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The Standards of Care are developed and approved by the Clinical Affairs Council.  These basic Standards serve as guidelines to which the School of Dental Medicine (SDM) provides dental care to patients within the first professional program and are measured at various levels throughout the SDM’s Quality Assurance Plan. 

 

• Patient confidentiality and protected health information (PHI) security will be maintained.
• Each patient will receive the SDM packaged consent forms and Patient Bill of Rights at their initial visit.
• A written informed consent will be obtained from, or on behalf of, the patient or their legal guardian prior to initiating dental treatment.
• Patients will be satisfied with treatment received.
• Providers will comply with standard precautions as outlined in the SDM Exposure Control Plan.
• Emergency basic life support care will be available to individuals in the SDM.
• A medical and dental history will be obtained as part of the initial evaluation of each patient. 
• Patients requesting comprehensive care will receive a comprehensive oral examination and an individualized risk assessment.
• A proposed dental treatment plan and financial plan will be reviewed and approved by the patient and the patient will receive a written copy of the treatment plan.
• An entry in the EHR describing patient findings, treatment provided, and diagnostic tests/records obtained will be completed by the provider for each patient visit.
• Emergency dental services will be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at the SDM or affiliated University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) treatment facilities.
• Patients seeking emergency care during clinic hours will receive a problem-focused examination and evaluation. 
• Timeliness of care will be monitored.
• Patients receiving comprehensive care will be provided with the opportunity to receive periodic recall evaluations during and following completion of treatment.
• The quality of patient care will be continuously monitored, and interventions will be developed and tracked as appropriate.