Dentaltown December 2024 - 18

MESSAGE BOARD 1
One time during an extraction I was fishing out a
root tip, the assistant stopped suctioning to look at
her watch. I was speechless. I don't remember what
I said but definitely told her something along the
lines of " keep your eyes on what we are doing " with
a sharp stare.
I tell them when I walk in, I put my phone in the
drawer. If someone needs to reach me for an emergency,
they'll call me at the office. I expect the same
from you. It is ok if you need to check something,
make a phone call or quickly respond to an important
email and get back to work. But it is not ok if you
are checking how many people haha'ed your meme
or liked your selfie. n
someone over cell use, because she was a true addict
and was unable to be productive due to being on the
phone the entire day. n
vp
Post: 47 of 63
10/30/2024
I was casual with cellphone use until it got out of
control. I was trying to talk to an assistant about a
patient and she would not even look up or stop what
she was doing. Cellphones got banned after that.
Now they have to stay in sterilization or the break
room. They still use them but not out of control.
I also worked for a local DSO once-their policy
was cellphones stay in the break room. Personal use
requires the employee to clock out. n
cowdr
Post: 22 of 63
10/30/2024
Call me crazy. My entire team uses their phones all
day long. Patients will text employees sometimes.
I've had employees take pics for me and they text
them to me. Insta videos get shared during the day.
My employees get updates about elderly parents
or pregnant children during the day. I stay on my
phone all the time texting sales reps or reading
group chats about dentistry. Everyone is responsible
and it has only been an issue with a couple of
employees who are no longer here. n
geddy
Post: 50 of 63
10/30/2024
markshek
I have rewritten what I was going to write. For my
office, I want to have a bit more laid-back approach.
I want to enjoy practicing and that means working
with people that are happy. We do have a job to do,
but that doesn't mean everyone has to be optimally
efficient 100 percent of the time. If I had an
employee that was leaving stuff undone, I'd have a
conversation with her about reducing the cell usage.
Treat her like an adult and then cut her loose if she
couldn't behave like an adult.
I know Al, we're dealing with the same assistant/
Post: 24 of 63
10/30/2024
I am on the side of if they are doing their job and not
being rude about it, I'm OK. I have two assistants
and they are not very busy because I book long visits
one at a time. I think they get bored. I would, but I
like having two. Pretty much the same for my front
desk. My two hygienists have the least time of anyone,
and I rarely see them on their phones. n
hygienist shortage that you are (Seattle is probably a
bit worse). n
bob koenitzer
Post: 53 of 63
10/30/2024
For those of you who allow staff to have their
phones, there is no way that you won't develop a
ripple effect with your staff.
Suzy sees Jane on her phone for 15 minutes while
Baltar
Post: 43 of 63
10/30/2024
I let staff use their phones as long as it does not
seem to interfere with patient care. I have had to fire
she is working hard. Suzy says, " F that " and opens
up her phone. Jackie is a conscientious worker and
is supremely annoyed that she is working with
children who can't put their toys down while getting
DECEMBER 2024 | 18 | DENTALTOWN.COM
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Dentaltown December 2024

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