Standard operating procedure

A standard operating procedure writes down a routine job so it does not depend on one person's memory. A paper in the National Library of Medicine's PMC archive describes SOPs for clinical practice as a specific set of practices that are required to be initiated and followed when specific circumstances arise. In a dental office, an SOP might cover opening the office, sterilization steps, insurance verification or closing the day. Good SOPs are short, current and easy to find. They support practice systems and give a new hire a clear reference. The same paper cautions that SOPs are not standardized across all practices, so each office writes its own.