Hello Renovations! Part 1 – The Mess

It’s been just over a year since the practice got a major face lift. As I was going on an overseas for two weeks holiday to the USA for the first time, the builder and the dental equipment supplier suggested that it should be done while I was away. I was in two minds. Do I let it all happen and return to a new practice, or wait till later to find a time to close the practice, which may be a while? I wait I have more control but may drag on, or go on holidays and hope for the best.

I hoped for the best. I did set up video call capabilities at the surgery and remote access on my iPad to the surgery just in case. After previous months of planning for the practice to continue to work around the renovation with Dr Watson at the helm, a last minute inclusion of fully ducted air-conditioning, threw an unexpected “spanner in the works”. Instead of being able to use a surgery depending on where the renovation was at, all the surgeries could not be used for part of the time due to ducting of the air conditioner in the ceiling. The builder forgot to tell me this. In the air, to the States, I was oblivious to this development. Then the fun began.

The main surgery’s cabinetry, sterilising room, lab, storage and tea room, were to be gutted. New lighting, cabinetry, flooring, wiring, and painting were to happen, as well as that ducted air-conditioning.

Three words describe the beginning of a renovation – dust, mayhem, rubbish. The staff had in “spades”. They had a couple of hours to move materials and equipment out of the surgery when they were told that the main surgery needed to be cleared due to the renovation and the ducted air-conditioning. I planned it to be a day’s effort in a few days, but it happened the day after I left. Ignorance is bliss, until I found out. The staff tried to shield me but to no avail. I figured it out after a video call.

Travelling around California, Nevada, Arizona, with a connection back to work, has its good and bad points. Good – I could make decisions while I was away. Bad – I could make decisions while I was away!

In San Francisco, the staff had a problem with the payment terminal and the computer. At midnight local time (Sydney at 8am); I was able to sort it out via my iPad remote connection to the computer and video call on my iPhone (all free on the hotel wi-fi). I was pretty chuffed. I also had an argument with the builder in a Las Vegas mall, while my dinner got cold. Not so chuffed.

Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Next week: Hello Renovations! Part 2 – The Clean Up