health care professional/providers

refers to all individuals who have the skill & ability to provide preventive, curative, & rehabilitative care for the service of others

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS / PROVIDERS

in the event of an emergency, health care professionals must be able to perform the following

1) identify patients who are at risk of emergencies

2) assess the severity of those risks

3) recognize the signs & symptoms of medical emergencies

4) manage an emergency situation in an efficient & capable manner

5) perform prompt & necessary treatment (unnecessary delay can cost the life of a patient)

MEASURES THAT HELP PREVENT EMERGENCIES IN THE DENTAL CLINIC

1) continuous assessment of the patient during treatment (e.g., taking note of any changes in patient's appearance & behavior)

2) a complete & thorough medical history (including family history), physical examination, and other related tests such as radiographs and/or laboratory tests (if deemed necessary) are taken before any treatment

3) presence of disease or underlying condition

4) always make sure there is another competent adult present during treatment

5) ensure that the emergency contact numbers are easily accessible in case of an emergency

6) details of the patient’s general medical practitioner/s should be included in the dental records

7) all assistants and staff must be properly trained in emergency protocols and procedures

8) an emergency kit should be readily accessible and must be checked on a weekly basis

ASA

American Society of Anesthesiologists

ASA CLASSIFICATION OF PHYSICAL HEALTH/ PHYSICAL STATUS

ASA I

ASA II

ASA III

ASA IV

ASA V

ASA VI

ASAI

normal healthy patient (non-smoker & non-drinker)

ASA II

patient with mild systemic disease (e.g., smoker, pregnant, obese, well controlled diabetes, well controlled hypertension, mild drinker)

ASA III

patient with severe systemic disease that is not incapacitating (e.g., diabetes. COPD, active hepatitis, implanted pacemaker, congenital metabolic abnormalities, distant history of MI/ CVA/ TIA)

ASA IV

patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life (e.g., recent history of MI/ CVA/ TIA, cardiac stent, ongoing cardiac ischemia / severe valve dysfunction)

ASA V

moribund patient who is not expected to survive without an operation (e.g., ruptured abdominal or thoracic aneurysm, intracranial bleed with mass effect, ischemic bowel in the face of cardiac pathology)

ASA VI

patient declared as brain dead whose organs are being removed for transplant

presence of disease or underlying condition:

A) evaluate the severity of the disease (utilizing the ASA classification can help identify those who are considered as high-risk patients)

B) schedule & plan the treatment accordingly

C) order supplemental test/s (if needed)

D) administer the medications prior to treatment (may be necessary in some cases