The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Dentistry is testing a new after-hours clinic, aiming to integrate it into regular operations.
Each month until July, it will operate a dental clinic from 5-8 p.m. Central time to serve patients unable to visit during normal business hours. Future after-hours clinics are scheduled for April 25, May 30, June 27, and July 25.
The pilot program, conceived as the winning idea of the school's Change 4 Good Transformation Challenge, provides a unique learning opportunity for dental and dental hygiene students. Prioritizing a 10-minute patient conversation at the start of each encounter helps students develop comprehensive treatment approaches.
Feedback from patient surveys drives adjustments for subsequent sessions, fostering business acumen among students, UMMC said. Also, the pilot tests technologies like an artificial intelligence assistant for streamlined documentation.
