Medical Emergencies Happen - Be PREPARED 2011 Campaign for Dentistry

March 04, 2011
Top Quote The Be P.R.E.P.A.R.E.D. 2011 Campaign is an 8 month campaign devoted to specific areas of medical emergency readiness for dental offices. This will be an annual recurring program. Each month will be dedicated to a unique action that all dental offices should take advantage to prevent any type of deficiencies or complacencies. Each year this will take place March through October. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) March 04, 2011 - Prevention-March is devoted to prevention.
    • A thorough medical history should be performed on each patient ever time they present to your offices.
    • Health histories change with patients and you & your staff need to keep that updated.
    • During the month of March, dentists and their staff should review their medical/dental histories to make sure they are current and up to date with data collecting on their patients.
    • Discuss other measures so that all attempts can be made in the office to hopefully prevent a medical emergency but even the very best in prevention doesn't guarantee a medical emergency won't occur.
    • Therefore, preparation is a key element that must be established and maintained in the dental office.
    • March 6 - 12 is recognized as Patient Safety Awareness Week by the National Patient Safety Foundation, www.npsf.org.
    • March 9th is recognized as Pediatric Patient Advocacy Day by the Raven Maria Blanco Foundation, www.rmbfinc.org.

    Recognition - APRIL is devoted to recognition of medical emergencies
    • Dentists and their staff should review the 16 medical emergencies that can occur in the dental office.
    • Develop a strategic and systematic program that will always help them recognize a medical crisis early on rather than later.
    • Know the signs/symptoms associated with the 16 medical emergencies that they can encounter at any time in the dental office.
    • Know your medical emergency plan as well as mock drills for these 16 emergencies
    • April is National 911 month as recognized by the e911 Institute (www.e911institute.org); Make sure your office has a CALL 911 Instruction document located in various areas of your office

    Education-MAY is devoted to your education on medical emergencies.
    • Be adequately trained and prepared for a medical emergency through proper, on-going education.
    • MAY is National month for several of the emergencies seen in dental office such as (National Stroke Month, www.stroke.org ; National High Blood Pressure Month; National Asthma & Allergy Month, www.aafa.org )
    • Dentists should determine what and where they & their staff will attend a lecture on medical emergencies or participate in a online comprehensive medical emergency program.
    • Education on emergency medicine in the dental office should be regular if one wants to do well during a crisis.
    • With this month dedicated to Stroke, High Blood Pressure and Asthma & Allergy, devote some time reviewing Stroke signs/symptoms, High Blood Pressure guidelines as well the signs/symptoms of Asthma and Allergic reactions.

    Plan-JUNE is dedicated to having a thorough medical emergency plan.
    • A medical emergency plan will include a specific role/duty for each member of the dental team.
    • JUNE has a very important week that all dentists should use this time to check their BLS competency. (National CPR Week occurs the first week of June)
    • Dentists and their staff should work on their medical emergency plan reviewing all roles and who does what.
    • Determine the date of each month ahead of when the dental team will rehearse the medical emergency plan with a corresponding mock emergency drill.
    • With June being National CPR week, check your BLS license for everyone in the office and make sure you are current.

    AED-JULY is dedicated to having an AED (automated external defibrillator) in your office
    • An AED is the only treatment for a sudden cardiac arrest.
    • Purchase one, and make sure everyone in the office knows how to use it.
    • During the month of July, devote rehearsing using your AED with the entire staff.
    • Review an AED checklist to ensure it is in proper working condition.
    • Determine a set time for the upcoming months when you and your team will want to review & rehearse the AED.

    Respond-AUGUST is dedicated to being able to respond confidently and quickly to a medical emergency.
    • Proper training and practice will prepare you to handle this stressful, chaotic event.
    • Discuss with your team the quick response that must occur with a medical emergency.
    • Discuss Calling 911 protocols and who will be responsible for this duty when a medical emergency is called in the office.
    • Invite your local EMS company to your office so they are familiar with your office layout.
    • Determine a mock emergency drill strategy and know how each person will respond if that specific emergency occurs in your office.

    Emergency Protocols and Mock drills - SEPTEMBER is dedicated to knowing your emergency protocols and mock drills
    • September is also National Preparedness Month (www.ready.gov)
    • What a great time to review the Six Links of Survival Reference Guide with your entire office. It is a great checklist to see where you stand with being ready for patient rescue.
    • Use National Preparedness Month as a barometer for your practice and continue your monthly preparations.
    • In the dental office, the following medical emergencies can happen at any time throughout the day. It is for this reason that the dentist and his team must be the expert in these medical emergencies. They must know these medical emergencies top to bottom, side to side. Anything less would be sub-standard. After-all, the dentist and their staff are considered the Very First, First Responder to a medical emergency. There can be no doubt with these C.O.R.E. (Critical Office Resuscitation Emergencies) 16 emergencies:
    1. Syncope
    2. Angina
    3. Myocardial Infarction
    4. Asthma
    5. Allergy/Anaphylaxis
    6. Emesis/Aspiration
    7. Hyperventilation
    8. Hypertension
    9. Hypotension
    10. Diabetes
    11. Seizures
    12. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
    13. Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)
    14. Foreign Body Obstruction (FBO) with airway management
    15. Emesis/Aspiration
    16. Local Anesthetic Toxicity

    Drug kit-OCTOBER is dedicated to the emergency medications you should have in your office.
    • Everyone needs to know the contents of that kit as well as how to use it.
    • Never let any drug become expired.
    • Know the core medications you should have in your office such as epinephrine, diphenhydramine, albuterol, aspirin, glucose source, nitroglycerin, and oxygen.
    • Keep up with each drug and use a drug checklist to make sure they stay in date.
    • Develop your own or use a commercially-available one but have a drug kit.
    • Know where it is and as well as your staff.
    • October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Month, (www.suddencardiacarrest.org, www.sca-aware.org )
    • Use what you have learned over the past 8 months to continue through the next 4 months and then be ready start all over again with PREPARED 2012

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