Practice Profile: Kells dental practice in great shape

Kells dental practice manager Sandra Crosby discusses her work, what she looks for in staff, and how patients are the team’s number one priority

Dental Care Ireland’s practice in Kells, Co Meath, located on the town’s Bective Square, was officially opened in September 2017, and features state of the art facilities and equipment. Sandra Crosby, practice manager in Kells, says that it’s an exciting time for the practice.

“Our principal dentist, Dr Maura McGuinness, ran this practice for three decades before Dental Care Ireland took over the running of it in May 2015,” she says. “Maura’s still very much here and continues to treat many of her patients.  I suppose the main advantages for her are the reduction in administrative headaches, in terms of managing the practice and marketing it to a wider audience.”

Dental implants are becoming very popular

The staff has grown a lot since Dental Care Ireland took over. “We have ten staff here in Kells – five dental nurses, three dentists, one hygienist, and myself,” says Sandra. “We also host an implantologist here once a month. Dental implants are becoming very popular. I’ve been working here for nearly 15 years – and 12 years before Dental Care Ireland’s arrival.”

What is like to have seen Dental Care Ireland partner with the practice? “One of the best things about Dental Care Ireland’s input is investment – we now have a state-of-the-art practice. That really works well considering we already had a great rapport with the community.”

Challenging but interesting

What does a practice manager do? “My job is challenging but interesting – I’m involved in the administration of the practice, and its overall management. That involves upskilling staff and regular meetings and updates, and lots of day-to-day activities. With Dental Care Ireland on board, we can employ more people and can avail of a bigger budget, so it means more work for me!”

It’s great that the Kells practice can take on new staff, so what does Crosby look for in new hires? “We look for enthusiastic, positive people who are easily motivated. We want everyone to be a good fit, and for that they need to be on the same page. We have a great mix of both young and more experienced staff, and it really is a pleasure to come in to work every day.”

Patients are the primary focus

As in all Dental Care Ireland practices, the welfare and satisfaction of patients is of primary concern. “We want to make sure that the patient experience is top quality from the moment someone comes in the door to when they leave and even afterwards,” says Sandra.

“That starts with a welcoming smile from the moment the door opens, as we know that some people get nervous coming in to the dentist. It’s about showing empathy, and caring for patients.

Little things count for a lot

“We like to offer practical help to patients too – we check their entitlements, such as PRSI benefits, before they even come in. Little things count for a lot as well – we keep candles burning to foster a calming atmosphere, and have stress balls in surgeries. Those things add up for patients, and we know they really appreciate them,” she says.

It is clear from talking with Sandra that working in Kells has changed a lot in recent months and years. “In the last few years we have seen plenty of changes in Kells. There has been serious growth in the town, with a new healthcare building and more and more companies moving here. There are great places to rent and we’ve seen a big increase in patient numbers, especially since our new facility opened last August,” says Sandra.

Best-class services

“In the future, we want to continue to offer best-class services, and are looking to increase our dental implant treatment offering. We already offer patients extended opening hours, and our staff really appreciate the connection we have with the community. It’s an exciting time for the Kells practice!”

Dental Care Ireland Kells offers over 100 hours of surgery time and emergency appointments every week. The practice is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am to 7pm; on Wednesdays from 8am to 6pm; on Thursdays from 8am to 5pm; on Fridays from 9am to 5pm; on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm; and every lunchtime. Get in touch with the team today to book an appointment. See https://www.dentalcareireland.ie/practices/dentist-kells/ or call 046-9240783