Rethinking Pain Control: Using Visual Guides to Reduce Post-Op Callbacks

Rethinking Pain Control: Using Visual Guides to Reduce Post-Op Callbacks

From Oral Surgery Admin's Time Out: Practice Management Success Tips by Society of OMS Administrators

June 26, 2026 · 30 min · Season 2 · Episode 6

About this episode

This episode discusses the use of a visual tool to improve post-operative pain management and reduce callbacks in oral surgery practices.

Managing post-operative pain without relying on opioids requires clear communication, yet patient retention of discharge instructions is often poor during stressful surgical days. In this episode of Oral Surgery Admin's Time Out , host Linden Tucker (SOMSA) discusses how oral surgery practices use a physical tool—the Comfort Control Clock —to standardize recovery protocols and reduce team frustration. The panel features the clock's creator and design team, Dr. Jeff Berlin, Gerry Engelhart, and Rachel Gordon , alongside SOMSA members Julie Henriquez (McNally Brothers Oral Surgery), Wendy D'Oliveira (Wellesley Oral Surgery and Implant Center), and Susan Krpata-Young (47 North Oral Surgery). These administrators share how implementing a visual, dual-arrow clock face helps patients accurately alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen every three hours after surgery. By giving families a tangible guide to take home, practices bridge knowledge gaps and lower the volume of post-op pain management phone calls. Beyond patient comfort, the discussion centers on measurable practice efficiency. The administrators report saving an average of 10 minutes per patient by accelerating discharge…

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