Dental Therapist Onboarding Checklist

Dental Therapist Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Dental Therapist starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Healthcare onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Dental Therapist, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Dental Therapist onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Dental Therapist Onboarding Checklist

1. Orientation: The new dental therapist attends an orientation session to familiarize themselves with the company’s policies, procedures, and culture. This task is typically performed by the human resources department or a designated orientation coordinator.

2. Introduction to the Team: The dental therapist is introduced to their colleagues, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and administrative staff. This task is usually facilitated by the practice manager or a team leader.

3. Review of Job Description: The dental therapist receives a detailed explanation of their job responsibilities, including patient care, treatment planning, and documentation. This task is typically performed by the hiring manager or a senior dental therapist.

4. Training on Dental Software: The new dental therapist undergoes training on the dental software used by the company for patient records, scheduling, and billing. This task is usually conducted by the office manager or a designated software trainer.

5. Familiarization with Equipment and Instruments: The dental therapist is introduced to the various dental instruments, equipment, and materials used in the practice. This task is typically performed by a senior dental therapist or a dental assistant.

6. Review of Infection Control Protocols: The new dental therapist receives training on infection control protocols, including proper hand hygiene, sterilization techniques, and personal protective equipment usage. This task is usually conducted by the infection control coordinator or a senior dental therapist.

7. Shadowing Experienced Dental Therapists: The new dental therapist shadows experienced dental therapists to observe patient interactions, treatment procedures, and workflow. This task is typically arranged by the practice manager or a senior dental therapist.

8. Review of Emergency Procedures: The dental therapist undergoes training on emergency protocols, including medical emergencies, dental emergencies, and evacuation procedures. This task is usually conducted by the practice manager or a designated safety officer.

9. Introduction to Practice Management Systems: The new dental therapist is introduced to the practice management systems used for appointment scheduling, insurance claims, and financial transactions. This task is typically performed by the office manager or a designated trainer.

10. Review of HIPAA and Patient Privacy: The dental therapist receives training on HIPAA regulations and patient privacy laws to ensure compliance with confidentiality requirements. This task is usually conducted by the office manager or a designated privacy officer.

11. Introduction to Continuing Education Opportunities: The new dental therapist is informed about the company’s commitment to professional development and provided with information on available continuing education courses and conferences. This task is typically performed by the practice manager or a designated education coordinator.

12. Review of Performance Expectations: The dental therapist receives clear performance expectations, including productivity targets, quality standards, and patient satisfaction goals. This task is typically performed by the hiring manager or a senior dental therapist.

13. Introduction to Support Staff: The new dental therapist is introduced to the support staff, such as receptionists, insurance coordinators, and billing specialists, who play a crucial role in the practice’s operations. This task is usually facilitated by the practice manager or a team leader.

14. Review of Clinic Policies and Procedures: The dental therapist is provided with a comprehensive overview of the clinic’s policies and procedures, including appointment scheduling, patient communication, and billing processes. This task is typically performed by the office manager or a designated policy coordinator.

15. Introduction to Referral Network: The new dental therapist is introduced to the network of specialists and other healthcare professionals that the practice collaborates with for referrals and comprehensive patient care. This task is usually facilitated by the practice manager or a senior dental therapist.

16. Review of Insurance and Billing Processes: The dental therapist receives training on insurance verification, claims submission, and billing processes to ensure accurate and efficient financial transactions. This task is typically conducted by the office manager or a designated billing specialist.

17. Introduction to Quality Assurance and Peer Review: The new dental therapist is informed about the practice’s quality assurance program, including peer review processes, clinical audits, and continuous improvement initiatives. This task is typically performed by the practice manager or a designated quality assurance coordinator.

18. Review of Ethical Guidelines: The dental therapist undergoes training on ethical guidelines and professional conduct expectations, including patient confidentiality, informed consent, and maintaining professional boundaries. This task is usually conducted by the practice manager or a designated ethics officer.

19. Introduction to Marketing and Patient Acquisition Strategies: The new dental therapist is provided with an overview of the practice’s marketing initiatives and patient acquisition strategies to understand their role in attracting and retaining patients. This task is typically performed by the practice manager or a designated marketing coordinator.

20. Review of Performance Evaluation Process: The dental therapist is informed about the company’s performance evaluation process, including the frequency of evaluations, criteria for assessment, and opportunities for professional growth. This task is typically performed by the hiring manager or a designated performance management coordinator

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Dental Therapist checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Dental Therapist up to speed and working well in your Healthcare team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.