Team Clinic returns to create practice-ready graduates
The aim of IUSD’s educational program is to develop independent graduates who can be entrusted to provide competent, compassionate care for diverse patients in different practice settings and situations.
The Team Clinic experience has been reestablished to provide interested fourth-year dental students, who have met the clinical selection criteria established by clinical discipline directors, the opportunity to experience four-handed dentistry and move further along the continuum of independent practice as part of an oral health care team.
“By utilizing two dedicated chairs and working with a staff dental assistant, an expanded functions dental assistant, and a dental hygienist, each participating dental student may see up to four patients in a single clinic session and develop skills in teamwork and managing the flow of patient care,” said Dr. Laura Romito, associate dean of Education and Academic Affairs. “Dental hygiene students will soon be incorporated in the Team Clinic as well. Together, they can simulate a post-graduate clinical experience, practicing four-handed dentistry and working with multiple patients in a clinic session.”
Team Clinic is the result of a dedicated group of clinical faculty and staff who have been working for nearly a year to make this opportunity available for IUSD students, Dr. Romito said. Led by the DDS Curriculum and Assessment Committee (CAC), chaired by Dr. Tim Treat, the Team Clinic subcommittee, which includes Drs. Daniel Shin, Priya Thomas, Harvey Weingarten, Lisa Willis, Prof. Twyla Rader, Leah Minnis, Dr. Laura Romito, and David Zahl) aims to develop a clinical practice experience that has the benefits of former Team Clinic models , while also addressing prior barriers, including developing standardized selection criteria and evaluation process, and dedicating space and human resources to enhance sustainability.
“The new team clinic model fits well with our clinical assessment evaluating a student’s level of practice independence and gives us the opportunity to explore incorporating entrustable professional activities into our assessment framework,” Dr. Romito said.
Precepted by Dr. Larry Caskey, Team Clinic is held on Wednesdays in the Fritts Clinical Center.
D4 Team Clinic Pilot Learning Objectives
· Demonstrate the ability to work effectively and respectfully as the leader of the oral health care team.
· Demonstrate the ability to provide comprehensive oral health care to patients under limited supervision.
· Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage time to administer patient care efficiently in a team clinic setting that approximates private practice.
· Demonstrate clear and effective communication to team members during the provision of patient care.