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Patient Rights Policy

Introduction

Within Australia, the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (ACHR) applies to the entire healthcare system, and it allows patients, consumers, families, carers and healthcare providers to have a common understanding of the rights of people receiving healthcare. The rights included in the ACHR relate to access, safety, respect, communication, participation, privacy and comment.

Caboolture Dental Group’s Patient Rights Policy

Caboolture Dental Group has developed the following practice specific charter of patient rights that is consistent with the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.

Caboolture Dental Group’s Charter of Patient Rights

Appointments

Caboolture Dental Group aims to provide patients with appointments to meet their treatment needs, these appointments can be made over the phone, in person or via online bookings. It is requested patients make an agreed appointment time and date to assist the scheduling process, notifying the practice where this appointment cannot be met.  We endeavour to confirm every patient 1- 2 days prior to their appointment by their preferred method of contact.  To assist you in providing us with this information we contact patients by: 
  • Telephone call confirmation
  • SMS confirmation
  • Email reminder
  • Future appointments printed on the bottom of patient’s invoice / receipts.
  • Postal Recall 
  • SMS Recall 
The cancellation policy of Caboolture Dental Group requires Twenty-Four (24) hours’ notice for cancellation of an appointment. Should the patient cancel without the required notice period, it is at the Owners/Senior Management’s discretion as to whether a cancellation fee is to be charged, and if so, what this amount may be. In the event we are unable to accommodate a patient’s request for an appointment at a specific time/date, consultation with the treating dental practitioner will be sought, and also placed on the cancellation list. A minimum of three (3) “Emergency Appointments” are kept available for on the day emergencies each day. These are accessible from 7.30am each morning.  Patients requiring prompt treatment where there are no appointments available are given the option to attend the practice as a “Stand By” patient. The patient is welcome to wait until the dentist is available, being aware that this may only be temporary treatment to get out of immediate trouble. The time frame for stand by patients each day will be at the dentist / reception staffs’ discretion.  If a patient has not arrived for their appointment time, we will attempt to contact them. At this instance it will be determined with the time still available if the dentist is happy to proceed with appointment or if the appointment is rescheduled. If a patient fails to attend their appointment 3 times, a letter is sent to them stating our cancellation policy. Also, future appointments will require a deposit paid before any further appointments or treatment occurs.  Appointments over 2 hours require a $100 deposit payable on booking.. Any appointments that have a lab component (e.g. dentures / crowns) require a minimum of $500 deposit. The time payable for these will be discussed at the initial appointment.  Any complex dental appointments with Dr Richard French require a $100 booking deposit & 50% deposit of total dental fee 2 weeks prior to appointment.

Safety

All patients are required to complete a full medical and medication history as accurately and completely as possible, to allow practitioners and staff to identify any circumstances that may increase the risks associated with dental care. In the unlikely occurrence of an adverse event, dental practitioners at Caboolture Dental Group have a responsibility to be open and honest in communications with the patient involved, and families or carers if applicable. It is the responsibility of the registered dental practitioner, in accordance with the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct for Registered Health Practitioners, to explain to the patient what happened and why, as well as offering support and advice with regard to how the situation can best be resolved or managed.

Open Disclosure

Upon recognising the occurrence of an adverse event, the dental practitioner will follow our Open Disclosure Process, which aligns with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare’s Open Disclosure Framework, as outlined below:
  • Act immediately to rectify the problem, if possible, including seeking any necessary help and advice.
  • Explain to the patient, in sufficient detail, so the patient understands what has occurred, including the anticipated short-term and long-term consequences.
  • Acknowledge any patient distress and provide appropriate support.
  • Develop a future management plan for the patient if required.
  • Ensure that the patient has access to information about the process for making a complaint.
Sufficient detail is to be recorded in patient records to reflect the information provided to the patient about the incident, associated risks and likely consequences. The dental practitioner will notify the occurrence of the adverse event to their professional indemnity insurer, consistent with the clauses of their policy.

Respect

Caboolture Dental Group values all patients as a unique person and hope that at all times we can provide dental treatment in a manner that is respectful of their culture, beliefs, values and personal characteristics.  Patients are asked to reciprocate this respect by being mindful of all staff and other patients within our practice. It is at the discretion of all members of Caboolture Dental Group to treat patients that are abusive (whether it be physical, verbal or emotional abuse), intoxicated or behaviours that are deemed inappropriate. 

Communication and decision making

Caboolture Dental Group respects the patient’s right to receive adequate information to make informed decisions regarding their health and healthcare. Consequently, all staff should continually demonstrate a commitment to providing patients with accessible and understandable information about their treatment and treatment options, including costs, proposed medications and risks involved. We do expect patients to actively participate in decisions and choices about their treatment and dental needs, involving family or carers where required. This should also include maintaining suitable evidence that patients are fully informed about their proposed treatment and have been a partner in the development of their treatment plan. Such evidence will be monitored through the practices records monitoring and review processes. All proposed treatment plans / estimates are to be signed by the patient and scanned into their patient file. 

Informed Consent Process

The initial examination of a patient shall be considered ‘implied consent’ to that procedure based on the booking of an appointment, attendance, and the patient allowing the physical examination to occur. Any subsequent treatment shall require the patient to make an informed decision and consent to the treatment either verbally or in writing depending on the procedure and associated risks. The dental practitioner who is to perform the treatment is responsible for the following informed consent process in line with the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct for Registered Health Practitioners. A patient will be:
  • Informed (or receive information in some other way) what procedure is being proposed
  • Informed (or receive information in some other way) about the possible risks and benefits of the treatment in a form or manner they can understand
  • Informed of the risks and benefits of all options
  • Afforded the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers that meet with their satisfaction
  • Afforded sufficient time (if needed) to discuss the plan with their family, carer or advisor, especially for complex treatment plans
  • Fully informed of and comprehending the cost of treatment 
  • Able to use the information provided to help them make a decision they believe is in their best interest, in the absence of any coercion from the dental practitioner
  • Afforded the opportunity to communicate their decision to the dental practitioner either verbally or in writing.
Caboolture Dental Group requires all their Dental practitioners to provide relevant documentation to the patient about the proposed treatment. The practice also requires dental practitioners to use their clinical judgement to determine where written consent is required from the patient and/or carer. Dental practitioners shall take into account additional considerations regarding guardianship arrangements for consent matters when dealing with vulnerable patients. Sufficient detail is to be recorded in patient records to reflect the information provided to the patient associated with their treatment options and the treatment plan, which is ultimately agreed upon.
  • Surgical procedures – including wisdom teeth extractions.
  • Implants
  • Dentures
  • Zoom whitening
  • All treatment plans / estimates to be signed, consenting to costs and deposits involved prior to treatment
  • Any complex dental treatment or at the dentist’s discretion
  • Information brochures to be given for all of the above.

Informed consent documentation

All informed consent documentation used by the practitioners and staff at Caboolture Dental Group is reviewed at regular intervals and any updates to these documents are designed to improve patient understanding and the quality of care provided. All documentation is scanned into the patients file.

Privacy

In accordance with the privacy law, Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct for Registered Health Practitioners, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner- Australian Privacy Principles , a patient can expect their personal health and other information will be collected, used, disclosed and stored in accordance with relevant laws about privacy, and this information will remain confidential unless the law allows disclosure or the patient directs us to release the information. The Privacy Policy of Caboolture Dental Group consists of the following:
  • All information collected from the patient will be used for the purpose of providing treatment. Personal information such as name, address and health insurance details will be used for the purpose of addressing accounts to the patient, as well as processing payments and writing to the patient about any issues affecting their treatment.
  • We may disclose a patient’s health information to other health care professionals, or require it from them if, in our judgement, it is necessary in the context of the patient’s treatment. In this event, disclosure of personal details will be minimised wherever possible.
  • We may also use parts of a patient’s health information for research purposes, in study groups or at seminars as this may provide benefit to other patients. Should that happen, a patient’s personal identity would not be disclosed without their consent to do so.
  • Patient history, treatment records, X-rays and any other material relevant to treatment will be kept and remain in a secure environment.
  • Under the privacy law, patients have rights of access to dental information held about them by this practice. We welcome a patient to inspect or request copies of their treatment records at any time or seek an explanation from the dentist. The following procedure has been developed to ensure that all requests for access are dealt with as efficiently as possible:
    • All requests for access (other than straightforward requests for copies of test or treatment results made to your dentist during your consultation) should be made in writing using (where available) a Request for Release of Dental Records Form. 
    • Requests for access will be acknowledged by the practice within five (5) working days of the receipt of the request.
    • Where it is not possible for access to be granted within 30 days, the patient will be notified/advised when and if access will be granted.
    • Where access is refused, the patient will be advised in writing of the reasons for refusal. This will include any information about other means by which access may be facilitated.
    • A patient will not be permitted to remove any of the contents of their dental file from the practice, nor will they be permitted to alter or erase information contained in the dental record. However, if any of the information we have about a patient is inaccurate, a patient is encouraged to ask us to alter their records accordingly, in writing.
    • When a request for copies of dental records is received, a reasonable fee may be required to be paid by the patient depending on complexity of the patients file.
    • Generally, records will be transferred by the practice (on behalf of consenting patients) from one treating practitioner to another. In limited circumstances patients will be required to collect their records in person or may request in writing that records are provided to another authorised person. 
    • If a patient, or authorised person, is collecting a copy of dental records, they may be required to provide identification. Where possible this should be photographic identification.

Comment

A patient’s evaluation of the care received at our practice is an extremely important form of feedback that provides valuable information about the services we provide. We encourage patients to provide both positive and negative feedback. All staff will be provided with training and support that will assist them to identify, report and appropriately respond to complaints and other negative feedback. At Caboolture Dental Group we classify negative feedback into three categories:
  1. Enquiries: low level matters where an explanation or clarification of circumstances satisfies or resolves the patient's concerns. No further risk or future action against the dental practitioner or practice is indicated
  2. Notification: a complication or incident that has not caused the patient to make any complaint or claim but has the potential to become a complaint or claim in the future. The dental practitioner involved will consult their professional association in these matters for guidance on handling the incident and whether notification to the professional indemnity insurer is required. The dental practitioner's management of such complications or incident will be compatible with the practice's open disclosure process.
  3. Complaint or Claim: matters in which a patient, or person on behalf of the patient, has made a verbal or written complaint to the practitioner or to a statutory or legal body, regarding some element of treatment that has been provided by the dental practitioner to the patient. The dental practitioner involved will consult their professional association and their professional indemnity insurer prior to responding to the matter.
In the event of a patient complaint, all staff at Caboolture Dental Group should use the following complaint handling policy:
  • Provide an open environment for a patient to share their dissatisfaction with us directly, whilst respecting the patient’s right to have a concern heard by an independent third party such:
    • The Dental Board of Australia 
    • Office of the Health Ombudsman
    • ADAQ
    • Qld Office of Fair Trading
    • Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC)
  • Resolve the complaint at the lowest level possible.
  • A patient will be required to place serious complaints or requests for refunds in writing.
  • Notification to and advice sought from professional associations and professional indemnity insurers is encouraged.

Complaint Handling Process

Complaints will be acknowledged and responded to in a timely manner, either verbally or in writing, in respect to the seriousness of the complaint. We aim to respond to all complaints within 2 working days. All complaints will be recorded in the Compliments & Complaints Register. All complaints will be reported and reviewed by the Owners/Senior Management of the practice. Responsibility for the management of practitioner related complaints will lie with the dental practitioner about whom the complaint is related. The dental practitioner involved will respond to the complaint upon receipt of advice from their professional association and/or their insurer. Caboolture Dental Group administration will provide all appropriate support to assist their dental staff and patients work through the complaints process. 

Complaints Review Process

Caboolture Dental Group is committed to continuous improvement in safety and quality. The Owners/Senior Management will analyse data/feedback from the Compliments & Complaints Register and take action where required. Any review actions/outcomes will be communicated to staff.

Notifying patients about their rights

Caboolture Dental Group will always endeavour to advise patients about their rights and the way our practice operates. Part of the process of providing this information to patients and/or carers is providing access to our practice Charter of Patient Rights. The Patient Rights policy is available from our website or from our reception staff on request. All staff will assist patients to understand their patient rights and the way our practice operates. It is the responsibility of staff to proactively identify those patients who may be ‘at risk’ of not understanding their healthcare rights and to consult the dental practitioner if further guidance is needed.

Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights poster

Our Charter of Healthcare Rights is made available to patients in the following ways:
  • Available from the reception staff on request