Printable format	E-mail article:	Search news:

Wilmette, Ill.—The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care has significantly revised its accreditation standards for dental services listed in its 2006 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care. The changes will be incorporated and take effect in March.

"The expansion to Chapter 12 in the Accreditation Association's standards recognizes the unique characteristics of organizations that offer dental services and are tailored to specifically address measurements of quality in this area of ambulatory health care," said Dr. Frank P. DiPlacido, AAAHC president and past president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. "The annual revisions to the accreditation association's standards demonstrate our continuous commitment to maintaining high levels of quality patient care."

New standards for ambulatory dental practices are listed here:

• Dental services are consistent with the definition of dentistry according to state regulations.
• Dental services performed in the facilities owned and operated by the organization are limited to those procedures that are approved by the governing body.
• Dental procedures are performed only by dental health professionals who are licensed to perform such procedures within the applicable state or jurisdiction; and have been granted privileges to perform those procedures by the governing body of the organization (in accordance with the Handbook, Chapter 2.11).
• Personnel assisting in the provision of dental services are appropriately qualified and available in sufficient numbers for the dental procedures provided.
• An appropriate history and physical is conducted and periodically updated, which includes an assessment of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth.
• The organization develops policies and procedures related to the identification, treatment and management of pain.
• The necessity or appropriateness of the proposed dental procedure(s), as well as alternative treatments and the order of care, have been discussed with the patient prior to delivery of services.
• The informed consent of the patient is obtained and incorporated into the dental record prior to the procedure(s).
• Imaging services provided or made available meet all the standards of Chapter 17 of the handbook and the organization has guidelines to address the type, frequency and indications for diagnostic radiographs.
• The organization has a mechanism in place to evaluate and monitor dental products that the organization makes available for sale to patients to ensure such practices are done in an ethical manner.

For more information, log on to the Web site: www.aaahc.org .