Dental Treatment Protocols
NM MOM Coordinators
Throughout dental clinic, red-vested NM MOM Coordinators are assigned to each area and are available to help. These Coordinators have phones, and can readily communicate with other areas of the NM MOM clinic.
The lead clinical NM MOM coordinators are Martin H. Poel, DMD, and Kim Martin, DDS. The lead nonclinical NM MOM coordinators are Terri Sugarman and Trish Rule.
Patient Flow
As patients enter the clinic, they will fill out paperwork and be assessed by a triage dentist. The dentist will list the chief dental complaint and priority on the patient chart. NM MOM's goal is to relieve pain and to address the most urgent needs. Unless advised by NM MOM clinical Coordinators, only treat the patient's number one priority.
Patients will be escorted to the treatment area, with the escort carrying the patient chart and number card.
As patients enter the treatment area, they will proceed to the Anesthesia Department. The time that an anesthetic is administered is to be noted on the patient's chart. The goal is to have patients numb before they sit in the treatment chairs. Patient flow, however, can affect the timing of this process and patients may need to be administered additional anesthetic.
After treating a patient, a treatment coder will come to the patient's chair and review the patient's chart with the dentist/hygienist to ensure all treatments provided are listed on the chart.
The treatment coder will identify an escort to walk with the patient to either the patient waiting area or the exit area.
All treatment stations will have colored cards to help providers communicate with community workers controlling patient traffic and flow:
- Raise the Green Card when you're ready for your next patient.
- Raise the Red Card when you're finished treating the patient.
- Raise the Yellow Card if you have a question or need assistance.
Emergencies
If you have an emergency, don't hesitate to contact a red-vested NM MOM Coordinator.
Dentists in the Oral Surgery Department are available to help. In addition, an EMS provider is on site.
Patient Treatment Charts / Number Cards
As patients are seated, retrieve their patient chart and number card, and keep together.
Print on the patient chart and in particular,
print your name. Do not use abbreviations.
Use a
Blue Pen on patient charts -
NO BLACK INK.
Make sure all treatment provided is listed on the chart. Documentation is important for patient tracking and also for NM MOM evaluation.
At the completion of treatment, and after review of chart with treatment coder, the treatment coder will take the chart and number card, and give to the patient's escort.
Patient Treatment
Your dental unit will be equipped with clean water and a suction reservoir. Maintenance volunteers will be coming through periodically to empty and fill these reservoirs - please give them access.
If you get an exposure on a posterior tooth, call for an extraction. We do not want to pulp cap and risk having it flare up in six months. These patients will not be able to afford the treatment to fix that situation.
Endodontic procedures on anterior teeth can be done, as well as critical posterior abutments (if the condition of the teeth is favorable).
DYCAL and PULP CAPS are not a good service at NM MOM.
If your patient needs an extraction, a NM MOM Coordinator can get the patient into the Oral Surgery Department or locate a roving surgeon to help.
Prescriptions
Please bring your DEA number for prescription writing purposes. NM MOM will have prescription forms available.
NM MOM will have a pharmacist on site with limited drugs available for dispensing. Check with a NM MOM Pharmacist for the list of drugs onsite.
Instrument Sterilization
As you use instruments - wipe and lube them.
Disengage all needles and sharps, and discard them in the red containers where you are working. No needles or sharps are allowed in the sterilization area.
The tray for unsterile instruments should be labeled with your chair number and name. Please help us make sure sterile instrument packs make it back to their rightful owners!
Place your instruments on the tray provided for sterilization. Take your instrument tray to the sterilization area. Your instruments will remain together throughout the sterilization process and your sterile, bagged instruments will be returned to your chair when finished.
Questions or Issues
At the NM MOM event, contact a red-vested NM MOM coordinator in your area with any questions or problems.
Before the event, please contact your lead chair or the Las Cruces coordinator, Terri Sugarman, at 575.644.3238.
PLEASE BE FLEXIBLE,
and Thank You for Making a Difference!!
