DNA (Did Not Attend) Policy:
- Missed Appointments: If a patient misses two appointments within an 18-month period, we reserve the right to deregister the patient.
- Short Notice Cancellations: Cancellations made within less than 48 working hours’ notice will be considered as missed appointments and will count towards the two missed appointment limit.
- Lateness: If a patient is late to an appointment, it will be considered a missed appointment. In exceptional circumstances, provided that the lateness is under 5 minutes, the practice may attempt to reschedule the patient for a slightly later time. However, if this is not possible, it will be counted as a missed appointment.
No Contact Policy:
If a patient fails to attend their dental appointment for two years and does not get in touch with the practice, despite our attempts to contact them, we reserve the right to deregister them.
Abusive/Violent/Threatening Behaviour:
Smart Dental Care has a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive, violent, or threatening behaviour. Any threat to cause harm to people or property will be treated similarly. If a patient displays such behaviour, we reserve the right to immediately deregister them.
Detailed Explanation of Policies
Missed Appointments
- Missed Appointments:
- Missing appointments without prior notice disrupts the scheduling and deprives other patients of timely access to dental care. We track missed appointments and enforce deregistration after two such instances within an 18-month period to maintain efficiency and fairness.
- Short Notice Cancellations:
- To ensure that appointment slots are utilised effectively, cancellations must be made with at least 48 working hours’ notice. Cancellations made with less than this notice period are considered missed appointments and will be counted towards the two-missed-appointment limit.
- Lateness:
- Punctuality is crucial for maintaining the schedule and providing timely care to all patients. Arriving late to an appointment affects subsequent appointments and the overall workflow. Therefore, lateness is treated as a missed appointment. Exceptions are made for lateness under 5 minutes if rescheduling is feasible, though this cannot be guaranteed.
No Contact Policy
- Deregistration for Inactivity:
- Patients who do not attend their appointments for two years and fail to respond to our attempts to contact them will be deregistered. This policy ensures that our active patient list reflects those who are engaged with their dental health and allows us to manage resources effectively.
Abusive, Violent, or Threatening Behaviour
- Zero-Tolerance Policy:
- The safety and well-being of our staff and patients are paramount. Any form of abusive, violent, or threatening behaviour, including threats to harm individuals or property, will result in immediate deregistration. This policy ensures a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
Smart Dental Care is committed to providing high-quality dental care in a safe and respectful environment. These policies help us manage our practice efficiently and ensure that all patients receive the care they need. Compliance with these policies is essential for maintaining your registration with our practice.
