Risk Management in Dental Health Care Practice

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

Signature: _______________________________

Date: __________________________

DECLARATION

I , hereby declare to the best of my knowledge that all the contents of this thesis represent my personal authentic work, and that no such thesis has been previously submitted for any academic examination or any other qualification. Additionally, it is a representation of my own personal opinions, and does not have anything to do with those of the University.

Signed: __________________. Date: _________________.

Abstract

Dentists are subject to follow certain administrative laws, such as the State Dental Practice Act, which dictates not only the business aspects but also the professional aspects of dentistry. While it may vary in each state, the general guidelines established by the dental board are the same and the idea of patient protection is the underlying theme. These laws are aligned with the guidelines of dental ethics and give rise to certain duties, such as the duty to adhere to standards of infection control, prevent injury and harm, proper diagnosis and maintenance of patient confidentiality

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT2

DECLARATION3

Abstract4

INTRODUCTION2

Infection Control5

Prevention/Risk Management6

HIV7

Prevention/Risk Management8

LEADING INTO LITIGATION: RISK MANAGEMENT IN DIFFERENT AREAS10

Informed consent or lack thereof11

Risk Management Policies for Informed Consent11

Documentation14

Risk Management in Documentation17

Malpractice Litigation: Tort Actions and Negligence18

Risk Management Policies for Negligence19

Tort Actions and Vicarious Liability20

Risk Management Policies for Vicarious Liability21

Abandonment21

Risk Management Policies for Abandonment22

Conclusion23

References24

INTRODUCTION

“I blame…every single one of you bastards.” Those were the words of Kimberly Bergalis, a twenty-three year old woman who blamed her dentist for infecting her with HIV. However, infection is not the only injury per se that dentists or other health professionals fear. Rather it is injury as a whole that these professionals seek to prevent and take an oath to prevent. In fact, the Dentist's Pledge adopted by the American Dental Association (ADA) and recited by dental students entering the profession, places primary responsibility to the patients to insure best practices. Therefore, health care providers, dentists fear patient injury and the tangential effect of being sued.

Since 1970, the number and cost of medical malpractice have risen dramatically; in fact, one in seven doctors was increased in the mid-1990s. While tort reform, better peer review and better communication between doctor and patient abuse in general has slowed down, dentists just like physicians, have not escaped the havoc of the courtroom. Being an office manager in this field for the past thirteen years, I will call upon my observations on the new wave of risk management and informed consent being introduced to the profession and also rely on recent malpractice suits against dentists as one of the driving causes behind these changes in risk management.

It is important to note that Risk management can be defined as any and all the process which is ...