Academic Catalog

D A 57: OFFICE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 2
Hours: 2 lecture per week (24 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the importance of emergency preparedness in a dental office, including the creation and maintenance of emergency kits, staff training, and clear office protocols. (75% or better)
  • Identify common psychological and medical conditions (e.g., anxiety, syncope, heart disease, diabetes) that could trigger emergency situations in a dental office. (75% or better)

Description

Overview of psychological or common medical problems which could lead to an emergency situation in a dental office. Emphasis placed on prevention, management, and legal issues of an emergency response. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Identify the common medical emergencies that occur in the dental office
  2. Describe the underlying biological processes responsible for the emergency
  3. Describe the signs and symptoms for common medical emergencies
  4. List procedures to manage common medical emergencies
  5. Indicate the methods to prevent common medical emergencies in the dental office
  6. Identify the drugs and equipment used in the treatment of common medical emergencies and the components of a basic emergency kit and their primary uses in the emergency
  7. Identify patients who are at higher risk for medical emergencies through physical evaluations, such as vital signs and ASA assessment
  8. Practice simulated emergency situations and describe the procedures which would be appropriate in the management of these situations
  9. Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities of the dental team in the management of emergency situations

Course Content

  1. Identify the common medical emergencies that occur in the dental office
    1. Syncope
    2. Postural hypotension
    3. Angina
    4. Acute myocardial infarct
    5. Cerebrovascular accident
    6. Choking
    7. Hyperventilation
    8. Asthma
    9. Drug related emergencies
    10. Diabetes mellitus
  2. Describe the underlying biological processes responsible for the emergency
    1. Pathophysiology
    2. Contribution of stress and anxiety
    3. Pre-existing conditions
  3. Describe the signs and symptoms for common medical emergencies
    1. Clinical manifestations
  4. List procedures to manage common medical emergencies
    1. Conscious patient versus unconscious patient
    2. Patient positioning
    3. Airway-breathing-circulation (BLS)
    4. Definitive care
    5. Staff assignments
  5. Indicate the methods to prevent common medical emergencies in the dental office
    1. Medical history assessment
    2. Treatment modifications
    3. Office and staff preparation
  6. Identify the drugs and equipment used in the treatment of common medical emergencies and the components of a basic emergency kit and their primary uses in the emergency
    1. Equipment
      1. Oxygen
      2. AED unit
      3. Ambu bag
    2. Drugs
      1. Nitroglycerin pills or spray
      2. Antihistamine
      3. Epinephrine
      4. Inhaler
      5. Analgesic
      6. Ammonia vaporale
      7. Glucose
  7. Identify patients who are at higher risk for medical emergencies through physical evaluations, such as vital signs and ASA assessment
    1. ASA physical status clarification system
      1. ASA I
      2. ASA II
      3. ASA III
      4. ASA IV
      5. ASA V
  8. Practice simulated emergency situations and describe the procedures which would be appropriate in the management of these situations
    1. Syncope
    2. Postural hypotension
    3. Angina
    4. Acute myocardial infarct
    5. Cerebrovascular accident
    6. Choking
    7. Hyperventilation
    8. Asthma
    9. Drug related emergencies
    10. Diabetes mellitus
  9. Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities of the dental team in the management of emergency situations
    1. Liability to staff and dentist
    2. Risk management
    3. Standard of care
    4. Respondeat superior
    5. Ethics
      1. Patient autonomy
      2. Nonmaleficence
      3. Veracity
      4. Competence
      5. Integrity

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Dental units for simulated office situations, oxygen tanks and delivery unit, armamentarium for administration of emergency drugs.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Assignment(s): Reflection and dental team member assignment papers
Group project: Dental emergency video
Midterm: Multiple choice and short answer
Final: Multiple choice and short answer

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Didactic lecture
Role playing
Small group assignments and discussions

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Malamed. Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office, 8th ed. (ISBN-10: 0323776159). 2022.

Miyasaki, C.. Dental Office Emergencies Lecture Manual. .

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading chapters in textbook
  2. Reflection paper
  3. Video dialogue and video

Discipline(s)

Dental Technology