Dental Tribune United Kindom Edition

25FeatureJuly 18-24, 2011United Kingdom Edition M rs Thatcher once fa- mously remarked that the environment was a humdrum issue compared with the Falklands War, but it’s the everyday issues which, by their very definition, have the strong- est impact on most people’s quality of life. It’s widely acknowledged throughout industry that staff who enjoy superior working conditions and visually attrac- tive surroundings are more pro- ductive, happier, and less likely to have itchy feet. This is espe- cially true of the dental arena, where working in a familiar, confined space is a routine re- quirement of practice life for the entire dental team. The quality of the practice environment also has an impact on the patients and any other visitors to the premises, and now that the element of competition has become a factor in retail dentistry so practice design, im- age and ambience have assumed even greater importance. The widespread publicity afforded to the many recent clinical ad- vances has created a more dis- criminating and demanding clientele, and today’s practice environment must not only be efficient and hygiene-friendly but also reflect the standards of care which a more informed public now expects. Whenever a replacement or refurbishment is due, investing in the best, whether it’s a single product or a complete practice makeover, is the only sound policy. Whatever the nature of the investment, it must represent value for money whilst also add- ing value to the business. While furniture and décor should be visually appealing and reflect contemporary taste and design, both must be fit for purpose and sufficiently durable to with- stand intensive use. The rapidly expanding market for cosmetic treatments has resulted in a corresponding increase in spe- cialist and referral practices, whose patient lists often reflect a more sophisticated demograph- ic with more demanding ancil- lary expectations. Practice principals are usual- ly practicing clinicians, whether specialists or GDPs, whose ex- pertise and time are dedicated to generating revenue within the surgeryandforwhomitisneither costeffectivenorpracticaltocom- mit time to the consideration of peripheral matters such as the colour of the wait- ing room furniture! Delegating the responsibility of a practice overhaul to a repu- table partner company which Improving the Environment Pete Higson considers the working environment in dental practices page 26DTà ‘It’s widely acknowl- edged throughout industry that staff who enjoy superior working conditions and visually attrac- tive surroundings are more produc- tive, happier, and less likely to have itchy feet’