The statement above relies on the dentist’s professional judgment, combined with a patient assessment, as being the determinants of an appropriate response in an emergency or emergent situation. The statement reaffirms the responsibility of all dentists to ensure they, or another dentist, are available to respond to emergencies after regular business hours. The requirement continues to exist for a dentist to respond to any emergency, regardless of whether the person is a patient of record.
Full Answer
What are my rights when I see a dentist?
You have a right to accept, defer, decline, or dispute any part of your treatment. You have a right to ask for alternative treatment options (even though a dentist may decline if they are harmful, experimental, or contrary to prescribed dental practices). Patient confidentiality is sacred whether you are seeing a dentist or doctor.
Can a dentist work in a hospital setting?
They do not routinely provide general dental services but frequently provide emergent treatment indicated by oral trauma or infection. Because of the infrequency of providing dental care in the hospital setting, many dentists are unfamiliar with hospital and medical staff requirements that apply to the providers who examine and treat inpatients.
Can a dentist close their office?
Like any business, and especially medical practices, clients may form a relationship of trust with their provider. If a dentist has long time clients, it may be difficult for a client to find a new dentist whom they can trust. That’s not to say a dentist can’t close their office.
Why don’t more dentists provide dental care in hospitals?
Because of the infrequency of providing dental care in the hospital setting, many dentists are unfamiliar with hospital and medical staff requirements that apply to the providers who examine and treat inpatients.
What are the legal obligations of a dentist?
The dentist has a duty to treat people fairly. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to be fair in their dealings with patients, colleagues and society. Under this principle, the dentist's primary obligations include dealing with people justly and delivering dental care without prejudice.
What is considered an active patient in a dental office?
Active Patient: A person that has been in the dentist's office at least once during the past 14 months for any reason except for persons you know are deceased or moved far away that they will not return for dental care or anyone that has been in just for a one time only emergency visit.
Can you use your phone during a dentist appointment?
As a rule of thumb, taking phone calls in the waiting room is still generally looked down upon. If you have an important call you need to take, it's best to excuse yourself by stepping outside or into the hallway to be respectful of the staff and other patients.
What do dentist do during a consultation?
Dental Consultation: The dental consultation is where your dentist will discuss your oral and overall health. They will review your dental x-rays and discuss their findings from the dental exam. If needed, your dentist will recommend treatments and answer any questions you may have.
What is a passive patient?
The passive patient was defined as one who was not actively engaged in the consultation; this was indicated by her use of non‐verbal cues (e.g. restricted body movement and posture) and verbal cues (e.g. little spontaneous speech, provided simple yes/no answers, asked few or no questions).
What is considered an inactive patient?
Inactive records relate to patients who have not been seen for at least 24 months. Those records can be housed in a less accessible part of the office, such as a storeroom, but must still be maintained in a secure and confidential manner.
How does TCPA Act apply in dentistry?
Dental practices are among the businesses that have already been sued for violating these laws. The TCPA lets individuals sue for up to $1,500 for every phone call or text that violates the law.
How long does a consultation take at dentist?
They will spend half an hour with you before your 24 Point Oral Health Check, accompany you during that check with the Dentist and then spend half an hour with you afterwards to explain what was said in plain English, what the Dentist's assessment means for you and answer any questions you may have, whilst always ...
What is your reason for dental consultation?
Dental consultations enable them to closely monitor your oral health for any early symptoms that may not be noticeable to you. Dental cleanings allow your dentist to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, which reduces the amount of harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
What is a new patient consultation dentist?
A New Patient Dental Consultation will consist of the following: Discuss any outstanding health issues or concerns. Discuss medication and their interactions with your oral health. Listen to and discuss your dental goals and how you would like to be treated. Full Clinical Charting to be taken.
What is the ADA right to care?
Your Right to Care. The ADA dictates that, as a patient, you have a right to "reasonable arrangements for dental care and emergency treatment .". This doesn't mean that the dentist has to be available at all hours or participate in procedures for which he or she may not be qualified.
What is the right to know about dental procedures?
This includes: The right to know the education and training of the dentist and dental team. The right to have a complete explanation of the purpose, goals, and risks of current and future procedures.
What is a dental patient?
The patient being treated. Any group or individual involved in the treatment, payment, or healthcare operations related to the specific dental procedure (including insurance) Anyone for whom informal permission has been granted by the patient (such as a family member) Other exceptions apply .
What is a DPRR?
In 2009, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued a Dental Patient Rights and Responsibilities (DPRR) Statement that outlined the entitled rights and protections for all individuals receiving dental treatment.
How often do you have to see a dentist?
The interpretation of this varies by state. Some states, for example, require a dentist to see you once a year, even if you only go in for cleaning.
When was HIPAA passed?
HIPAA was passed in 1996 to protect the use, security and confidentiality of a person's health information. 2 . Broadly speaking, HIPAA dictates that dentists are only allowed to share a patient's health information with the following entities: The patient being treated.
What is the ADA?
Other states are laxer in their regulations. In addition to access, the ADA asserts that: You have the right to receive considerate, respectful, and safe treatment. You have a right to accept, defer, decline, or dispute any part of your treatment.
What does "to refuse" mean?
To refuse any treatment , including treatment that is already in progress. To treatment that will be completed in a timely and efficient manner. To prompt assistance in the case of a dental emergency. To expect all appropriate infection and sterilization protocols to be followed.
What is a bill of patient rights?
By and large, a bill of patient rights is a mission statement that reflects the beliefs and goals of an association or practice with regards to its patients.
What is HIPAA confidentiality?
As per HIPAA regulations, to confidentiality regarding your diagnosis and treatment, except when you agree to submit this information to others – such as insurance providers. (HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996.)
When did the patient rights revolution start?
The Patient Rights Revolution. The concept of patient rights came to the fore during the mid- to late-1990s, during which time the rise in HMOs was thought to potentially signal a lower quality of health care.
What to do when asked for input?
If you are asked for input on a specific patient situation, it may be best to request a formal consultation so that you can document your thoughts and opinions in your own words. Communicate clearly with other providers on the expectations regarding your involvement in patient care.
What happens if you don't take care of your mouth?
When unchecked and untreated, bacteria that forms in the mouth can lead to more serious health problems. Poor oral care has been known to contribute to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and other serious health conditions. Dentists and oral surgeons are often appointed to a hospital’s medical staff to provide dental services ...
Why do you need notices of plant changes?
Notices of process changes will help you fulfill your obligation to follow current policies and procedures as a medical staff member. Have a go-to person to contact for assistance when needed.
Why do patients go to acute care?
Patients present to an acute care facility for a variety of reasons, such as emergency care, admission for ongoing treatment, surgical procedures, and specialized nursing care. Unfortunately, appropriate dental care is often overlooked or not identified as a priority at the beginning of a patient’s course of hospitalization.
Do dentists provide general dentistry?
They do not routinely provide general dental services but frequently provide emergent treatment indicated by oral trauma or infection. Because of the infrequency of providing dental care in the hospital setting, many dentists are unfamiliar with hospital and medical staff requirements that apply to the providers who examine and treat inpatients.
Why do dentists close?
Or a dentists may be selling their practice to another dentist or group of dentists. In some cases a dentist office may close due to poor performance or lack of clients . In any of these cases, the dentist has a number ...
How long to give notice of dental practice closure?
It is important to get this step right to avoid allegations of patients abandonment. In general, any notice should be given at least 60-90 days prior to closure.
How to give general notice in dental office?
General notice can be given by posting a notice in a prominent place in the dental office . Of course, this only works for patients who will be visiting the office within that 60-90 day period before closure, so this is only a partial answer. Another possible form of general notice is to take out an ad in a local paper.
How to close a dental practice?
To properly and responsibly close a dental practice, you will need to notify a number of organizations, agencies, and legal bodies. On the state level, most state dental and pharmaceutical boards require some advance notice of a closing. Medicare and Medicaid also require notification.
What organizations should a dentist contact?
A dentist should also contact other organizations with whom they have relationships, such as professional associations, referral sources, hospitals where the dentist has admitting rights, as well as labs and surgical centers with whom the dentist may have a relationship.
How to inform clients of a closure?
The most reliable way to inform clients of an impending closure is to contact each one individually. This can be done proactively be sending written and/or electronic notice to all clients who have visited in the last year. This method is ideal because it creates a written record of notice.
What does it mean to close a business?
Legal Obligations. Closing any business can mean undoing a tangled set of business and contractual relationships. These include professional associations, closing out balances, and many other details. For this reason, it is always best to seek some form of legal counsel when closing a business.