There are three important principles of good risk management.
Proper office procedures
Proper office procedures are vital in providing safe and high quality patient care. Examples include following standardized procedures, using patient consent forms and careful recordkeeping. The practice should follow good dental charting that is legible if handwritten and include the date and time. In the event of a lawsuit, a complete patient history and detailed records can often make the difference between a defendable and non-defendable case.
Good patient rapport
Good patient rapport is essential as it can mitigate dissatisfaction. Positive and caring communication is the single most effective mechanism to preventing patient dissatisfaction. Ensuring your staff is pleasant and empathetic, following up in a timely manner and providing answers and access can often diffuse a difficult situation with a reasonable solution to the problem.
Effective communication skills
Effective communication skills are an important way you can protect your dental practice. Treating every patient with respect, compassion and candor and practicing the art of listening goes a long way towards the ultimate goal of providing solutions and information to your patients so that they can make informed decisions regarding treatment. Ensuring your staff practices the same communication style enhances your practice culture.