In this series, The Arc of Massachusetts will be spotlighting Operation House Call Students of the Month. Each month, we will be profiling one student who has taken part in OHC and shared the impact that the program has had on them.
The difference between these outcomes did not seem to come down to clinical skill alone. It came down to whether the provider was willing to slow down, listen, and treat [X] as an individual. This reinforced for me the importance of getting to know every patient in my chair, regardless of what is written on their chart. Taking that time is a practice that will benefit me and every patient I treat, not only those with special needs.
What surprised me most was hearing about the difficulties [X] and her family have faced with aftercare following her dental procedures. This is an aspect of care I had not given much thought to. I have tended to think of a procedure as complete when the patient leaves the chair, but for [X] and her family, the hardest part sometimes came afterward, at home, without the support of the dental team. It sounded like the situation is still being worked through and that solutions are being considered. This showed me that good care has to extend beyond the appointment itself.
Going forward, I want to think ahead about how instructions will be carried out at home, whether they are realistic for a particular patient and family, and how I can stay available to help when challenges come up.
