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This is Laura Diet with the Becker Dental

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and Ds podcast.

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I'm thrilled today to be joined by Bella

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Perez Torres

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director of hygiene strategy in operations at Aspen

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dental management.

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Bella it's a pleasure to have you on

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the podcast today.

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I'm honored to be here.

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Now I'm looking forward to our conversation. I

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know we're gonna touch on a recent

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mission trip you did to the Philippines and

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talk about some of the great experiences you

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had there as well as your insights on

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the dental field and what you see ahead.

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But before we dive in, I was wondering,

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could you tell us a little bit about

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yourself and your background?

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Yes. Absolutely.

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So I actually started my dental career 20

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years ago. I know it's been that long.

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Of an ortho dental assistance in being around

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adolescents with or oral hygiene is what piqued

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my interest in the dental hygiene,

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which is loved to a fantastic career, and

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as of today, working at Aspen dental,

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I have grown within the organization and within

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my profession,

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not only being the director of hygiene strategy

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and operations for over 1600

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dental h janice throughout

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a thousand location, but I'm also active in

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my professional

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association with the New York, Dental H genesis

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association as well.

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Well, it's great to hear. You know, And

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certainly amazing to have of those types of

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positions in a career where you've been able

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to continue to grow and advance in the

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dental space.

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Now I wanted to ask you about the

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admission trip. Can you share a little bit

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more about the trip and some of the

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great experiences that you had?

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Sure. I would selected to join 11 other

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clinicians for the dental missions trip to the

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Philippines.

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And the Philippines I have over a... Thousand

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island too, and we primarily

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served children in the islands of Bat and

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Lena bak,

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Which the small islands, and they don't always

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have a lot of access to care or

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to anything. Actually, most of their commute is

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through, boats, to go from 1 island to

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another island for resources, which can create a

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challenge to find even healthcare in in those

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environments

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what we did in those communities

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is we partner with a local, dental or

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dentist, who was appointed by the local mayor,

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and

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to give us a little bit of the

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insights of what we needed to do and

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also

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shared with them what we were prepared to

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do as well making sure that was appropriate.

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Kinda to do in those community. So 1

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of the things that we discovered is she

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came with these forms,

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their screening forms

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but they were in a different format that

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we were used to operating in the state.

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So

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we had to quickly learn and navigate,

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their system,

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which is more on, I believe it's called

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the world's federation system and kind of

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preliminary did some screenings assess what the children

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needed, and then set them off to the

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different health care or dental professional groups to

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deliver that care. That way, we're not were

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able to document

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for the adult state and local authorities, what

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was done to the children and it's also

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followed them along their school records.

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So it was pretty

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fun.

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But it's also challenging. If you can imagine

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it was during the dry season in the

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Philippines so heat and humidity

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was quite a challenge for us, as well

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as some of the ability to access certain

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an electricity or even

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materials for us to be a lot more

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effective in our approach. That's fascinating. And it

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sounds like quite a trip, of course, very

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meaningful for patients who were able to see

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in populations

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that you are serving, but, like you said,

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huge challenges in being able to provide that

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type of care.

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I I'm wondering what were some of the

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biggest issues that you face you were there,

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What were some of the things that

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really

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continue to stay top of mind for you

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as your kinda provide care in a place

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like the Philippines.

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Yeah. So some of the materials we brought

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were I'm glass I am on Nervous... Stored

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material, which in an air conditioned facility typically

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has a setting time of 3 minutes. In

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our environment, it had a 30 second. Setting

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time. So,

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you could imagine we had to pivot and

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adapt quickly and work quickly

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to apply as much as we can. So

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we're not being wasteful for the the products

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as well,

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because we didn't have... You know, we only

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have so many that we can use to

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wide care.

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Additionally, what's kind of interesting is

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our hands began to flat

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and we actually had to apply baby powder

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to done our glove, which back in 20

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17, the states have banned powdered gloves. So

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this kind of

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interesting to kinda reflect on some of these

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old practices,

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bringing it because of the unique environment we

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were working in, but it helped. You know,

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it help dry out the sweat, and we're

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able to apply the gloves without it getting

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out to stick to ourselves. Additionally, it's important

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that we've

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made relationships with the community, You know, it's...

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Their community. They know what they need the

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most. And, of course, we come with positive

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intention and helping them. And also learning a

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little bit more about their culture and being

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immersed in, you know, dining, eating some of

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their cuisine,

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authentic cuisine,

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also trying to communicate with,

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or some of the challenges

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because I wanted to provide us much care,

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but to a degree with their consent or

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at least their local dentist

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consent as well who's provides some some directions

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on how we can best. Manage the children.

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We didn't have parents there in 1 of

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the school locations, so we definitely needed to

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lean in on

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the local rep zen there to ensure that

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we're able to perform limited duties that ultimately

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giving the patients the best outcome thinking at.

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Zen

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It's great to hear. You know, in such

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an important, aspect of care and healthcare care

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is that dental care in the oral Hygiene.

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So being able to partner with the communities

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and the the patients and our families when

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it's possible, you know, it really it seems

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like it would make a big difference.

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Now when you're thinking about down dentistry more

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broadly,

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and your work here in the states? What

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are some of the biggest issues you that

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you're following in dental. What's really top of

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mind for you? Down what's interesting is I

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follow a lot of technology and innovation, Not

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so much in the dental space, but also

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in the medical space. A lot of times

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medical,

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the medicine world, they tend to be a

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little more

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more of a not afraid to pioneer a

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lot of this technological

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advances that eventually will trickle down to the

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dental setting and then dental practice. So I'm

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thinking, you know, working for a forward thinking

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organization. I look more at a broader scale.

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What's happening

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across healthcare care profession as a whole not

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only nationally, but globally?

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And then are there certain things that might

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impact the dental profession. Can we adopt some

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of it Can we get ahead of it

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or let's explore possible solutions that will help

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improve

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patient outcome and the overall practice of efficiency.

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The other item I'm looking at is the

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dentist and dental hygiene compact. As you could

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tell her a lot more states are looking

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looking into the compact,

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is gonna help alleviate a lot of the

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workforce challenges,

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as well as how clinicians prefer to operate

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in these different states, which Now, of course,

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the workforce trend is a big topic. You

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know, it's hard to increase access to care

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in areas that need at the most when

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there's a shortage of providers.

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In those location. So looking at some of

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the workforce trends in the healthcare profession and

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the dental professions if top of mind. And

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here it has been

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what 1 of the things we've done is

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we really

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listen into what's happening in the workforce and

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try to also be

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a little open to adopt or implement some

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of these things. For instance, you know, since

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the pandemic, the gig economy has shifted a

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lot of, dental h to

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staffing agencies for temp agencies.

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Well, we looked at seeing why are they

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doing this? Typically, if you really look back

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at why clinicians are opting tempting agencies versus

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having a committed employer,

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part of it is that flexibility.

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And

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listening into that flexibility,

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made us I'll realize that we need to

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be a bit more open minded for part

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time workers or those who just wanna work

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at weekends.

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So

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listening to some of our contingent

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workforce,

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partnering with some of the staffing

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agencies out there, but also of being open

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for

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per diem rolls, as well as part time

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rolls,

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which includes benefits for them as well.

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Got it. That makes a lot of sense.

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You know, as you are talking through the

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workforce piece of it just now, it really

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resonates with what we're hearing a across industry

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trying to understand, you know, but is really

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motivating and important to team members in making

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sure that I'm you're able to build a

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a strong workforce regardless of how it's comprised

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Now when you look ahead, what are you

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most excited about right now, what makes you

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nervous?

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Oh, well, I told you about technology for

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innovation nicely.

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I get bored with a what status quo.

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So I'm always looking to see what's out

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there. And what are we doing today so

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we can make it better. I think with

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the technology and advancements, it kind of forces

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us to learn quicker

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and also adapt to some of these changes

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because change is gonna happen

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irr. So it's important as us as clinicians

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to really

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continue to expand our learning and our professional

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development to be prepared for some of these

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changes that are coming a lot faster than

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they did 20 years ago. So that excites

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me. The flip side of some of the

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innovation and technology

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is

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getting people to adapt to it. You know,

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The the... It's very hard when you have

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mastered a scale for so long

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to change your approach to something

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different. Right? Because there's a learning curve with

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adopting any type of new methodology

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or technology.

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There's... You'll have to slow down to really

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learn the craft all over again. And so

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change management and implementation has been of this

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struggle

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for our

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clinical

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clinicians and practice environment, and it's so important

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for them to also

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give back feedback. Like, if it's not working

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for you, how how can we make it

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better? You know, We definitely need to be

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on the forefront of things? Because last thing

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you want is

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your skill set becomes antiquated, and you're not

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gonna be able to use it in other

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practice setting because everyone else has moved on.

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So it's important that we're helping supporting the

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development of our of our providers and our

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opt team members. So they're able to practice

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to the top of their scope.

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So those are kind of like, my

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chance she did some of the were the

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things that make me nervous is, can we

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help our team members to embrace some of

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this change

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in a way that's gonna impact

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everyone and benefit everyone.

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For patients and the practice.

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That makes a lot of sense. You know,

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I can imagine it takes a lot of

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patience in in time and energy to really

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make that

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and and work with a variety of folks.

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I know some... You know, typically are the

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early adopters and some are are very much,

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you know, on the the slower end of

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things. But, like you said, being able to

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have those tools in technology,

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you know, to to augment and, assure that

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you're able to work at your top of

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your abilities

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seems like a really exciting prospect for the

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future.

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Absolutely.

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No. In looking at your your career, we

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talked a little bit about some of the

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different experiences that you've had and you've been

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able to grow

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tremendously over the years.

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I'm wondering in your perspective, what does it

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look like to make a meaningful career dentistry?

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How do you carve that space out for

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yourself? First, you gotta have purpose. You know,

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why we in Dentistry in the first place.

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And if you could figure out your purpose,

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that's gonna guide you to develop a meeting

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career.

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It's interesting because my role has been very...

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It's been all

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uniquely developed.

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Because it was in need at the time

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of our

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organization. And all the skills that I had

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prepared myself over the years and helping

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others, whether it's patients or providers or even

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people in my community

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has helped me kind prepare

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for some of the roles that I have

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today. So building a meaningful career, honestly is

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gonna be helping and serving people

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out to achieve optimal health. That's kind of,

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like the center of it all. And how

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you do that to is also from that

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continuous learning and

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development side of things too. What can we

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do better than what we're doing today constantly

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challenging

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ourselves

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it whether you're in the practice setting or

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outside, you know, in a dental missions trip.

356
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It's still kind hovering over the same

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and a purpose. And then lastly, I would

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say would be the building

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relationship side.

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Can't do this alone. You know, you definitely

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wanna be strategic

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to connect with

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specific people that might be

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experts in this certain an area,

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gain their feedback and kind of work together

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because if you can get more of them

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mastermind,

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together to share great things can only happen

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from that. Not only leave the mastermind,

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also the frontline workers, right? Especially when you're

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going to implement

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technology.

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They're the ones who gonna be using it,

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get their feedback. The adults love to be

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part of the solution in general.

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So if we can get more this cross

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functional,

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relationship building from, you know, bottom to the

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top team members

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it will be really gonna provide a meaningful

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career

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for all.

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I love that having that kind of continuous

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feedback and ability to

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understand, you know, where you need to grow

386
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and how you need to

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adjust and evolve of the times is such

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an important aspect of being a leader.

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Before we wrap up here, looking ahead, what

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do you think of the most effective healthcare

391
00:14:21,403 --> 00:14:23,081
leaders will need to be successful over the

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00:14:23,081 --> 00:14:25,495
next 2 or 3 years especially seeing how

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some the different trends in healthcare care are

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evolving whether it's workforce or technology

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or, you know, really just the

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economic environment overall. What you see as being

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essential in order to lead in the future?

398
00:14:37,503 --> 00:14:40,674
It's gonna be obviously happy influential communication that's

399
00:14:40,714 --> 00:14:42,403
could help with some other behavior

400
00:14:43,172 --> 00:14:46,501
changes, but ultimately remembering here why. Why do

401
00:14:46,501 --> 00:14:48,976
we need to do something different. Could why

402
00:14:48,976 --> 00:14:49,714
are we

403
00:14:50,248 --> 00:14:51,600
operating the way we operate?

404
00:14:52,236 --> 00:14:54,383
People are very... You know, I I believe

405
00:14:54,383 --> 00:14:56,132
providers are very purpose driven.

406
00:14:56,704 --> 00:14:59,253
You know, they are looking for why do

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00:14:59,253 --> 00:15:01,802
we do what we do? Tell me why

408
00:15:01,882 --> 00:15:03,714
I need to change, make a sense to

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00:15:03,714 --> 00:15:05,488
me so that I am motivated.

410
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:08,357
To do that change. And there's the saying

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that we often

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00:15:09,796 --> 00:15:12,353
share amongst our team members, being clear is

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00:15:12,353 --> 00:15:15,310
being kind. So having those clear objectives,

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00:15:15,964 --> 00:15:17,949
on what is the purpose of what we're

415
00:15:17,949 --> 00:15:20,252
trying to achieve? And what's in it for

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00:15:20,252 --> 00:15:21,841
those that are gonna be involved in? You

417
00:15:21,841 --> 00:15:23,191
know? They always wanna know. What's a different

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00:15:23,191 --> 00:15:23,588
for b?

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So making sure that leaders are not only

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00:15:27,116 --> 00:15:28,256
the forefront of technology,

421
00:15:29,034 --> 00:15:30,573
but of having effective

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00:15:31,112 --> 00:15:31,272
communication,

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00:15:32,071 --> 00:15:32,950
outlining the...

424
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The objectives in a way that's gonna be

425
00:15:36,868 --> 00:15:39,496
patient centric too. I think you know, clinicians

426
00:15:39,496 --> 00:15:41,805
are more sensitive with patient centric,

427
00:15:42,298 --> 00:15:45,713
language versus, you know, production. A business centric

428
00:15:45,713 --> 00:15:47,937
language. It depends where your audience is too.

429
00:15:48,096 --> 00:15:50,797
It's gonna shift your language. But ultimately, I

430
00:15:50,797 --> 00:15:51,853
think having those

431
00:15:52,484 --> 00:15:54,901
communications, a creating a collaborative

432
00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:56,100
environment

433
00:15:56,558 --> 00:15:58,955
where people can thrive in is what's gonna

434
00:15:58,955 --> 00:15:59,455
be

435
00:15:59,928 --> 00:16:02,398
very beneficial for health leaders to succeed in

436
00:16:02,398 --> 00:16:02,876
the future.

437
00:16:03,832 --> 00:16:05,266
I love that. Thank you so much Bella

438
00:16:05,266 --> 00:16:06,859
for joining us on the podcast today. This

439
00:16:06,859 --> 00:16:08,691
has been a fantastic discussion, and I look

440
00:16:08,691 --> 00:16:10,059
forward to connect with you again soon.

441
00:16:10,775 --> 00:16:11,968
Alright. Thank you. Loretta.

442
00:16:15,945 --> 00:16:16,080
Acting