The need for an effective risk-management strategy for the dental profession has never been greater as dentists face the dual challenges of regulation and legislation and cope with the heightened expectations of an informed public. This book explores the many facets of risk management, including consent, ethical issues, effective communication, complaint resolution, and risk assessment.
ISBN: 1-85097-066-1
978-1-85097-066-8 , 9781850970668
164 pp; 32 illus
Contents
Chapter 1 Understanding Risk 1
Raj Rattan
Chapter 2 Principles of Risk Management 15
Raj Rattan
Chapter 3 Understanding Human Error 29
Raj Rattan
Chapter 4 Ethical Considerations 49
Raj Rattan
Chapter 5 Consent and Communication 63
John Tiernan
Chapter 6 Dentist-Patient Relationship 79
John Tiernan
Chapter 7 Clinical Records 91
John Tiernan
Chapter 8 Clinical Negligence 107
John Tiernan
Chapter 9 Handling Complaints 121
John Tiernan
Chapter 10 Business Risk 135
Raj Rattan
Index 149
Preface
To paraphrase Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities –“these are the safest of times; these are the riskiest of times”.
In this book, our aim has been to address some of the broader aspects of risk management and to explore the framework principles which underpin risk management in general dental practice. In common with many other organisations and institutions, we recognise that the risks associated with the practise of dentistry are the result of:
• Consumer orientation – our patients behave as dental consumers who demand high-quality and high-value care.
• Litigation trends – when expectations are not met, patients are more likely to seek redress via the courts.
• Clinical governance – new pressures for increased accountability, performance and audit help to identify “quality gaps”.
• Financial pressures – there is a view that funding levels have not kept pace with advances in clinical practice and the associated costs. The result is a narrowing of the margins for error and inefficiency and a steady erosion of profit. This in turn can place the entire enterprise at risk.
We suggest that managing these risks should be an integral part of good business practice and believe that an effective risk management strategy can help to:
• Enhance the patient experience.
• Encourage a patient-centred approach to clinical practice.
• Promote a culture of safety within the practice.
• Inspire innovation in practice management.
• Lift morale amongst team members.
• Raise the standard of care.
• Improve clinical outcomes.
• Implement clinical governance.
• Improve compliance with professional guidelines.
• Increase efficiency in the practice.
• Introduce a high standard of accountability in the practice.
• Allow for more effective allocation and use of resources.
• Build a good reputation.
Studies have shown that healthcare professionals have been reluctant to admit and address the problem of errors, both because of feelings of guilt and from the desire to avoid peer disapproval and/or punishment. Attitudes are now changing and we hope that this book will help dentists better to manage the risks inherent in our daily practising lives.
We have deliberately discussed some aspects of risk management in a conceptual way to enable practitioners to contextualize those principles and would remind readers that legal citations, whilst accurate at the time of writing, may be superseded by future legislation.
Reviews
"...The authors' combined private dental practice and administrative experiences serve to present the uncomfortable topic of errors in dentistry in a format more acceptable to practicing dentists. Historically, dentists have avoided confronting risk and error out of guilt and fear of peer disapproval and punishment. This treatise helps practioners recognize that risk is a fact of clinical life and will enable them to overcome it in a planned positive program."
Reviewed by Chester J. Gary, DDS, JD
NYSDJ
December 2004
