Your Private Iinformation
The first time you visit Erbsville Dental you will be asked to fill out a patient intake form. In addition to your contact information, you will be asked about your medical history. Your medical history can include current and past medications, doctor visits and hospitalization history, your family disease history, genetic information, allergies, and more. Your new dentist (Dr. Stephen Mathews or Dr. John McIntosh) needs to first understand your general health condition to provide safe and affective dental care. Your dentists understanding of your overall health may affect your treatment plan or current dental regime.
Answer Accurately
Try your best to answer every question accurately on the intake form, especially questions about your medical history. Keep in mind that each question is there for a reason. If you’re unsure about how to answer or why a certain question is asked, feal free to ask your dentist about it. You can be confident that all the information you provide is kept strictly confidential. In fact, this type of information is protected under law by doctor-patient confidentiality. It will never be shared outside Erbsville Dental’s clinic without your expressed permission.
PHIPA and RCDSO Privacy Standards
Ontario dentists follow privacy guidelines stated in the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) also provides standards regarding dentists’ use of a patient’s private information, which is also followed closely by the Erbsville Dental team. (Learn more about your dentist’s privacy obligations from the RCDSO website) These standards make it possible for dentists to use relevant information for a patients care while ensuring the privacy of sensitive patient information. Receptionists, office staff, hygienists, and dentists working at Erbsville Dental all work hard to protect your privacy.
Surgery Happens More Often at Erbsville Dental
Now that dental surgery is practiced more often at Erbsville Dental with the addition of Dr. John McIntosh (a maxillofacial surgeon specialising in wisdom tooth removal) medications you take can have a real baring on your safety. Some medications can affect the overall success of your treatment. For these reasons, dental surgeons may need to consult your family doctor before proceeding with an operation. This is especially true if you are not 100% sure of the medication name or amounts. Of course, this information is protected as well by the same laws and principals discussed above.
Quick Review – What Did You Learn?
- Your dentist needs all necessary and relevant medical information about you before starting treatment.
- Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act establishes rules for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information by dentists and other health professionals.
- The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) also provides standards regarding dentists’ use of a patient’s private information.
As a medical or dental patient in Ontario, you have the right to your health information remaining private, being used appropriately, and only shared with your consent. Have confidence that Erbsville Dental only uses the information you provide to give you the best dental care possible.
