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COVID-19 Pandemic Telehealth Patient Safety Considerations for Policyholders
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Last Name
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Date of Birth
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The delivery of oral health care has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental healthcare providers have been urged to treat only those patients with emergency oral health issues during this time. To reduce transmission of the virus and limit dental emergencies from presenting to hospital emergency departments, the use of remote communication technology, including telehealth platforms, has increased during this time.
As your medical professional liability carrier, we have developed FAQs related to communication and patient safety and risk management considerations. However, laws and regulations related to telehealth consultation services vary from state to state. Consult with dental boards in the state(s) in which you are licensed to practice for current information. Reference the AAOMS and the ADA websites for clinical and billing guidance related to telehealth consultation services.
How can I notify patients that telehealth services are available?
Inform your patients that telehealth consultation services are available through methods you would typically use to share information with patients, such as office voicemail recordings, email, social media and/or hard copy mailings. Include which application(s) patient should use to contact your office. Read the ADA’s Video-teleconferencing and Cybersecurity during COVID-19 document for information and recommendations on appropriate applications to use. Consider reminding patients that telehealth consultation services are available to triage patient concerns and determine if an emergency in-office evaluation and/or treatment is necessary.
Do patients need to consent to telehealth communication?
OMSNIC recommends, but does not mandate, that patients sign an acknowledgement form to document their understanding of the risks inherent to virtual evaluations (i.e. privacy and administrative concerns and the limited scope of the exam). A sample acknowledgement form can be downloaded here. Procedure-specific informed consent forms can be utilized, and downloaded as needed from omsnic.com, should treatment be deemed necessary
What is the potential liability related to telehealth consultations?
Provider liability risks related to telehealth consultations are much the same as in person treatment. For example, a clinician encountering a potentially life-threatening condition via telehealth evaluation who does not refer the patient for an in-office evaluation or to the emergency room may face a potential liability risk if an adverse event were to occur.
What specific patient safety and risk management considerations should I be aware of related to telehealth consultations?
Patient safety and risk management remain the same, regardless of treatment location and modality:
Consider the patient’s best interest in evaluation of patient concerns and allow for patient autonomy in treatment planning.
Documentation is critical for telehealth consultations, just as it is with traditional office visits. It is important to document indications for monitoring, prescribing and treatment for each patient. Consider noting any challenges specific to telehealth consultations, i.e. patient terminated the session and/or poor video quality compromised evaluation.
This document is intended to provide information only on certain risk management topics, and is not to be construed as providing legal, medical or professional advice of any form whatsoever. It is your responsibility to evaluate the usefulness of the information provided herein. OMSNIC and its related, affiliated and subsidiary companies disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, as to the quality, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided herein. Because federal, state and local laws vary by location, nothing in this presentation is intended to serve as legal advice or to establish any standard of care. Legal advice, if desired, should be sought from competent counsel in your state
• If treatment is necessary, obtain informed consent following the usual recommended process:
• a discussion between the treating doctor and patient and/or patient representative,
• a consent form signed by the treating doctor, patient and a witness,
• and documentation of the informed consent process in the patient chart.
Are there specific recommendations to consider if I determine a patient should be evaluated in my office?
The ADA has published interim guidance and flowcharts to assist dentists and dental offices in making informed decisions concerning patient triage, evaluation, and treatment during the COVID-19 crisis. Should an in-office exam/treatment be deemed necessary, OMSNIC provides two forms, designed to be used together, to assist you in communicating with your patients. OMSNIC recommends, but does not mandate, the use of these forms.
• COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Dental Treatment Notice and Acknowledgement of Risk Form
• COVID-19 Pandemic - Patient Disclosures
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COVID-19 Pandemic Telehealth Patient Safety Considerations for Policyholders
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First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth :
Phone Number :
Email :
The delivery of oral health care has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental healthcare providers have been urged to treat only those patients with emergency oral health issues during this time. To reduce transmission of the virus and limit dental emergencies from presenting to hospital emergency departments, the use of remote communication technology, including telehealth platforms, has increased during this time.
As your medical professional liability carrier, we have developed FAQs related to communication and patient safety and risk management considerations. However, laws and regulations related to telehealth consultation services vary from state to state. Consult with dental boards in the state(s) in which you are licensed to practice for current information. Reference the AAOMS and the ADA websites for clinical and billing guidance related to telehealth consultation services.
How can I notify patients that telehealth services are available?
Inform your patients that telehealth consultation services are available through methods you would typically use to share information with patients, such as office voicemail recordings, email, social media and/or hard copy mailings. Include which application(s) patient should use to contact your office. Read the ADA’s Video-teleconferencing and Cybersecurity during COVID-19 document for information and recommendations on appropriate applications to use. Consider reminding patients that telehealth consultation services are available to triage patient concerns and determine if an emergency in-office evaluation and/or treatment is necessary.
Do patients need to consent to telehealth communication?
OMSNIC recommends, but does not mandate, that patients sign an acknowledgement form to document their understanding of the risks inherent to virtual evaluations (i.e. privacy and administrative concerns and the limited scope of the exam). A sample acknowledgement form can be downloaded here. Procedure-specific informed consent forms can be utilized, and downloaded as needed from omsnic.com, should treatment be deemed necessary
What is the potential liability related to telehealth consultations?
Provider liability risks related to telehealth consultations are much the same as in person treatment. For example, a clinician encountering a potentially life-threatening condition via telehealth evaluation who does not refer the patient for an in-office evaluation or to the emergency room may face a potential liability risk if an adverse event were to occur.
What specific patient safety and risk management considerations should I be aware of related to telehealth consultations?
Patient safety and risk management remain the same, regardless of treatment location and modality:
Consider the patient’s best interest in evaluation of patient concerns and allow for patient autonomy in treatment planning.
Documentation is critical for telehealth consultations, just as it is with traditional office visits. It is important to document indications for monitoring, prescribing and treatment for each patient. Consider noting any challenges specific to telehealth consultations, i.e. patient terminated the session and/or poor video quality compromised evaluation.
This document is intended to provide information only on certain risk management topics, and is not to be construed as providing legal, medical or professional advice of any form whatsoever. It is your responsibility to evaluate the usefulness of the information provided herein. OMSNIC and its related, affiliated and subsidiary companies disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, as to the quality, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided herein. Because federal, state and local laws vary by location, nothing in this presentation is intended to serve as legal advice or to establish any standard of care. Legal advice, if desired, should be sought from competent counsel in your state
• If treatment is necessary, obtain informed consent following the usual recommended process:
• a discussion between the treating doctor and patient and/or patient representative,
• a consent form signed by the treating doctor, patient and a witness,
• and documentation of the informed consent process in the patient chart.
Are there specific recommendations to consider if I determine a patient should be evaluated in my office?
The ADA has published interim guidance and flowcharts to assist dentists and dental offices in making informed decisions concerning patient triage, evaluation, and treatment during the COVID-19 crisis. Should an in-office exam/treatment be deemed necessary, OMSNIC provides two forms, designed to be used together, to assist you in communicating with your patients. OMSNIC recommends, but does not mandate, the use of these forms.
• COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Dental Treatment Notice and Acknowledgement of Risk Form
• COVID-19 Pandemic - Patient Disclosures
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