A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Emergency Clinic Protocol

*The emergency clinic is unique from other clinics at the school. It is for patients who are not of-record and the care provided is problem focused, not comprehensive.*

Things to remember:

  • Do not plan procedures, add them as "complete".
  • Computer work is to be done after the patient has been taken care of or during down-time (with the exception of the dental/medical history form).
  • Look up every medication and know the details of it before presenting the patient to the covering faculty.
  • The patient should sign the surgical consent before you walk them over to oral surgery.
  • You do not have to set up or clean your chair, an assistant will do that for you (although, if you are not dealing with transferring a patient to OS and if you have the time, it is always nice to help!).
  • The emergency clinic is very self-directed. Before you present your patient to the covering faculty, you are expected to do all tests, take all radiographs (if you need more than 1 PA, check with covering faculty), make a diagnosis, and come up with a treatment plan.
  • The emergency clinic is not comprehensive care. These patients are not of record and our main objective is to get them out of pain. Focus on the area of concern and then encourage them to go through the screening process to become a patient at the dental clinics.

 

Steps:

  1. Check in with faculty/staff at computers in the emergency clinic to get your cassette and radiographic plate (it will have a sticky note with your name on it).
  2. Sign into axiUm.
  3. Your patient will be walked back to your chair by the emergency clinic assistant
  4. When your patient hands you their paperwork, find them in axiUm and add the "Medical/Dental History" form under "Forms" tab in the EHR.
  5. Fill out the form while walking through every question with the patient. Ask follow up questions as needed.
  6. Enter all medications into eRx.
  7. Fill out the patient presentation sheet that is at your station (also found in the folder on the wall by the computers) and use it to guide your exam (this will also be your reference when filling out your note in axiUm).
  8. Take vitals using the electronic Vitals Signs Monitor and the ear thermometer.
  9. Begin with extraoral and intraoral exams.
  10. Test any teeth necessary and take any necessary radiographs (the patient has already paid for a limited oral exam-problem focused and 1 PA radiograph). For more information on testing teeth, see Testing, Tooth/Pulp.
  11. Present your patient to the covering EM faculty.
  12. Make any necessary referrals (if you are referring to OS, have patient sign the consent before walking them over. Laminated consent forms can be found on the wall by the computers so that you can discuss the form with your patient prior to walking them to the computer).
  13. In axiUm, under "Tx History", click the "create new record" button and add the completed procedure "Limited Oral Evaluation - Problem Focused" (D0140). 
  14. Add the template note "Limited Emergency Oral Eval Note" under "Oral Evaluation" template notes to your "Limited Oral Evaluation - Problem Focused" code (D0140) and use your patient presentation form to fill it out
  15. Have covering faculty approve your procedure codes and note.

 

Additional Resources:

Pulpal & Periodontal Diagnosis Flow Charts (also posted on the cabinets above the computers in emergency clinic)