Question

DENTAL HYGIENE QUESTION

Scenario 3 - The current protocol in Dr. Grains offices utilizes a medical history form that is slightly larger than a postcard to gather all the patient data. As a fairly recent dental hygiene graduate, the inadequacy of the questions on the history form has bothered Hanna. Hanna, who practices there full time, has brought up this issue with Dr. Grain personally and also at a recent staff meeting. Hanna stated "there are no questions on the health history about HIV or AID's, and there are no questions about Diabetes. How do we protect ourselves and the patients if we don't ask the right questions"? Dr. Grain has been practicing for 30 years witha perfect record free of violations or lawsuits and boldly states this fact to the entire dental team. Hanna feels she has hit a major roadblock and ponders keeping a separate more thorough history form on each patient in her own treatment room. 3. How is beneficence of the patients she treats being compromised by Dr. Grain's reluctance to change to a more comprehensive history taking protocol?

Answer 1

Though Dr.Grain has been a senior Dentist who has been practicing for 30 years with a perfect record free of violations or lawsuits is no assurance that would be safe in the future with no proper history collection for the patients.

As quoted by Dr.Hannah its important to include history with HIV, AIDS and Diabetes as this is of concern.If any patient is affected with HIV and AIDS then special precautions has to be taken so as to prevent any kind of cross infection to other patients too and for diabetic patient who will be prone to have delayed wound healing special cautions to be taken by checking the blood glucose level to see if glucose level is in normal limits before any dental procedure.so as to prevent delayed wound healing.

And hence the welfare of the patient that is the beneficence of the patient is being compromised by Dr.Grains' reluctance to change to a more comprehensive history taking protocol.