CASE STUDY FOR DENTAL HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL
Background DATA
CDC Recommended Guidelines for Dental Healthcare Personnel
If emergency dental care is medically necessary for a patient who has, or is suspected of having, COVID-19, DHCP should follow CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.
Dental treatment should be provided in an individual patient room with a closed door.
DHCP who enter the room of a patient with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection should adhere to Standard Precautions and use a NIOSH-approved N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator , gown, gloves, and eye protection. Protective eyewear with gaps between glasses and the face likely do not protect eyes from all splashes and sprays.
Avoid aerosol generating procedures if possible.
If aerosol generating procedures must be performed
Aerosol generating procedures should ideally take place in an airborne infection isolation room.
DHCP in the room should wear an N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator, such as disposable filtering facepiece respirator, PAPR, or elastomeric respirator, as well as eye protection , gloves, and a gown.
The number of DHCP present during the procedure should be limited to only those essential for patient care and procedure support. Visitors should not be present for the procedure.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
Samantha is a Dental Assistant employed in a clinic in a large college town in Atlanta, Georgia. A 22 y/o student was brought in with a facial injury which included several broken teeth. As per the clinic policy, the patient was given a COVID-19 rapid test which returned a positive result. All recommended Samantha refused to take care of the patient citing that she had small children and her elderly parents at home. She was especially resistant because although the clinic followed most of the CDC guidelines to prevent exposure to the staff and other patients, the facility did not have a N95 masks .Her employer suggested that she wore two masks if she felt unsafe. She suggested that another assistant in the practice take care of the patient because that employee did not have children and lived alone. Her boss, the Dentist, insisted that Samantha assist with the patient as she was more experienced. She continued to refuse and was terminated.
In a 1-2 paragraph essay please respond to the 2 questions following the below Case Study. Please base your answers on the CDC recommended guidelines for Dental Healthcare Workers found in the Background Data above.
Question #1
What are the CDC recommended guidelines for Dental Healthcare Personnel aimed at preventing the spread of the Coronavirus to healthcare workers?
Question # 2
What are your thoughts on Samantha’s decision to refuse to take care of this patient? Do you agree with the decision to terminate her?
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