13
Volume3 Issue6
|
CDA
at
W
ork
Whileyoumaybe the leader of your dental team, your patients interactwitha
varietyof other people inyour office. The sumof those interactions reflects your
team’sorganizational cultureand thereforewhoyouareas ahealthcareprovider.
What isorganizational culture?
Organizational culture is easy todefine in theorybut sometimes tough to
recognize inpractice. Essentially, culture is a reflectionof beliefs, values, priorities
and relationships. In theworkenvironment, it candictatehowa teambehaves,
dresses, talks, andperforms tasks. It becomes theessenceofwhoyouareandhow
youdoyour job.
Ina typical dental office, thevarious interactionsbetweenpatients and team
memberswill createan impression, often referred toas avibe.
Your officeculturewill determine the level of satisfactionof thepatient experience
before theyeven reach thedentist. Ineffect, your officeculture is
you.
Why isorganizational culture important
in thedental office?
Adental team’s cultureconveysmany things, includingyour team’s level of trust
inyou. For example, does your teamworkwell together?Do theycommunicate
positively?Do they seem toenjoy theirwork?Does thewayyouwork together
reflect your values?
Howyour teamconveys your officeculturewill let patients know,without telling
themexplicitly,whether or not youare trusted. If patientsget the impression
BUILDING
POSITIVETEAM
CULTURE
TrustandValue
WorkingGroup
is aunique collaboration of
provincial andnational dental
leaders that focuses ondeveloping
communications strategies to
promote the benefits of good oral
health for all Canadians.
Imagineoneof yourpatients as theywalk intoyourpractice.
Most likely theyaregreetedat the frontdeskwhen they
confirm their appointment, andperhaps speakwithadental
assistantordental hygienist.Theymayevenchatwithother
patients as theywait.Multiple interactions canhappen
before they seeyou, theirdentist.
