Standards of Care

Six standards based upon National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards.

I. Quality

• Patients will receive high quality care.
• Patients will receive the most appropriate care the School can provide without regard to race, sex, national origin, color, religion, age, or disability.
• Patients will receive a comprehensive or limited treatment plan including a hard and soft tissue exam and a head and neck exam prior to the initiation of care.
• Patients will receive oral health care integrated with their total health care.

II. Credentials

• Patients will receive care from appropriately trained providers.
• Faculty members involved in patient care will be duly credentialed.
• All providers involved in patient care will be certified in basic life support.

III. Patients Rights and Responsibilities

• Patients will be informed of their rights prior to the initiation of care.
• Patients will be informed of their responsibilities and obligations prior to the initiation of care.
• Patients will be adequately informed of treatment options prior to care being rendered.
• Patients will be adequately informed of risks and benefits of treatment prior to care.
• Patients will be treated with respect and dignity.
• Patients will be treated in a safe environment.

IV. Utilization and Management

• Patients will be treated in a timely manner consistent with the care being rendered.
• The patient's chief complaint will be addressed in the treatment plan.
• Treatment will progress in a logical, orderly fashion consistent with control of oral disease.

V. Records

• The patient record will be established and maintained to include documentation of all demographic data, medical and dental history, examination findings, consultations, radiographic and diagnostic data, and treatment procedures.
• Patient records will be maintained in a manner that provides for access while maintaining patient confidentiality.

VI. Preventive Health Services

• Patients will receive an evaluation of oral health risks and appropriate interventions offered.
• Patients will receive appropriate follow-up consistent with oral and peri-oral findings.
• Patients will be instructed on both the prevention of oral disease and the maintenance of oral health.
• Patients will be offered an oral health maintenance program.