In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave explore what happens after assessment and diagnosis: turning clinical findings into meaningful, individualized care. Karen Palleschi and Jennifer Pieren discuss how dental hygienists can use critical thinking, clinical judgment, and the ADHA Standards of Care to create person-centered plans that reflect each patient's needs, values, risks, and goals.
What We Talked About:
Translating assessment findings into meaningful dental hygiene diagnoses
Building individualized, person-centered care plans instead of "one-size-fits-all" treatment
The role of critical thinking and clinical judgment in implementation
How the ADHA Standards of Care support consistency, accountability, and professional autonomy.
Patient communication, shared decision-making, and behavior change
Challenges clinicians and students face when moving from diagnosis to implementation
Adapting care plans based on patient needs, values, risks, and outcomes
Call to Action:
Providers, take a closer look at how you move from diagnosis to action. Consider whether your care plans truly reflect each patient's individual needs, priorities, risks, and goals. Look for opportunities to involve patients more fully in decisions about their care.
Contact guest via:
Email: japieren@ysu.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pieren-476804a1/
Instagram: @prof_jennifer_rdh
ADHA Standards
Contact the Hosts
Jessica Atkinson: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com
Dave Torres: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com
