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Volume 3 Issue 6
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CDA
at
W
ork
While you may be the leader of your dental team, your patients interact with a
variety of other people in your office. The sum of those interactions reflects your
team’s organizational culture and therefore who you are as a health care provider.
What is organizational culture?
Organizational culture is easy to define in theory but sometimes tough to
recognize in practice. Essentially, culture is a reflection of beliefs, values, priorities
and relationships. In the work environment, it can dictate how a team behaves,
dresses, talks, and performs tasks. It becomes the essence of who you are and how
you do your job.
In a typical dental office, the various interactions between patients and team
members will create an impression, often referred to as a vibe.
Your office culture will determine the level of satisfaction of the patient experience
before they even reach the dentist. In effect, your office culture is
you.
Why is organizational culture important
in the dental office?
A dental team’s culture conveys many things, including your team’s level of trust
in you. For example, does your team work well together? Do they communicate
positively? Do they seem to enjoy their work? Does the way you work together
reflect your values?
How your team conveys your office culture will let patients know, without telling
them explicitly, whether or not you are trusted. If patients get the impression
BUILDING
POSITIVE TEAM
CULTURE
Trust andValue
Working Group
is a unique collaboration of
provincial and national dental
leaders that focuses on developing
communications strategies to
promote the benefits of good oral
health for all Canadians.
Imagine one of your patients as they walk into your practice.
Most likely they are greeted at the front desk when they
confirm their appointment, and perhaps speak with a dental
assistant or dental hygienist. They may even chat with other
patients as they wait. Multiple interactions can happen
before they see you, their dentist.