When every second counts, being well-prepared for medical emergencies in your dental practice is crucial.
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“The time to practice for a medical emergency is not while it's happening,” said Zev Schulhof, DMD, MD, an oral surgeon at North Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery who lectures worldwide on medical emergencies in the dental office.
Medical emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, including oral health facilities. The key to medical emergency preparedness lies in proactive preparation to ensure that emergency medications, devices, and protocols are established well in advance of the emergency. While many practices have storage bins or multiple cabinets dedicated to medical emergency supplies, it can take several precious minutes to locate these life-saving tools. And especially during emergencies, seconds count!
Not If, but When
“We don't think much about it because emergencies tend to be uncommon,” explained Dr. Schulhof. “But if you look at the statistics in a lifetime, even in a general dental office, there's likely going to be a medical emergency. If you go by the numbers, that's just a fact. However, especially if you're doing sedation, you're getting to a whole other level when you decrease a patient's respiration. At that point, your risk is going to increase exponentially.”
Dr. Schulhof's practice uses the HealthFirst STAT KIT® Z-1000 Mobile ACLS Emergency Medical Kit, which organizes medications and medical devices into sections, compartments, and trays, all clearly labeled and categorized into key areas of care. Practices can add an oxygen and defibrillation system, both of which can be conveniently stored on the kit, which includes wheels and a handle for easy transport from operatory to operatory.
Organized, Labeled Sections
“With HealthFirst kits, the tools and medications are neatly organized into separate sections, and there's no more rummaging around for life-saving drugs or instruments. You simply just pull out the section or shell designed for that particular health issue, which is clearly labeled, and everything you need for that emergency is right there,” Dr. Schulhof shared. “That includes an instruction card, which is a critical item. Even the best of us can find it difficult when we're in a panic to remember the exact number of milligrams of succinylcholine we need to draw if a patient develops, for example, a laryngospasm,” he added.
Dr. Schulhof remembers a recent patient who, unbeknownst to the dental staff, self-medicated with Valium before the dental treatment because of severe anxiety. The treatment required sedation, which, coupled with her premedication, caused the patient to become apneic. Dr. Schulhof and his staff quickly rolled in their STAT KIT® Z-1000 Mobile ACLS Emergency Medical Kit and reversed the patient. “Every patient we put under anesthesia is a risk,” he explained. “And, as dentists and oral surgeons, we are the only specialty considered a 'one provider' practitioner. We're doing both surgery and anesthesia simultaneously, so we always have to keep track of both those concerns.”
Smart Replenishing Service
In addition to the HealthFirst emergency medical kits, Dr. Schulhof values HealthFirst for its automatic replenishment service, powered by OnTraq. This web-based service tracks and automatically replenishes medications and devices prior to expiration.
Combining the organized medical kit and the replenishing service for expired items allows Dr. Schulhof and his staff to concentrate on providing superior patient care. In the end, Dr. Schulhof said it all comes down to preparation. “Being prepared gives you peace of mind,” he concluded.
For more information on medical emergency kits for your practice, visit HealthFirst here.
