Manage your risk

Discover the best ways to keep you and your patients safe and sound

By Brie Jones, DHAA Bulletin Editor

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF our profession have broadened with the addition of provider numbers and the recognition of dental therapists, oral health therapists, and dental hygienists as independent practitioners. This means we need to pay greater attention to how we view and manage our risks.

I spoke with Shamus Breen, Managing Director of BMS, (DHAA insurance partner) to understand the key risks in our profession and how to mitigate these.

Insurance requirements

As a practicing dental clinician, you must be covered by your own, or your employer’s professional indemnity arrangements. It’s important to make sure that your policy meets the Dental Board of Australia’s minimum requirements for professional indemnity. These include:

• Cover for all locations where you practice;

• Cover whether you are in the private sector, non-government, and/ or public sector; and

• Cover for your work type (full-time, part-time, self-employed, employed, or in an unpaid or volunteer capacity, or any combination of these factors).

For example, you may work at a dental clinic part-time, as well as working casually on the side at a different clinic. This will need to be stipulated on your professional indemnity insurance policy. Other insurance, like Public & Product Liability or Entity Insurance may also be needed in similar instances to ensure you’re fully covered.

BMS offers a range of insurance solutions to help ensure you’re covered across all areas of work. Cyber Liability Cover might be something to consider if you hold any patient data or records.

5 areas to help mitigate risk

1 Take diligent notes

Thorough notes should comprise details of what happened during an appointment and should include:

• Information about the patient’s background including medical and social histories

• Diagnosis

• If consent was obtained

• Procedures performed

• Recommendations and treatment options;

• Details of all discussions with the patient.

It’s good practice to take notes on the day of the procedure (ideally during or straight after the appointment to ensure accuracy). Rechecking notes at the end of the day to confirm they have been completed, make sense, and are saved in the computer system is also a good habit.

2 Effective communication

Effective communication can help maintain a good treating relationship between yourself and your patient. Making sure you discuss all diagnoses and treatment options is important to allow your patients to make an informed decision and provide informed consent for treatment.

3 Informed consent

Informed consent can only be achieved through effective communication. Our patients must fully understand the diagnosis, treatment options, and associated costs before they can give their informed consent to treatment. Providing quotes and treatment documentation that a patient can review in their own time is a great way to help a patient consider their options before making a decision.

4 Maintain a safe environment

All practices should have a policy and procedure manual that includes an occupational health and safety policy. It’s important that you’re aware of these policies and know where to access them for future reference.

This point serves as a good reminder to always remove burs from handpieces and dispose of the LA needle and cartridge into the appropriate waste containers when not in use to prevent a sharps injury.

5 Maintain active insurance

Professional indemnity insurance is a claims made policy. This means the policy only provides cover for any prior acts as long as you have an active policy at the time of a claim. It’s therefore important to ensure you have a policy in place should you take a leave of absence (a temporary break from practising). This will ensure you’re covered should a claim arise during this time. Speak to your insurance provider for more information.

Help is always at hand...

Finally, remember that every situation is unique, so if you have a query or concern it’s important to speak directly with BMS or your insurance provider. BMS insures over 150,000 health professionals globally and has a specialised team ready to answer your questions.

Contact BMS

1800 940 762

dhaa@bmsgroup.com

dhaa.bmsgroup.com

In arranging this insurance for our members DHAA is acting as a distributor of BMS Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (BMS) AFSL 461594, ABN 45161187980. The insurance is issued by BMS under binder with Certain Underwriters at Lloyds. When acting under a binder BMS acts as agent for the insurer and not as your agent. This is general advice only and BMS has not considered whether it was suitable for your particular objectives, needs or financial situation. Please read the Policy Wording and Financial Services Guide before making a decision about purchasing this policy.