RA course reflections and feedback 12th May 2012

Time to reflect on my 30th Hands-on RA course since 2003 and the second one from our new education facility at 57 Cheap Street,  Newbury, adjacent to my practice.

We were 3 or 4 people down from the expected number, so a smaller tutorial group of 8 participated but possibly the most diverse in terms of experience and background.  Truly a mixed ability group to teach.

We had 5 GDPs
1 trainee dental nurse about to join our practice in 2 weeks
A second trainee DN of ours, about to take her dental nursing exam next week and
1 Dental Therapist

As usual we had a full and busy day of close to 500 PowerPoint slides, interactive questioning and discussion on all aspects of the theory including regulation, medico-legal,  plus demonstrations of equipment, gas cylinders and connections, clinical applications and many examples of patients in treatment under RA.  Discussion of pros and cons, indications and contra-indications, comparison with other options and much more including hints and tips and a detailed step by step guide to success with the technique.

In the afternoon we continued with practical examples, as well as a live patient demonstration viewed by the delegates over a video-link from the treatment room to the seminar room.

Our team provided 15-20 minutes worth of simple treatment for this patient under inhalation sedation, who has a marked gag reflex.  By way of a demonstration, we also took an upper alginate impression at the end of the treatment to prove its effectiveness.  She drew a round of applause when she had recovered and within a few minutes was discussing with the group her previous dental experiences and how much this technique had helped her and that she would not have been able to tolerate the treatment or impressions without eliciting a gag reflex.

Of the GDPs who attended:
One had had experience of RA some years ago (see her comments below)
Two had had no experience and one wishes to go on for mentorship to competency with me, as does the hygienist who attended.

Another GDP is a highly experienced Sedationist, Roy Bennett of Mellow Dental in Liverpool, who is a fellow member of both SAAD and the DSTG and who attended for the second time in 6 months and who has since added inhalation sedation to his repertoire of options to offer to his patients.
Roy kindly captured a few moments from the day too.

As usual we finished off with a short summative assessment by way of a 10 question MCQ and issuing the delegates with their vCPD certificates in return for their feedback and comments sheets.

Given the new trainee DN did not feel ready to provide a feedback to her new employer (fair enough), these were the results of the feedback questionnaire:

Venue: Excellent 7/7
Relevance: to the subject  Excellent 7/7
Audio-visuals: Excellent 5/7, v.good 2/7- so a little tweaking still to do,. I have some ideas!
Speaker Excellent:  7/7
All in all then, an excellent set of results !

 Here are a selection of comments:

"Useful informative course for this vital subject.  Thank you very much"

"Very helpful thanks. Want to work here!"

"Great presentation"

"Wow . Go Richard and Chris"

and finally from Roy Bennett

"Having undertaken IV sedation for many years, I have found this course essential to broaden my horizons and this has helped me to become a better sedationist and offer  my parents a comprehensive sedation service! "

Finally for now these two additional comments received by e-mail today:

From Dr. Sura Al-haidary

Dear Dr Charon 

Thank you for your email and for the helpful and useful course ,it was really lovely meeting you ,Chris and the lovely welcoming staff on Sat.

.....

Many Thanks

Best Wishes and Regards to you and Chris

Sura


From Dr Barbara Lawson

Richard and Chris,

Thank you so much for the fantastic course presented on Saturday.
The subject matter was presented in a lively informative manner, essential for a Saturday course!
I will now be confident to return to the use of RA, after many years.

Kind regards,
Barbara Lawson BDS 


If you think this may be of interest to you or your practice in providing a new and differentiating service for your patients and in reducing your own stress levels in dealing with anxious patients more effectively, please contact me .... richard@the-ra-coach.co.uk