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Order Online Call Us 03 9698 0200 Access Members Page Become a member Home Benefits About Us Our Partners Contact Other Services Social Sharing Events Locums Pay Your Invoice Home Benefits About Us Our Partners Contact Other Services Social Sharing Events Locums Pay Your Invoice Facebook Twitter Youtube Why being productive isn’t enough A recent session with one of our clients highlighted an important shift in how we approach our work. This client had always prided themselves on how much they could get done. They were known for powering through their workload, feeling accomplished by the number of tasks they crossed off their to-do list. However, while they were getting a lot done, the actual impact of their work was not as significant as it could be. Despite their impressive productivity, they weren’t seeing the level of success they expected. This realisation that simply completing tasks isn’t the same as being effective, led them to shift their daily goal from being productive to being effective. Productivity is about the quantity of work completed—the ability to tick off tasks quickly and efficiently. It’s easy to believe that the more you get done, the more successful you’ll be. However, this client came to understand that success isn’t about how much you do but how impactful your actions are. Effectiveness focuses on the quality of work and the strategic value of the actions taken. It asks the question: Are the tasks you’re completing moving you closer to your goals? For our client, the shift from simply being productive to being effective was eye-opening. They realised that while they were working hard, many of their tasks were not contributing to the long-term success they desired. Through this insight, the client began to ask themselves important questions: What does success look like for me? Which actions are most aligned with my goals? What tasks are keeping me busy but aren’t contributing to real impact? By focusing on fewer but more impactful tasks, they found that they could achieve more meaningful results without feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list. They reduced the number of tasks they were tackling each day, focusing instead on those that truly made a difference. Here’s why being effective should be your primary focus: Impact Over Volume: You can spend all day getting through a list of tasks, but if none of them contribute to your bigger goals, you’re not moving forward. Effectiveness ensures that your actions are strategic and impactful. Sustainable Success: Constantly striving to be productive can lead to burnout. Effectiveness, on the other hand, encourages you to be deliberate with your energy, investing it in tasks that yield long-term benefits. Clarity in Purpose: Focusing on effectiveness allows you to align your daily efforts with your long-term vision, making your work more purposeful and fulfilling. How to Shift from Productive to Effective If you’ve been focusing on productivity but feel like you’re not making the impact you want, here are some ways to shift towards effectiveness. Re-evaluate Your Priorities: Look at your to-do list. Are all of your tasks truly necessary, or are some of them just keeping you busy? Focus on the tasks that will bring you closer to your goals. Focus on Outcomes, Not Outputs: Don’t just complete tasks for the sake of it. Focus on the results you want to achieve. Are your efforts contributing to those outcomes? Create Space for Reflection: Regularly step back and assess your progress. Are you moving in the right direction? What adjustments can you make to focus on being more effective? Ultimately, the journey from productivity to effectiveness is about redefining what success looks like. It’s about focusing less on how much you’re doing and more on what you’re achieving. For our client, shifting their focus from completing tasks to prioritising effectiveness has transformed their approach. They found that by doing less but focusing on tasks that aligned with their goals, they were able to achieve more significant and lasting success. As you reflect on your own work habits, consider whether you’re being productive or effective. Are you busy with tasks, or are you taking deliberate actions that drive meaningful results? By focusing on effectiveness, you can achieve greater success and find more fulfilment in your work. Back to Articles and Resources Get “The Drill” Subscribe to our FREE official Dental Innovations newsletter, The Drill. Stay up top date with all the news, products and benefits. You can also connect with us on our socials for all the latest behind the scenes, information and news. Facebook Twitter Youtube Subscribe * indicates required Email Address *First Name *Phone Number Order Online Access Member Page Become a member Contact Phone: (03) 9698 0200 Head Office Suite 93, 21 Hall St, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207 Email: headoffice@dentalinnovations.com.au This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.  | 2024 © DENTAL INNOVATIONS

Order Online Call Us 03 9698 0200 Access Members Page Become a member Home Benefits About Us Our Partners Contact Other Services Social Sharing Events Locums Pay Your Invoice Home Benefits About Us Our Partners Contact Other Services Social Sharing Events Locums Pay Your Invoice Facebook Twitter Youtube Transforming medical history forms into a top-level patient experience In many dental practices, collecting a patient’s medical history often involves simply handing them a form to fill out on their own. While this is a standard approach, it can lead to incomplete and inaccurate information. Barriers to accurate form completion The traditional approach of handing over a form can easily result in incomplete or incorrect information. Here’s why: Language BarriersNon-native English speakers may struggle to understand the questions that are asked. Low Health LiteracyPatients may lack the knowledge to interpret medical and dental terms. Low General LiteracyLimited reading skills can make even simple forms challenging, particularly if they are not designed with accessibility in mind. Memory IssuesOlder patients or those with cognitive impairments may forget details about their medical history, medications, or past treatments. Discomfort or PainPatients who are physically uncomfortable may rush through the form or find it difficult to concentrate on providing accurate responses. Anxiety or Dental PhobiaPatients experiencing anxiety or fear about their visit may be too distracted to fill out forms properly, leading to missed or incomplete information. Rushed CompletionTime pressures in a busy waiting room can result in patients skipping questions or completing forms hastily, compromising accuracy. Complexity of the FormOverly detailed or jargon-heavy forms can overwhelm patients, leading to skipped sections or superficial answers. Physical or Cognitive ChallengesPatients with arthritis, poor vision, or cognitive impairments may find it physically difficult to complete forms accurately. Assumptions About RelevancePatients may skip questions they perceive as irrelevant to dental care, not realising the potential connection to their treatment. Poor Form DesignAmbiguous or visually cluttered forms can confuse patients, discouraging accurate and thorough responses. Discomfort With Sensitive QuestionsPatients may feel uneasy answering personal health questions in a public or rushed environment, leading to incomplete disclosure. Rethinking the process to deliver Top-Level Customer Service For those dental practices for whom Top-Level Customer Service is a priority, imagine this alternative: A team member greets the patient warmly, guides them to a private, comfortable area, and assists them with the form. By engaging with the patient, answering questions, and clarifying any terminology, the team member creates an atmosphere of care and professionalism. This approach transforms a routine step into an opportunity to connect with patients and leave a lasting positive impression. Builds Trust and ConnectionOffering personalised assistance demonstrates the practice’s commitment to patient care, fostering trust and care from the outset. Ensures AccuracyA guided approach helps patients provide complete and accurate information, reducing errors and improving care quality. Eases Discomfort and AnxietyBy creating a supportive environment, practices can help patients who are in pain or feeling anxious focus on completing the form thoroughly. Respects PrivacyProviding a private space for this process encourages honesty and openness, particularly when answering sensitive questions. Showcases Exceptional ServiceThis enhanced process highlights the practice’s dedication to patient-centred care, setting it apart from competitors. Steps toward improvement Train Staff for EngagementEquip team members with the skills to warmly and professionally guide patients through the form completion process. Simplify the FormsUse plain language, focus on essential questions, and eliminate unnecessary complexity to make forms accessible and user-friendly. Provide Private, Comfortable SpacesDedicate areas where patients can complete forms at their own pace with staff support if needed. Incorporate Digital ToolsDigital forms with guided prompts and dropdown menus can further streamline the process and enhance accuracy. Educate Patients on the Importance of AccuracyExplain why accurate information is crucial for their safety and care to encourage thorough and honest responses. The way medical history forms are handled is often the first impression a patient has of a practice. By turning this routine task into a moment of connection and care, practices can ensure accurate records while setting themselves apart as compassionate and patient-focused. This simple shift can transform a mundane process into a powerful opportunity to make patients feel valued and supported, laying the foundation for trust and loyalty. Back to Articles and Resources Get “The Drill” Subscribe to our FREE official Dental Innovations newsletter, The Drill. Stay up top date with all the news, products and benefits. You can also connect with us on our socials for all the latest behind the scenes, information and news. Facebook Twitter Youtube Subscribe * indicates required Email Address *First Name *Phone Number Order Online Access Member Page Become a member Contact Phone: (03) 9698 0200 Head Office Suite 93, 21 Hall St, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207 Email: headoffice@dentalinnovations.com.au This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.  | 2024 © DENTAL INNOVATIONS