Mar 10 2025 34 mins
I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Richard Marn — a physician, pediatric anesthesiologist, and co-founder of Blue Pacific Medical Simulation. We dove deep into a crucial but often overlooked topic: emergency preparedness in dental and oral surgery offices.
Let me tell you, the gaps in readiness are shocking. Many dental teams assume they're prepared because they’ve taken a BLS course or have an emergency kit somewhere in the office. But guess what? Expired meds, missing portable oxygen, and teams that freeze in critical moments are far too common.
Dr. Marn didn’t just point out the problems — he shared real, practical solutions. His focus is on building teamwork, boosting confidence, and creating solid habits that save lives. He broke it down into four key pillars:
-Infrastructure: Is your emergency kit up to date? Does your team even know how to use it?
-Competency: Are your skills sharp, or are you relying on a BLS certificate from two years ago?
-Culture: Does your team talk about emergency readiness, or is it “out of sight, out of mind”?
-Habits: Regular team huddles, mock drills, and clear roles make all the difference when seconds matter.
As Dr. Marn puts it, "When emotions go up, intelligence goes down." That’s why practice is key — it's how you stay calm and act fast in real emergencies.
If you’re a dental professional (or know someone who is), I highly recommend checking out Dr. Marn’s free online scorecard to assess your office’s readiness: emergency.scoreapp.com
And if you’d like to connect with Dr. Marn directly or explore his hands-on workshops, visit his website at bpmedsim.com
We all hope emergencies never happen — but if they do, wouldn’t you rather be confident and ready? Let's make sure your team isn’t just hoping for the best — let's prepare for it.
Resources:
Dental Sedation Risk Assessment - https://emergency.scoreapp.com
Dental Risk Mgmt Company - https://bpmedsim.com/
Mobile Pediatric Dental Sedation services - https://nymedicalanesthesia.com/
Book a consultation today:
I am always here to help answer any question and schedule a 15 minute call with me. If I can not help, I can get you to a provider that can.
https://shereewertz.com/15-min