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Clinic Policy Manual

Ill or Compromised Patient Dismissal

Subject:  Ill or Compromised Patient Dismissal
Effective Date: January 1994
Revision Dates: January 2002, October 2011, May 2015

Purpose

To minimize the possibility of harm to University of Washington School of Dentistry patients who may be compromised due to illness, chronic conditions, medication or other substances during dental appointments and to protect staff, faculty and other patients from communicable diseases and other transmittable conditions.

General Policy

Patients who display signs of illness or other communicable conditions during a dental appointment will be assessed by supervising faculty who will determine whether or not dismissal from the appointment or other action such as termination of care is necessary. Termination of care recommendations shall be made with faculty approval. If patients report or display signs of illness, communicable conditions, or appear otherwise compromised in a student clinic, the assigned student will request a patient evaluation from a faculty member.

Procedure

Illnesses and Chronic Conditions

  1. If a patient reports or displays signs of illness, the supervising faculty member will determine if the patient should be dismissed and if any precautions should be taken following the appointment (driving restrictions, physician’s assessment, post-operative instruction, etc.).
  2. The person listed in the patient’s registration as “emergency contact” will be notified if deemed necessary by faculty evaluation.
  3. The School will assist in arranging transportation for the patient if the patient is too ill to leave on his/her own and emergency contact is not available.

Parasites

The transmission of parasites generally occurs in close contact with an infested individual and/or infested clothing.  The risk of transmission to those in the general vicinity of an infested individual or his/her clothing without close contact is very low.

  1. If a patient displays signs of parasitic conditions such as lice, mites (including scabies) or ticks, the supervising faculty member will remove the patient from clinic.
  2. The area will be wiped down with disinfectant before the clinical space is used again. (A thorough cleaning of the area where parasites were discovered and where an infested personal sat or where infested clothing lay works best.)
  3. Contact Employee Health at 685-1026 with specific health concerns regarding a situation.

Compromised Due to Medication or Other Substance

  1. If a patient displays signs of being compromised due to medication or other substance, the supervising faculty member will determine if the patient should be dismissed and if any precautions should be taken following the appointment (driving restrictions, physician’s assessment, etc.).
  2. The person listed in the patient’s registration as “emergency contact” will be notified if deemed necessary by faculty evaluation.
  3. The School will assist in arranging transportation for the patient if the patient is too compromised to leave on his/her own and emergency contact is not available.

Dean of UW SOD:

Joel Berg, Dean of the UW School of Dentistry

February 2, 2016