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5.7 Managing the Continuum of Care
The Joint Commission defines continuum of care as “matching an individual’s
ongoing needs with the appropriate level and type of medical, psychological,
health, or social care within an organization or across multiple organizations.”
Continuum of care includes referrals, recalls, and other follow-up
to treatment initiated at your clinic. Many patients require specialty
care such as oral surgery, root canals, periodontal surgery, orthodontics,
and specialized pediatric dental procedures. If your clinic does not
provide these services, you are still responsible for helping patients
obtain them.
Tips for Managing the Continuum of Care
- Whenever a service is provided
that requires follow-up care, document how that care was provided.
- If
a patient requires a referral for a service not available at
your clinic, document that the referral was made, or, if the
patient refuses the referral, document the refusal. (For more information,
see Informed Refusal).
- Keep
records of consultations and reports from the professionals to
whom you refer patients.
- If
patients miss appointments or fail to complete an agreed-upon
course of treatment, document all your efforts to reschedule
appointments and complete the treatment plan.
- Whenever
a biopsy is performed in your clinic, document where the specimen
was sent, the report from the pathologist, and patient notification
of the biopsy results. If further treatment is indicated based
on biopsy results, document the provision of care or the referral
for the services.
- If
a patient requires services outside your scope of care but cannot
afford them, document all efforts you make to arrange for the
services through social services agencies, county or city health
departments, dental schools, or other agencies.
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