Professional Development
By Lori Lawrence
In my last blog I wrote about the ‘Challenges and Hurdles of the Independent Dental Hygienist”. Today I would love to highlight the positive changes in my career and my numerous successes because of my self-initiation status. First and foremost I now own and operate a very successful Independent Dental Hygiene Clinic.
Simply put: “I am no longer being controlled, I am now in control” of my professional career. I have the freedom to practice dental hygiene the way I was taught.
The clients that have sought out my services have come because they truly appreciate “Quality Care”. By allowing much more time for their dental hygiene appointment we develop a trusting relationship with each other. It also allows me to take the time to get to know their individual wants and needs. Guiding and educating them is a key component in my practice. Quite honestly my clients have taught me to strive to be better every day.
Every day I have moved the bar higher and I have challenged the status quo. As I overcame so many obstacles I have become relentless in embracing “change”. With change comes success. I absolutely love going to work every day, in a world where I know that I am working within my scope of practice and able to serve my clients in their best interest and my conscience is clear. Priceless!
Where do I want to go from here?
Aside from working in and promoting my own practice, my main mission now is to strive to bring more public awareness to the movement of Independent Dental Hygiene. I will be persistent in getting the message out. We need the public to become educated that it is acceptable to access the care of an independent practitioner. Collaborative health care is essential and for this to work, the country needs an overall strategy and vision centered on co-operation and respect between all disciplines of health care practitioners. We need to continue to put pressure on our governments and our professional associations to step up to the plate and listen to what we are saying. It is important that we all carry the same unified message in order to advance the profession in a positive way. Exactly what the DHPro is striving to do.
I am very excited as yet another phase of my career is unfolding as a mentor and consultant. I am now a team member of the IDHA whose sole purpose is to help RDH’s navigate through the early years of their future Independent Dental Hygiene practice and help them on their path to success. www.idha.ca
We offer private consulting services as well as host “Business Boot Camps” designed to get you thinking of everything you need to do before you open your doors. Our next Boot Camp is coming up on April 2nd in Trenton Ontario. I am very excited to meet all the recruits and our future successful dental hygiene entrepreneurs.
I will continue with my own professional development and studies as every day brings a new challenge and a new sense of accomplishment….no matter what phase of your career you are in ; please remember, you never stop learning.
Lori Lawrence
Smile Sensations Smiths Falls, ON