Best Practices

Best Practice 1

TITLE: SUSMERAM PROJECT

Objectives:

To give a real picture of rural living conditions & their health problems of the community to the students.
To improve students’ communication skills .
To provide the best available treatment options and to cater to patients of all socio – economic classes, ensuring cent percent health awareness and tobacco cessation.

Context:

The Institution has conducted a rural health survey activity in the curriculum of undergraduate.

Practice:

Five families to be allotted to each group comprising of Undergraduate students[ I^ST– IV^THYear ] Interns, Post Graduate Students and faculties.
The groups will function under the guidance of Faculty incharge and will visit the families allotted to them.
In this visit, students record patient details and social demographic information in their journals.
Follow up visits are also planned. In these visits, information about health profile, environment factors, dietary history & nutritional status, socio-cultural factors, family planning, immunization status, addictions, consanguineous marriages and vital statistics will be recorded.
Students make rapport with families & collect data using questionnaire during visits.
Records will be maintained, and marks will be kept for journal in internal assessments .
Needy persons are given health education and referral to our hospital.

Evidence of success:

Benefits to family:

Creating awareness about Oral Health Care.
People get information regarding health services available in health centers, Information about special OPD schedule and the various treatment options available.
Information regarding health insurance schemes run by Government MSW helps to connect these families.

Benefits to students:

Early exposure to rural community: Living conditions, rural environment, and healthproblems, social and cultural factors.
Early clinical exposure.
Learn communication skills.
Learn responsibilities towards community as physician of first contact.
Development of bioethical skills.
Overcome language barriers.
Research orientation – Formulation of aims and objectives, methodology, data collection and analysis,report writing and presentation.

Presentation skills:

Skills in handling computer and its application, team work and coordination.

Hands on training in biostatistics: Data collection, data feeding, analysis, making tables and graphs.

Problems encounter and resources required:

Time slot given is short.
Require additional staff & vehicles for transportation.

Co-operation from villagers.

Best Practice 2

TITLE: RURAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Objectives:

To spread oral health awareness among the rural population and to reduce the frequency of rural oral health problems.
To be a primary oral health care provider providing emergency and multidisciplinary oral health care.
To diagnose and identify common oral health problems among the rural populations in order to effectively tackle the endemic problem of the community.
To make health care solutions available to the unreachable.
To emphasize on the consequences of tobacco usage and health benefits of tobacco cessation.
To imbibe in students a spirit of social commitment towards protection of oral health.

Context:

Unusually high number of practitioners are settled in urban areas leading to creation of wide gaps in the accessibility of rural health services.

Practice:

Conducting dental screening & treatment camps in nearby villages, communities, schools, colleges, government bodies and special need centres.
Patients are screened and treated in these camps; those patients who need comprehensive care are referred to our Institution.
Special initiatives are taken to reach out to the geriatric population.
Free transportation is provided for patients to reach our Institution.
Fully equipped mobile dental van is used for all the dental camps.
Instilling experiential learning in students through implementation of rural dental health programs.

Evidence of Success:

Improved oral health conditions.
Active participation of rural population in the camps and their positive feedback.
Creating awareness of oral health and ill effects of tobacco.
Increased awareness among school children due to school dental health programs.
Increased awareness among rural population regarding oral health and general health.

Problems encountered and resources required:

Transportation of oral health care personnel to distinct areas as the rural roads are narrow and rough.

Getting approval from government bodies to conduct oral screening and treatment camps in government setups.

Best Practice 3

Title : Laminated Dental Care System

The College being located in the periphery of Trivandrum Corporation provides dental services to patients near and far since its inception. The institution meets the needs of different strata of patients through the functioning of Priority Clinic, Comprehensive Clinic, and PG clinic. This strategic compartmentalization into three levels ensures enhanced quality patient care system.

Objectives

To facilitate and ensure personal, professional treatment strategies.
To provide holistic and comprehensive dental care.
To familiarize and train students with the skills of running an independent practice.

Context

Institution follows the guidelines set by DCI & University in terms of academic delivery. Furthermore the institution strives to provide the best clinical learning exposure to the students and the best patient care service with nominal charges.

“Patient waiting time” was one of the concerns identified during the feedback analysis of patient satisfaction survey by IQAC.

Inspite of operational difficulties, a comprehensive clinic system was started in 2017 under Public Health Dentistry Department aiming all treatments under one roof. After its successful running for 2 years, this system paved the ways for establishment of 5 separate comprehensive clinics and enabled to impart a more clinical and professional skill development arena for UG students.

Hence a three level system of dental services was designed:

Comprehensive Clinic System
Designated PG Clinics
Priority Clinic

Practice

PG clinics are structured and operated according to the guidelines set by DCI and University.

Comprehensive clinics system provides a one stop clinic for any and all dental needs of patients. This provides a first-hand experience of holistic dental care to UG students and interns that makes them ready for individual private practice.

Each clinic comprises of a clinic in-charge (an OMR faculty) and a faculty from all specialities. All UG students from 3rd BDS to Interns are divided in batches and allotted to these clinics. This system reduces the waiting period for patients providing improved patient care system.

PG Clinics performs advanced treatment procedures and surgeries, difficult cases which are not managed by UG students/interns are referred to PG students under expert supervision by HOD/PG Guide.

Patients who wish for ‘private clinic experience’ opt for priority clinic. Priority Clinic provides a private dental clinic and a cosy experiences to patients who prefer immediate appointments by an experienced faculty. Priority clinic expedites dental treatment and reduces waiting period which is a pleasant deviation from the conventional patient appointment system.

All Advanced dental treatments are referred to Advanced Dental Science Department from any or all these clinics to provide specialized treatments such as surgical cases including implant placement, Guided Bone Regeneration, Socket preservation, second stage surgery of implants, management of peri-implantitis etc.

Evidence of Success

Interim results as measured by patient inflow in Comprehensive clinic and Priority clinic show the acceptance and benefit imbibed by the patient as well as PG clinic getting streamlined with regular and emergency cases.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Patients’ attitude and education towards the comprehensive clinic was one of the major challenges that were encountered. This particular inconveniences was overcome by setting up a helpdesk in the reception and enlightening the importance of comprehensive dental care through various educational tools.

Best Practice 4

Title : Student Centred Teaching Learning System

Management of the College, from the time of its inception considered the latest techniques in teaching and learning as the most successful channel to impart knowledge and learning experience thus to provide a learner centric curriculum delivery.

Objectives

To implement student centric teaching learning methodology in curriculum delivery and promote self-directed learning.
To incorporate a common portal of learning for students and teaching faculties in order to use gadgets in a productive way.
To enhance the pedagogy and learning outcomes with total involvement of teachers and students.
To provide the best learning resources and cater different level learners.

Context:

As emphasised in institutional vision statement and moto of producing dental professionals with skills, knowledge and values, the newer adaptations of learner centric teaching learning are to be implemented to produce global dentists of tomorrow.

Accordingly a genuine shift from passive learning to self- directed learning process have to be cultivated among the students.

In order to provide a better learning experience to the students, a small group teaching system-micro lecture system was implemented by incorporating teaching learning activities in 2017 for II BDS students which showed 100% promotion rate for that batch. Hence further implementation of an activity based teaching methodology was initiated batch wise since then.

Finally an Activity Based Learning Education (ABLE) system is implemented which is actually a blended mode of teaching methodology incorporating both student centric and teacher centric mode of curriculum delivery.

Practice:

This system is aimed at managing various learning related issues of the students such as lack of concentration, inability to comprehend, analyse, apply and evaluate the subject taught.

Accordingly each theory class is planned to have 4 components. A mid class activity to engage and sustain the students’ concentration throughout the lecture and also to provide a platform for participatory learning.

This is followed by the post evaluation test to ensure and evaluate the achievement of learning outcome. An assignment as a homework reinforces the topic. The student feedback regarding the topic and the class ensures the complete topic delivery.

Teacher centric mode practiced in this system is a modified version of the conventional teaching methodology with incorporation of small teaching learning activities and exercises in order to break the monotony of conventional lecture system.

Dental Education Technology Department monitor the classes, collect feedback forms from students, subject in-charges, HODs for improving, updating and upgrading the system.

Evidence of Success

Participatory learning is highlighted.
Students are able to perform better in their examinations with high scores.
Students are accomplished with self-centred learning practice.
Teaching has become more effective and learning more interesting instead of a tiresome repetitive exercise.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Familiarizing the student centric mode of teaching- learning to students and faculties.
Evaluation of learning outcome.
Infrastructure and digitalization.

Best Practice 5

Title: Organic Farming

Objectives:

To educate our students on the practice of organic farming.
To inculcate in the minds of our students the values of discipline, sincerity and patience.
To create awareness among the students regarding our agricultural heritage.
To equip our students with agricultural skill and knowledge to contribute to their holistic development.

Context:

With the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and poisonous pesticides in our food today, organic farming has gained a lot of significance. Organic farming is n agricultural practice that uses biological fertilizers and ecologically based pest control measures. Ecological benefits such as reduction of soil erosion and recycling of waste products make this a much sought after practice in today’s world. Our institution has thus decided to implement organic farming within our college campus and supplement or students diet with organically farmed crops.

Practice:

We currently practice organic farming, apiculture and pisciculture in our college campus. Our soil is regularly enriched with biological fertilizers and the crops yielded are used to supplement the food supply in our college hostels. Additionally, apiculture is being carried out and harvested for honey every October. With pisciculture being carried out, our hostels also get a steady supply of fresh water fish every three months.

Evidence of Success

Our students have developed a sense of responsibility and accountability towards Nature. It is a source of pride for them that they are contributing to our planet’s much needed ecological conservation and sustainability. Our yield crops include snake gourd, bitter gourd, lady’s finger, pumpkin, brinjal, coconut and plantain.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required:

Effective pest control through ecological means is a problem faced. However, a recent MoU signed with the state government of Kerala has ensured that pest control will be carried out. Our future aim is to become fully self sufficient and replace our basic food requirements completely with our yield from organic agricultural practices.

Best Practice 6

Tobacco Cessation Clinic

Objectives

Screening and assessment of tobacco dependence
Tobacco cessation counseling and/orbehavioral counseling in management for tobacco dependence
Organizing public awareness programs on tobacco use and its ill effects
Organizing screening camps in the communitywith awareness talks in tobacco-related cancer
Organizing tobacco cessation workshop and training programs for healthprofessionals to train them in counseling and cessation services.

Context

PMS College of Dental Science and Research started the tobacco cessation clinic service long before Dental Council of India mandated its formation owing to the social commitment of the institute towards society. Apart from imparting its service the clinic also imparts the need of tobacco control and cessation counseling practice among dental students so that the future doctors will have the skills to offer tobacco cessation to their patients using the five ‘A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) and the five ‘R’s (Relevance, Risks, Rewards, Roadblocks, Repetition).

Practice

Since the institution has a Comprehensive clinic system which provides a one stop clinic for all dental needs of patients; the tobacco use is assessed by interns posted in the clinics followed by detailed case history on the use of any form of tobacco. Patients are given appointment in TCC for further intervention, counseling, behavioral modification. CO monitor is used to estimate the level for CO in expired air which helps to assess patient cooperation, motivation to quit , and make them understand the harmful effects of tobacco use.Patients are provided nicotine replacement therapy, pharmacotherapy and behavioral counseling.

Evidence of Success

Acceptance of behavioral therapy by patients and more individuals accepting the treatment option provide motivation to counselors and students involved in the process.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Limited number of tobacco users accessing the clinics and very low proportion of tobacco users from rural areas aware of these services are the major problems encountered. Resources required include manpower, trained personnel and more access to rural areas for education and intervention.

Best Practice 7

Continuing Dental Education Programs

In keeping with our institution’s motto, “Where Wisdom Is Divine”, we have always aimed to pursue excellence in knowledge. The need to constantly update ourselves is of paramount concern in a field such as dentistry, where innovative techniques and concepts are churned out on a regular basis. Continuing Dental Education programs are a means to ensure our students and faculty are in tune with all the latest developments in our speciality.

Objectives:

Review existing dental treatment concepts and techniques.
Earn credit points.
Gather practical knowledge on how to use latest tools and equipments.
Understand business practices.
Learn how to expand your professional practice.
Acquire certification.

Context:

The dental field is a very competitive one and to stay ahead of the competition, dental professionals have to stay abreast on ever-changing dental technologies, trends and best practices.

In the rush of daily life, we as dental professionals may become stagnant in our skill set if we are unaware of the latest trends in dentistry. With patients becoming more self reliant and demanding, we have to do our best to provide our patients with the best standard of treatment and care.

Continuing dental education can help to learn essential skills, expand knowledge on the best dental practices and current technologies and increase services to best meet the needs of patients.

Practice:

Each department takes turns to organize a CDE program. First a proposal is put forward with the suggested topic, speakers and tentative dates. Once the proposal is approved, it is then forwarded to the CDE Committee.

The CDE Committee then joins hands with the organizing department to conduct the CDE program. A formal request is sent to the Kerala Dental Council with all the necessary details regarding the program. Once the green signal is given by the council, we are provided with credit points and an official order number which will be awarded to the participants after the completion of the program. Program brochures, notices and social media updates are then circulated to inform one and all about the upcoming program.

All arrangements are made to make sure the speakers and participants are comfortable and well taken care of. After the program, feedback is collected from both Resource Persons and participants to analyze any shortcomings that can be addressed in the following programs.

Certificates are provided to the Resource Persons as well as all the participants.

All CDE programs are extensively documented for future reference and a report of the conducted program will be sent to the Kerala Dental Council with all details enclosed.

Evidence Of Success:

The frequent conduct of such programs is well received by the students and faculty as is evidenced by their feedback after each program.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required:

Conducting such programs without hampering the functioning of clinics and theory classes.
Making sure patient appointments are not delayed.
Ensuring all students and faculty are benefitted from the topic selected.

The feedback collected provides a plethora of information to help realize and overcome any issues faced.

Best Practice 8

Title: Free Treatment for patients as per ration card category

Objectives:

To provide affordable and quality dental care to patients who are BPL ration card holders.
To provide free treatment facility for BPL patients.

Context: Below Poverty Line is a benchmark used by the government of India to indicate economic disadvantage and to identify individuals and households in need of government assistance and aid. BPL ration card holders are the most economically backward section of the society. The government has revised the BPL ration cards as yellow and pink ration cards.

Practice: PMS College of Dental Science and Research has announced that free treatment will be provided to patients who are BPL ration card holders. The yellow card holders will be provided free treatment for procedures costing up to Rs 500/- or less. For all pink card holders, extractions will be done free of cost and all other dental procedures will be given 30% discount. Ortho follow up fee will be Rs 100/- per visit. Free treatment facility for BPL patients is restricted to any one treatment up to Rs 500/- per month. Free treatment for the same patient can be done only after 30 days of completion of the first treatment. For any second treatment in the same month, payment will be collected from the patient.

In order to avail the free treatment, patients have to bring their BPL ration card issued by the Government. It has to be taken to the PRO who verifies the status of the ration card. After the confirmation from PRO, it is taken to the office to get BPL seal on the OP card of the patient. It is then entered into the OP register and the patients can avail the free treatment.

Evidence of Success: With the implementation of this system, there has been an evident rise in patient inflow to our clinics. Feedback received from our patients was excellent and patients reported immense satisfaction with the free treatment provided.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required: Lack of awareness among patients regarding the relaxation in treatment cost with regards to their ration card category is the issue faced here. It is being tackled by informing all eligible patients about the revised treatment cost during their initial oral examination if they have not already availed this facility