A therapist's list and a missing instruction
Many orthodontic practices use orthodontic therapists to carry out adjustments and other work to the orthodontist's prescription. The orthodontist writes what should be done, perhaps for the next few visits. The therapist follows it.
The prescription might be in the clinical notes, on a paper sheet or in a template in the practice management system. When the therapist looks at their list for the day, it is not always clear which patients have a current prescription, which are due for review by the orthodontist, and which have had a plan change that the prescription does not reflect.
Locum therapists, or therapists shared between sites, make it harder. They may not know the practice's habits for recording prescriptions, and the orthodontist may not be on site to ask.
Why prescriptions are hard to keep current
- Prescriptions are written in different places.
- They cover several visits and it is unclear when they end.
- Plan changes are not always followed by a new prescription.
- Review appointments with the orthodontist are not linked to the prescription.
- The therapist's day list does not show prescription status.
What unclear prescriptions cost
Therapists spend time checking notes or finding the orthodontist mid-session. Patients may be booked with a therapist when they should be seeing the orthodontist. The practice cannot easily show that work was done to a current prescription. What the prescription must contain and how long it lasts are for your practice's clinical governance and professional guidance; we make the tracking reliable.
The problem grows with the team. A practice with one orthodontist and one therapist can manage by conversation. With several of each, working different days, a prescription written on Monday may be carried out on Thursday by a therapist who never discussed it with the orthodontist.
The prescription tracking we build
- The orthodontist records each prescription in a structured form: patient, therapist or therapists, the work prescribed, and the review point your practice uses, such as a number of visits or a date.
- The prescription is linked to the patient and stored with the clinical record.
- The therapist's day list shows each patient's prescription status: current, due for review, or missing.
- Appointments booked with a therapist for patients without a current prescription are flagged to reception and the orthodontist in advance.
- As review points approach, an orthodontist review is prompted and, if needed, booked.
- Plan changes recorded by the orthodontist prompt a new prescription.
- A history of prescriptions and visits carried out under each is kept.
| Status on therapist list | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Current | Prescription covers this visit |
| Review due | Orthodontist review approaching |
| Missing or expired | Flagged before the day |
| Plan changed | New prescription needed |
Prescribing is a clinical activity. The tracking records and displays prescriptions; it does not create or interpret them.
Therapist sessions that run cleanly
Therapists start each session knowing every patient is covered. Gaps are caught before the day. Orthodontist reviews happen at the right points. And the practice has a clear record of prescriptions and the work done under them.
Orthodontists benefit as well. They see a list of prescriptions coming up for review and can deal with them together, rather than being interrupted during their own sessions with questions from the therapist's surgery.
Reception benefits too. When booking a patient with a therapist, they can see whether the prescription covers that visit, instead of booking and finding out on the day.
Is this your practice?
- Therapist prescriptions are in notes or on paper.
- Therapists check with the orthodontist mid-session.
- It is unclear when a prescription needs renewing.
- You could not easily show prescriptions for past visits.