Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (Aug. 22, 2016) -- All U.S. Army Dental clinics conducted a day-long stand-down during Aug. 15-19, to reinforce safe practices and procedures and to renew the focus on patient safety in all U.S. Army dental facilities.
Col. William Bruce Jr., Deputy Director for Dental Directorate G-3/5/7, explained the stand-down as, "a chance to redirect the staff's attention back to the importance of patient safety and protocols."
Dental health is a vital component of the medical readiness of our Soldiers and to the health of their Families. As such, Army Dental strives to provide all its beneficiaries with the best quality dental care in a safe, timely, and efficient manner.
Each dental clinic's stand-down worked to improve patient safety skills, knowledge, and practices as well as teaching a proactive approach to patient safety and infection control that will enhance the overall dental health care system and safeguard patients.
"A small number of patients may have been impacted by the rescheduling of appointments for the stand-down, but the training was planned with enough time to avoid the need to move appointments," said Bruce. He added, "We wanted to minimize the impact on patients and get back to focusing on providing quality dental care."
During the stand-down, every Army Dentistry team member was educated, empowered, and motivated to protect the safety of beneficiaries. The stand-down training concentrated on sterilization, infection control, and patient safety protocols and procedures to ensure Army Dental continues to deliver world-class dental care at each of its facilities. All dental staff members received education on oversight and accountability of the system of checks-and-balances used to prevent patient safety incidents.
The quality of care and the safety of its patients are core values of the Army Dental Care system. Army Dental is committed to the beneficiaries they serve.
"Our patients put a lot of trust in us and we will continue to earn that trust; we owe them safe and competent care," said Bruce.
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