers, Steve Morrow, Bruce
Walter, and William Loveless.
After reviewing current protocols for instruction
and patient care at LLU and in other schools of dentistry, a decision
was made to choose a clinical group practice model, which was implemented
in late June.
Under the new plan, a primary attending faculty
member will oversee 18 dental students—nine D3s and nine D4s. A patient
care coordinator is assigned to each group. He or she assigns chairs to
the students and serves in the capacity of a receptionist in a private
dental office.
Each dental student is responsible for providing
comprehensive care to approximately 35 patients.
Students will gain experience in diagnosis
treatment planning, diagnosis and management of periodontal disorders,
pupal and periradicular disease, including endodontic therapy, oral surgery
patients, and managing medically compromised dental patients, among others.
Dr. Bruce Walter is director of the clinical
group practices, and Gloria Ramirez serves as assistant manager, patent
care coordinator.
“In addition to better serving our patients,” comments Dr. Walter, “under the new group practice plan students must attain a level of skills, values, attitudes, and knowledge to make the transition from student to unsupervised dentist.”
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