CE: Constantly Connected Patient Care: When Social Media & Mobile Technologies Interfere w Pts & the Dental Professional

Program Description

Constantly Connected Patient Care: When Social Media & Mobile Technologies Interfere with Patients and the Dental Professional

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the use of social media within dentistry. Many dental practices have had to temporarily close or limit their services due to the pandemic, which has increased the use of social media platforms to connect with patients and share information about service changes and safety protocols. Additionally, many dental professionals have turned to social media to share information and resources about the virus, as well as to connect with colleagues and share best practices for maintaining safety in the dental office.

Overall, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of social media as a tool for communication, education, and patient engagement in dentistry. With this in mind, further understanding the growth of use, the regulations, the successes, and the pitfalls of social media use within dentistry is key for employers, employees, and patients as we continue to actively use social media in our professional and personal lives.

This session focuses on an overview of social media platforms and Internet culture, known issues in the dental world surrounding social media use and abuse and a discussion of the risks and benefits of social media use to promote dental practice and continuing dental education.

Introduction to Social Media Communications:

Social Media and Dentistry - Realities and Emerging Best-Practices

• Overview of social media platforms and Internet culture
• Known issues in Dental-world surrounding social media use and abuse
• Discussion of how and when social media can be used to promote practice
• Foundational media-literacy discussion with hands-on walk-through including roundtable of current use by participating dentists and staff

Social Media Risk Assessments:

Managing Dental Practice Communications and Establishing Policies for Patients and Staff

• Practice Management - how to risk-assess using social media
• Exploring policy to mitigate emerging communication issues with staff and patients
• Understanding current communication expectations - specific to state/federal regulations

*note - this can be shaped as a CE session for staff as well - policy can be introduced for each practice - the opportunity for a practice is to get the paperwork in place that staff acknowledge expectation and use.

Brand Management & Addressing Professional vs Personal

• Using Social Media to engage dental practice brand
• Template Policy development for participants with policy suggestions and recommendations for practice management

*note - this aspect of practice management is more for the dentist than staff but can be used communally.

Wrap-up Section and Overview of Sessions:

Policy Review and Human Resources Best-Practices

• Finalize policies for both staff and patient communications
• Discuss concerns about online representations of dental practice online from both      staff and patients
• Closing notes on sourced examples

Bio

Jesse Miller, MA. PgDip is a recognized authority on Internet safety, social media awareness and communication trends. Jesse has been featured multiple times in the dental field as a keynote at the Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver, a featured speaker at the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry meeting in California, and a speaker at the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery meeting in Chicago. Jesse is featured in the Seattle Study Club Business Academy teaching network and has been featured by dental companies across Canada and the USA as a professional development resource. Jesse currently hosts an online course for the British Columbia Dental Association, routed from his lecture series supporting study clubs and conferences across North America. Jesse is a sessional lecturer at the University of Victoria and an editorial board member for the Journal of Digital Culture & Education. His approach to educating the use of social media within healthcare focuses on how mobile technology impacts patient care and the health and wellness of the workplace. Jesse and his family live in British Columbia, Canada and enjoy time on their small hobby farm growing fruits and vegetables while enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.