Coaching Your Patients to Health!

Presented by: Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc

Original Presentation Date: September 23, 2021

Course Description: 

Through chairside screening, we can leverage gathered insights for fostering behavioral changes and promoting better health outcomes in collaboration with our patients. This webinar focuses on acquiring effective coaching techniques to encourage positive health behaviors among patients. Participants will learn practical coaching methods and strategies to become adept coaches. Moreover, the session will explore impactful questioning techniques tailored for coaching conversations with patients.

Learning Objectives:

• Recall and differentiate between advising, mentoring, leading, and coaching techniques to guide patients toward enhanced oral health.
• Explain an oral health coach's role and essential skills in supporting patients to achieve improved oral hygiene and overall dental wellness.
• Apply effective questioning techniques using "what" questions during patient interactions to facilitate deeper discussions and insights into their verbal health behaviors.
• Analyze and evaluate various coaching scenarios to influence patient behaviors for improved oral health outcomes, incorporating innovative oral care products into coaching strategies.
• Assess the effectiveness of different coaching techniques employed in diverse patient scenarios, identifying strengths and weaknesses in driving positive oral health behaviors.
• Develop innovative and personalized coaching plans integrating various techniques and innovative oral care products to effectively drive sustained improvements in patient oral health habits.

Speaker Bio:

Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc, is an Ohio State University graduate and comes from Middleport, Ohio. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine in 2015. Dr. Kennedy loved everything about dental school, especially being involved in organized dentistry. While in dental school, she was involved with ASDA (American Student Dental Association) as a local vice president and national contributing editor. After dental school, Erinne attended a one-year general practice residency at the VA Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Erinne has a passion for community health and is board-certified in public health dentistry after completing a residency at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) in 2018. In May 2019, she graduated as a pioneer student at HSDM with a Master of Medical Science in dental education.  She currently practices at the Alliance Dental Center, a dental office focused on wellness, in Quincy, MA. She is a contributing editor for Dental Economics and on the Junior Editorial board for Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW). Dr. Kennedy‘s professional affiliations include The American Dental Association, The American Association of Public Health Dentistry, The Massachusetts Dental Association, and The Academy of General Dentistry.