Record-keeping: let’s get digital
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 2nd October 2021
Effective record-keeping is an essential part of managing a modern dental practice. Indeed, with litigation being a top concern for the vast majority of dental professionals,[i] ensuring that records are watertight is now a bigger priority than ever before. But is your practice still using paper for certain records when it could go digital?
Although it is likely that a number of processes in your practice are digital already, there are a lot of benefits to a taking a paperless route when it comes to keeping track of important information, especially in areas such as waste management and infection control.
Keeping compliance at the forefront
Online portals and digital systems offer a number of important advantages over paper record keeping, especially when it comes to improving your compliance visibility. Digital systems can ensure that all necessary documentation is automatically filled out at the point of service, significantly lowering the risk of incomplete records, and helping to ensure that essential documentation is not mislaid and is easy to locate when required.
Additionally with a digital system documents are available to view online, or to download and store in other places if necessary, providing further protection to ensure that your records are kept safe. This is especially helpful for compliance as with just a few clicks you can instantly demonstrate that you comply with relevant guidance.
Better organisation, easier access
It almost goes without saying that when it comes to records, it’s generally better to have fast access to what you’re looking for. A digital approach not only offers the benefit of keeping all of your essential records in one place, but it also means that you can find exactly what you’re looking for in mere seconds. This can help to streamline the way that you keep track of what happens in your practice, especially as records can be automatically categorised and stored in the correct place.
Another benefit of the digital approach is that everyone who needs access can have it anywhere, anytime. Some service portals also provide the bonus of ensuring that you are no longer beholden to customer service hours and support lines – with access provided to your records and data 24/7, whenever you need it!
Space saving and better for the environment
With sustainability now a key consideration across many industries including the dental sector, it makes sense to embrace technologies that can help your practice to become greener. If you think about the amount of paper that physical records use, let alone the carbon footprint involved in paper production, printing inks and other aspects, it’s very clear that going paperless is an eco-friendlier option.
Storing paperwork also takes up a lot of space, especially when you consider that some records need to be kept for years. A digital approach gives you the freedom to reclaim this space and be greener in your business operations, meaning that you can explore ways to utilise this space in a more beneficial way.
The secure option
Another big advantage that digital portals and other online services provide is how secure they are. Cloud-based systems benefit from multiple layers of protection, and this means that they are effective choices for those who want to ensure that sensitive data remains safe, and accessible only to those who should be seeing it.
Cloud-based storage also helps ensure that documentation is safe regardless of what happens. If the unspeakable should occur and your practice is damaged in a fire or a flood, then any paper records would be at risk of damage alongside your equipment and building structure. Cloud-based digital documents are not physical, so are easily recoverable, providing an extra safety net.
Find a solution that does it all
The newly revamped myInitial customer portal from Initial Medical offers information at your fingertips, and has been specifically developed to ensure that you can streamline how you manage your e-waste documentation, so that you can stay compliant, keep your documentation safe, and be sustainable.
The portal provides clear, real-time visibility of your service dates and any upcoming visits, plus it also links to your eBilling, technical product specifications and to the Initial Medical consumables webshop, meaning you can seamlessly keep in the loop with every part of your service. myInitial also assists with auditing, as the portal can be used to prove service delivery, with access to all your hazardous waste documentation and licenses provided.
The digital way
With so many advantages to using digital services and technology, it definitely makes sense to embrace these solutions where possible. By doing so, you can ensure that your practice is doing its best to remain a modern, sustainable, compliant business, while simultaneously freeing up space and streamlining your record keeping and other documentation storage processes.
For further information please visit https://www.initial.co.uk/myinitial/ or Tel: 0870 850 4045
About Initial Medical Waste
Initial Medical set the standard in healthcare and infectious waste management in the UK, providing a reliable, effective and fully compliant service built around customer needs and delivered by our highly trained local teams. We are ISO 9001:2015 accredited, with technology fully integrated into our operations, providing full traceability of service delivery, electronic waste documentation and the best customer experience possible. We also offer innovative healthcare waste management services and infection control products, to help break the chain of transmission and prevent cross contamination.
Initial Medical are a company with a ‘World Class’ Health and Safety record, and ISO 45001:2018 accreditation. We are also accredited to ISO 14001:2015 environmental standards, and pride ourselves on our sustainable approach with a focus on delivering eco-friendly products and operational solutions.
Rebecca Waters, Category Manager, Initial Medical
Rebecca has worked in the Healthcare sector for the past 17years and was a Research Chemist with Bayer Cropscience prior to joining Rentokil Initial in 2003. She keeps up to date on all developments within the clinical waste management industry and is an active member of the CIWM, SMDSA and BDIA.
For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045
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[i] Dental Protection. Dental Protection Survey Reveals 9 in 10 Dentists Fear Being Sued by Patients. Link: https://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/articles/dental-protection-survey-reveals-9-in-10-dentists-fear-being-sued-by-patients [Last accessed August 21].
