There is evidence that effective communication practices lead to higher quality patient outcomes, such as greater satisfaction, greater understanding and recall, lower costs of care, better compliance with prevention and treatment protocols, and even better treatment outcomes. Communication is clearly important. But why does communication sometimes fail?
Here’s some not-so-sweet news: Americans are consuming too much sugar. The American Heart Association reports that U.S. adults consume an average of 77 grams of sugar per day, which is more than three times the recommended amount.
We all volunteered dozens of hours to meet the community service component of the dental school application, and we said we looked forward to making the world a better place after graduation. Yet only 43% of American dentists accept Medicaid or the CHIP platforms designed to serve low-income populations in America.
One hundred years ago, the 19th Amendment was adopted. Women were finally given the right to vote, which was a centerpiece of the first women’s rights movement. Today, this milestone is commemorated as Women’s Equality Day, celebrated every year on Aug. 26 since 1971.
The appalling death of George Floyd put a national and international spotlight on the racial injustices rampant throughout the United States. Millions of protesters all over the world have come out on the streets and online to support the Black Lives Matter movement in the months since.
Becoming a dentist is a journey. We spend years learning how to prevent, diagnose and treat oral diseases, in addition to how to meet the continuously changing dental needs and demands of our patients and the public. Dental education is essential because it allows us to gain the necessary knowledge and technical skills to care for our patients. But is it really enough?
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other Americans of gender and sexual minority status (collectively referred to as “LGBTQ+” or “queer” henceforth) have faced a rocky and imperfect road in their fight for equality.
