How To Handle Emergency Patients Part 2

What information do we need to gather on the ER phone call to set up the doctor and clinical team for success?

What to ask:

Symptoms: “Tell me more about __________?” __________________________________________

Where? __________________________________________ Pain 1-10? _______

• Off/ On   Constant   Swelling 

Sensitivity to:  Hot  Cold 

• Broken Tooth –How big is the break?  Lost filling  Crown
• Accident _____________________________________________________________________
• Taking Pain Medication    What? ___________________________  How Often? __________

Where to schedule your ER visits:

1st: in open time

2nd: on the side of an appointment that needs numbing, assistant work, or COE

3rd: if dr is totally slammed, see if a hygienist is open to put them on their chair to get x-rays done. Dr can pop in when he would typically have done a hygiene exam

4th: between two appointments on the doctor side

Seating ER patient:

It is my best advice to make sure the front office is comfortable and confident in at least, being able to set up an ER visit. Have special cassettes labeled just for ER visits. The least they can do when the patient does arrive is get them seated, put on the bib, turn on the music or tv in the opportutory if you have one. Get them comfortable and ready so that Dr can pop in whenever he has a minute to diagnose what is going on. 

PRO TIP: Use a training day to teach the front office staff how to take a PA and BW. This can be a great asset for easily handling ER visits if you don’t have multiple dental assistants. They can have the patient seated, x-rays taken and ready for the doctor to pop in when he has time. And bonus is you get to learn an awesome new skill you can always have in your back pocket. 

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