What are the problems surrounding patient consent that led you to launch SafeSeen Touch?
CB: With an increase of nearly 50 per cent in complaints to the General Dental Council in a year (77 per cent of which were communication based issues) it is now more important than ever to be able to demonstrate informed consent has been acquired when treating patients.
The GDC stipulates that a dentist should not treat a patient if they do not have consent. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, so a dentist therefore needs to be able to evidence that they believed informed consent had been provided on a per-appointment (not per treatment plan) basis. If a patient withdraws consent mid-way through a treatment plan, how does a dentist currently demonstrate that consent had been provided, and that they were acting correctly and within the parameters of the GDC’s Standards?
According to our research at SafeSeen, less than 20 per cent of dentists can demonstrate they have obtained informed consent from patients. That’s not to say informed consent wasn’t given, rather that the dentist cannot evidence that the patient provided informed consent to the GDC or in a court of law.
Consent is not a one off conversation for a dentist and patient, it can be withdrawn at any time. This is a conundrum for dentists who have engaged in a long, detailed treatment plan, with only one consent document signed at the outset of treatment. A patient could potentially voice withdrawal of consent to treatment at the penultimate appointment and argue that their consent was actually withdrawn much earlier. It is currently very difficult for a dentist to prove that it was not the case.
What exactly is the product and how does it work?
CB: Safeseen Touch is a complete CQC compliance, consent and surveillance suite for dentists, on a tablet. It provides all your documentary consent evidence, it is e-signed by the patient and then stored locally. It is easy to use and importantly quick – so it doesn’t eat into appointment times.
Absolutely everything that a dentist would need for CQC is embedded on the tablet – not just policy and procedures, but the device also has the capacity to evidence to a CQC inspector that these policies and procedures are actually ‘lived’ by the practice. This is actually what the CQC is looking for – the practice needs to demonstrate that they adhere to policy on a daily basis, and that it’s not just a paper exercise with notice of an inspection.
The surveillance module provides security for both the patient and dentist. Appointments can be recorded, consultations can be recorded, and further monitoring of particular areas such as decontamination rooms can be undertaken.
The new technology offers patients the ability to securely log in and review their consultation after the appointment. This enables them to have the input of friends, family members or other acquaintances on treatment plans, who might not have been able to attend with them. It helps patients review and digest treatment options, and understand treatment planning better. The dental chair is not always the most conducive for patients to think clearly. With a better understanding of the treatment plan and the ability to review consultations there should be less withdrawal of consent, but if any do still arise the matter is no longer subject to conjecture, the actuality of any matter is plain for all to see and hear.
From a practice perspective it will provide the dentist with reassurance that their practice is fully compliant. As well as the potential legal protection, the recordings can also help with training, peer review and general security.