Appalachian District Health Department

Policy and Procedure Policy Name Dental Policy Policy Topic Emergency Dental Care

Section 1000 Chapter [1005]

Approved Date: 5/30/08 Revision Date: 10/21/16

Policy Appalachian District Health Department Dental Clinic shall make every effort to assist

clients requiring emergency care or who are referred for dental emergencies from other clinics, physicians or physician extenders. Purpose To provide guidance for managing patients of record in need of emergency dental care

GUIDELINES: A patient of record is one, who has been seen in Appalachian District Health Department’s Dental Clinic within a two year period. A.

Clients may be triaged for dental emergencies in the following manner: 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. B.

The dental clinic shall see a client for immediate treatment After an examination, the client will be prescribed appropriate medications to relieve pain and/or infection until an appointment can be scheduled A client may be referred to an appropriate primary care clinic for medical evaluation and needed prescriptions until the dental clinic can schedule an appointment for required care The client may be referred to another dental office The client may be referred to the nearest hospital emergency room

The dental clinic shall block appropriate units of time to accommodate clients needing emergency care and for referrals from other sources.

1. Two appointment slots each day will be set aside each day for emergencies, one appointment during morning clinic hours and one appointment during afternoon clinic hours.

C.

The dentist may deem it necessary to refer a client to another office if: 1. 2.

Neither the dental clinic nor the medical clinic is able to provide the necessary care required The dental clinic determines that the client would be better served in a different setting or requires services that the dental clinic cannot provide.

1|Policy Development – PolIc y on Policies

Appalachian District Health Department

Policy and Procedure Policy Name Dental Policy Policy Topic Emergency Dental Care

Section 1000 Chapter [1005]

Approved Date: 5/30/08 Revision Date: 10/21/16

D. When a client is referred to an outside provider for required services, the following procedure must be followed: 1. 2.

The dentist or a member of the dental staff shall contact the dentist, physician, or physician extender concerning the nature of the referral. The dentist or the dental clinic staff shall document the referral in client’s dental record and include the following information: a. b. c.

3.

4.

E.

date the referral was made referral source name, address and telephone number date and time of the client’s appointment with the referral source

All correspondence with the referral source will be documented in the client’s dental record including follow-up letters, reports and/or radiographs. A referral form will be completed, placed on client’s clinical record, and copy will be sent with the client with the appropriate referring information listed.

During weekends, after hours, holidays or when dental clinic will be closed clients are instructed per phone voice mail on what steps to take to receive emergency care.

2|Policy Development – PolIc y on Policies