Dorostkar & Bibeisi – WOW Session II: Practice Success Part 1-View course WOW video of doctors combined programs CSPD

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Jila Doraskar shared how she successfully introduced a certified therapy dog, Aspen (an English cream golden retriever), into her pediatric dental practice. She explained the difference between service dogs (task-trained for a handler’s disability, protected under ADA, not to be petted) and therapy dogs (provide emotional support to others and are meant to interact). Doraskar described the steps she took: completing a formal therapy dog certification with temperament testing and annual recertification, checking local health codes, notifying patients, and securing separate animal liability insurance (about $800/year), since malpractice coverage excluded dog-related incidents. Aspen is always leashed and accompanied by a designated handler (trained staff member), and families are screened for allergies or fear of dogs. Aspen was gradually acclimated—from greeting in the waiting room to lying beside children during procedures—often helping reduce anxiety and potentially avoiding sedation, while also boosting staff morale and practice marketing.  <br /><br />The session then transitioned to Dr. Nora Bilbisi, who discussed strategies for responding to online reviews: draft an emotional response privately first, never disclose private patient information, explain office policies clearly (preferably in bullet points), decide whether to respond or stay silent, and end professionally by inviting offline contact and wishing the reviewer well.

Keywords

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