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Dental Tribune United Kindom Edition

July 18-24, 201126 Feature United Kingdom Edition page 25DTß specialises in the refurbishment or refitting of healthcare premis- es represents the sensible option, as such a partner will possess not only the requisite experience of the market, but will also have existing relationships with spe- cialist manufacturers and sup- pliers. For example, the sourcing and fitting of customised cabine- try, which must be aesthetically pleasing as well as ergonomic, is an exercise few clinicians would willingly embrace. From the design point of view, while a talented general architect may produce an outstanding aes- thetic result, it could ultimately prove to be totally impractical for clinical purposes; only a spe- cialist company will be aware of the alternatives while at the same time understanding the es- sential parameters which define a workable solution. Mistakes can be expensive! A pre-requisite to entering such a partnership is clarity of vision in respect of the desired outcome. Practices are defined by their differences, in terms of both types of treatment offered, financial structure, and most importantly for refurbishment purposes, their physical size and characteristics. Products and de- signs must be selected which en- hance the working space as well as maximising potential profit- ability. To achieve these goals specialist expertise is vital. A common concern is infec- tion control. Many traditional high street dental practices are housed in converted domestic premises with limited space and irregular room shapes and sizes not easily adapted to accommo- date modern decontamination equipment. A skilled designer is often able to “create” addi- tional space, and so avoid po- tentially compromising staff and patient safety while at the same time easing stress for the dental team members responsible for implementing hygiene regula- tions. Specialist supply compa- nies have access to customised cabinetry solutions which can exploit even the most unlikely corners for storage or archiving. Initial discussions with the partner company should focus on a clear definition of the ob- jectives, with quality and value for money paramount consid- erations. The end result must meet the current needs of the business while taking into ac- count possible future expansion or policy changes; staff must be provided with a congenial work- ing environment which ena- bles all statutory requirements to be met or exceeded; disrup- tion while work is in progress must be kept to a minimum and a dedicated site manager appointed to coordinate the dif- ferent tradesmen and assume responsibility for adherence to a strict timetable; last but not least, the project must be com- pleted within the agreed budget. The best refurbishment com- panies pay careful attention to the individual client’s specific tastes and requirements, take account of the practice’s discrete logistics and avoid preconcep- tions which could potentially distort the outcome; they offer a comprehensive service, which includes preliminary advice and pre-project consultations to ac- knowledge the client’s personal preferences in terms of equip- ment, working methods, image and atmosphere. Their knowl- edge of the industry ensures that essentials, such as accommodat- ing a central sterilisation facility in a multi-chair practice, are not omitted. Their service will also include the installation of clini- cal equipment even when this has been acquired independ- ently, as well as providing after sales maintenance and support. Dentistry is a lifetime career and forming a long term rela- tionship with a strong, sympa- thetic and committed business partner has proven, ongoing benefits for principals, staff and patients alike. DT About the author Coming from a Facilities Management background within the Hotel & Restau- rant industry Pete Higson has been in the dental industry for 15 years. Age 40 and Married to Sue, who is a Financial Director within the Dental Industry, he has two Children and Lives on Farm in Cheshire. Having previously worked in Capital Equipment Sales and Surgery design, Pete has been the Sales Direc- tor for Tavom UK for the last 4 years. To discover how Tavom can help you to overcome your ergonomic and logistical problems, improve the quality of life at work for you and your team, maximise your practice’s earning potential or sim- ply to bring some or all of your existing facilities up to date, call Tavom UK on 0870 7521121. msc_ad_source_uk.pdf 1 03/08/2009 15:21:59