Patient Rights & Responsibilities Statement and Clinical Commitment Policy
As a patient you are entitled to the following rights: Heading link
- Considerate and respectful treatment by students, faculty, and staff.
- Quality dental care that is consistent with the standards for the dental profession.
- A thorough explanation of your dental health, the recommended treatment, the risks and benefits of treatment, and the potential consequences of non-treatment.
- Confidentiality of any information related to your treatment and access to information about your treatment.
- Completion of your treatment in a timely manner.
- Consideration of your overall health needs and appropriate referral or consultation with dental or medical specialists when needed.
- Knowledge of the names and roles of the individuals providing treatment.
- A full description of the itemized costs of proposed treatment and an explanation of payment policies.
- To receive our Notice of Privacy Practices Statement.
As a patient you have the following responsibilities: Heading link
- At the point of registration, to
- Provide complete and accurate demographic data (a PO Box address is not satisfactory for proper correspondence)
- Provide a valid photo identification card
- Sign applicable electronic consents forms as a patient/parent/guardian prior to the beginning of treatment
- Comply with registration procedures including having a picture taken for the electronic record.
- To provide complete and accurate information about your health and past dental care.
- A promise to cooperate with the treatment plan, keep appointments , arrive on-time and notify us if you cannot make a scheduled appointment (a minimum 24 hour notice is required for cancellations or rescheduling appointments).
- To be available for care based on your treatment needs as assessed by the supervising faculty.
- To show consideration for and respect the needs of other patients, staff, students, faculty and visitors.
- Prompt payment for services provided.
- To provide insurance forms and information for reimbursement purposes or a current public aid identification card if applicable.
- To notify your dentist or the staff of any changes in your address, telephone number, medications, or health status.
Clinical Commitment Policy Heading link
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry’s commitment is to provide quality oral health care services to a diverse group of patients in a professional, caring, efficient, and safe environment. The students, faculty, and staff of the College achieve this by striving to provide a high level of care to all College patients in a manner that places priority on the needs of the patient within the profession’s standards of care.
The College fulfills its commitment by:
A. Interacting with every individual, patient, and co-worker with respect at all times;
B. Conducting oneself in a manner which conveys caring, competence, and professionalism;
C. Being prepared and helpful under all circumstances;
D. Demonstrating a commitment to continually enhancing knowledge, skill, and judgment;
E. Maintaining an organized environment which is clean, efficient, and safe;
F. Maintaining a positive atmosphere of cooperation, sharing, and teamwork;
G. Recognizing the unique contributions of each dedicated member of the College community who are committed to providing quality oral health care services.
H. Demonstrating a commitment to continually enhancing our knowledge, skill, and judgment
I. Maintaining an environment which is neat, clean, efficient, and safe
J. Maintaining a positive atmosphere of cooperation, sharing, and teamwork, with appreciation for the unique contributions of each member of the College community to the achievement of our goals.
Clinic Policies Heading link
While in the clinics, please remember the following:
- Unattended Children
It is the policy of the College of Dentistry that children under the age of fourteen (14) must be accompanied by an adult other than the dental patient while in the building. - Patients from Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities
Patients from nursing homes or assisted living arrangements must be accompanied by a guardian or caseworker. Patients must have an appointment or an assigned clinic. Patients cannot be dropped off by ground transportation (ambulance, medicare, or patient van) and present as a walk-in to the clinic without having valid referral and acceptance by the College. - Patients Requiring Ambulatory Assistance
The College of Dentistry is not staffed with any salaried or voluntary escort personnel. Patients who have difficulty with ambulating may acquire a wheelchair at the front desk which requires a deposit of a driver’s license or ID card. College of Dentistry staff may assist wheelchair or walker patients but are not required to do so during busy times. Patients who cannot ambulate themselves or operate a wheelchair must bring an escort or have an attendant.
- Only patients are allowed in treatment operatory. Relatives and friends should wait in the reception area while the patient is being seen in the clinic. Due to limited seating in clinics, the College of Dentistry asks that friends and relatives accompanying patients be limited to one or two.
- Food and drink are not allowed in the patient care areas of the College of Dentistry.
- Cell phones and pagers should be off or silenced during treatment so that there is no distraction to any of the dental health care providers or other patients.
- Audio and/or videotaping of healthcare provided at the College of Dentistry is prohibited by patients, parents, guardians and the general public.
- During treatment, small radios/iPod/cd players and laptops with headphones MUST be at a volume level that enables effective communication between the patient and dental health care provider. There are no large or boom box type players allowed. Patient and visitors of the College of Dentistry are responsible for their personal items.
- Patients who cannot transport themselves to a dental unit or operatory, should refer to a hospital based dentistry program. The College of Dentistry is not equipped to treat such patients. Patients who are litter or bed-bound or who have multiple medical complications would be better served in a hospital based dentistry program.
Questions, comments or concerns should be directed to the Office for Clinical Affairs at clinicalaffairs@uic.edu.