Source: http://dentisty.org/table-of-contents-title-46-professional-and-occupational-stand.html?page=6
Timestamp: 2019-06-20 21:38:44
Document Index: 565182450

Matched Legal Cases: ['§710', '§710', '§710', '§710', '§712', '§1503', '§801', '§803', '§805', '§901', '§903', '§905', '§905', '§907', '§903', '§905']

§710. Administration of Local Anesthesia for Dental Purposes - Table of Contents Title 46 Professional and Occupational Standards
§710. Administration of Local Anesthesia for Dental Purposes
A. After satisfying the board of his or her competence to administer local anesthesia, a licensed dental hygienist may qualify for a special endorsement to administer local anesthesia for dental procedures under the direct on-premises supervision of a licensed dentist.
B. Competence to administer local anesthesia must be demonstrated to the board by successful completion of a course of study of at least 32 hours of instruction in a formal program in administration of local anesthesia sponsored by an institutional program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and approved by the board. A certificate of course completion and a copy of the syllabus must be submitted to the board for approval. The course must include didactic studies and clinical experience in the administration of long buccal, maxillary and mandibular infiltration anesthesia, mental block anesthesia, lingual nerve block, inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia, medical history and physical evaluation of the patient, and the prevention, diagnosis, and management of medical emergencies which can be encountered in the dental patient. A minimum of 20 satisfactory injections is required.
C. The curriculum for required study must include, but is not necessarily limited to:
1. medical history evaluation procedures;
2. physical evaluation;
3. CPR certification in accordance with board rules;
4. understanding pharmacology of local anesthesia and vasoconstrictors;
5. local anesthesia, didactic, and clinical course:
a. anatomy of head, neck, and oral cavity as it relates to administering local anesthetic agents;
b. indications and contraindications for administration of local anesthesia;
c. selection and preparation of the armamentaria and record keeping for administering various local anesthetic agents;
d. medical and legal management complications;
e. recognition and management of post-injection complications and management of reactions to injections;
f. proper infection control techniques with regard to local anesthesia and proper disposal of sharps;
g. methods of administering local anesthetic agents with emphasis on:
i. technique;
(a). aspiration;
(b). slow injection; and
ii. minimum effective dosage;
6. medical emergency, prevention, diagnosis, and management.
D. The applicant must pass the board approved written examination in the administration of local anesthesia, depending upon the circumstances, if deemed necessary by the board.
E. A dental hygienist who has been licensed and trained in a course equivalent to §710.B and C to administer local anesthesia in another state may qualify, at the discretion of the board, to be permitted to administer local anesthesia in Louisiana by presenting written documentation of such licensure and training to the board and documentation of experience in the previous two years and by gaining approval of the board through the interview process. Factors to be considered are whether the dental hygienist had satisfactorily completed a course at a dental hygiene school approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or by having successfully completed a continuing education course in local anesthesia comparable to the requirements set forth in §710.B and C.
F. The permit to administer local anesthesia shall expire with the expiration of the dental hygienist's license to practice dental hygiene.
G. A licensed dental hygienist who has demonstrated competence to the satisfaction of the board may qualify for a special endorsement and may undertake the administration of local anesthesia by:
1. providing satisfactory documentation via affidavit provided by the board evidencing the administration of local anesthesia for a period of not less than six months upon a minimum of fifty patients with no adverse complications;
2. substantiating the adequacy of training via affidavit provided by the board in the administration of local anesthesia; and
3. agreeing in writing via affidavit provided by the board to administer local anesthesia as provided by these rules.
H. Any hygienist who is not certified by the state of Louisiana in local anesthesia and who performs such a procedure is subject to severe sanctions up to and including revocation of his/her license. The dentist under whose instructions he/she performed the procedure will be subject to severe sanctions up to and including revocation of the dentist's license.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 24:1292 (July 1998), amended LR 25:1476 (August 1999), LR 26:1613 (August 2000), repromulgated LR 27:1894 (November 2001), amended LR 27:1892 (November 2001), LR 28:1779 (August 2002), LR 30:2306 (October 2004), LR 33:847 (May 2007), LR 42:58 (January 2016).
§712. Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Analgesia
A. After satisfying the board of his or her competence to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia, a licensed dental hygienist may qualify for a special endorsement to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia for dental procedures under the direct on-premises supervision of a licensed dentist who currently holds a personal permit for the administration of nitrous oxide or higher level of anesthesia in an office location at which there currently exists an office permit for the administration of nitrous oxide or higher level of anesthesia.
B. No dental hygienist shall use nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia unless said dental hygienist has received authorization by the board evidenced by receipt of a permit from the board.
C. In order to receive authorization the dental hygienist must show and produce evidence that he/she complies with the following provisions:
1. completion of a board-approved course which conforms to American Dental Association guidelines as described in §1503 of these rules; and
2. provide proof of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Course "C," Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider as defined by the American Heart Association, or its equivalent.
D. The permit to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia shall expire with the expiration of the dental hygienist’s license to practice dental hygiene.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 37:1407 (May 2011), amended LR 42:58 (January 2016).
Chapter 8. Complaints, Investigation, and Informal Resolution
§801. Complaints and Investigation
A. Complaints to the board about licensees or about individuals practicing without a license must be in writing to be considered by the board. Complaints, other than complaints involving advertising violations, must also be signed by the person filing the complaint. However, the board president has the discretion to accept an anonymous complaint or oral complaint when the complaint, in the board president’s judgement with the agreement of one other board member, appears to indicate a significant potential for harm to the public. The board shall keep a record of the number of complaints per year, other than advertising complaints, that were accepted despite being anonymous and/or oral. This record of the number of anonymous and/or oral complaints accepted shall be kept in accordance with the board’s record retention schedule, and shall be considered a public record, although details about the complaints are not public records and shall remain privileged and confidential pursuant to applicable statutes. Complaints can come from any source, including but not limited to the general public, board members and governmental agencies or their contractors.
B. When a complaint is received by the board, the complaint is sent for investigation to a committee of one or more board members. This committee is called the Disciplinary Oversight Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “DOC”). The DOC generally consists of three board members chosen by the executive director of the board, but may consist of as few as one member. The board member from the same district as the licensee being investigated is not eligible to serve on the DOC. The board president is also not eligible to serve on the DOC during his term.
C. If for any reason, through recusal or otherwise, there are not enough board members to form a three-person DOC, the board president may appoint any Louisiana-licensed dentists and/or hygienists to serve on the DOC. The only restriction on the licensees to be appointed is that their home address in the board records not be within the same board electoral district as the home address of the licensee being investigated, if the subject of the investigation is a licensee.
D. The board president has discretion regarding whether to request a response from the subject of the complaint prior to sending the complaint to the DOC. If a response is requested, the subject of the complaint shall be given a reasonable amount of time under the circumstances to respond, and if the subject of the complaint responds, the response, along with the complaint and/or a summary of the allegations, shall be sent to the DOC.
E. The subject of the complaint will be provided with a copy of the complaint no later than the date on which the complaint is provided to the DOC unless the board president, in his discretion, determines that:
1. providing the complaint to the subject would jeopardize a board investigation, in which case a copy of the complaint will be provided once the board president determines that providing the complaint would no longer jeopardize any investigation, but in any event, no later than the date of any informal hearing on the matter; or
2. the board president, in his discretion feels that there is good cause to keep the identity of the complainant confidential, in which case a detailed summary of the facts of the complaint shall be provided, withholding any information that might reveal the identity of the complainant.
F. The board president may choose to have some preliminary investigation done prior to sending the matter to the DOC. Generally, this would include, but is not limited to, obtaining patient records for the DOC to review.
G. The complaint, a response from the licensee if one is requested and received, and any investigative materials gathered by the board, are sent to each member of the DOC. Each member then reviews the materials and conducts any research that he feels is appropriate, then makes a recommendation on how he believes the board should proceed in the matter. The recommendation is provided by the DOC member to the executive director of the board. Once all of the recommendations from the DOC member(s) are received by the executive director, the executive director informs the board president of the recommendations. Taking the recommendations into consideration, the board president chooses a course of action for the board.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 42:56 (January 2016), amended LR 42:872 (June 2016).
§803. Recommendations by the Disciplinary Oversight Committee (DOC)
A. If the subject of the complaint is a licensee or a former licensee, the recommendations of the Disciplinary Oversight Committee (“DOC”) can include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
1. send the licensee a letter of concern. This letter of concern is not considered a sanction; it is sent when there is concern that there may have been a violation, but it is not clear that there has been a violation. The letter of concern is not made public, but is kept in the board records for future reference;
2. additional investigation by the board. If additional investigation is determined by the board president to be appropriate, then the board conducts additional investigation, after which the matter, along with the additional investigation materials, is sent back to the DOC for a second recommendation, which is again provided for determination to the board president;
3. informal resolution via correspondence. The licensee may, via correspondence, be offered an informal settlement of the matter;
4. informal dentist-to-dentist conference. The licensee may be offered the opportunity to meet with members of the DOC on an informal basis to discuss the allegations in the complaint;
5. formal adjudication. If formal adjudication is chosen, a new committee is formed to hear the charges against the licensee and formal charges are filed;
6. take no action against the licensee;
7. refer the complainant to the Louisiana Dental Association’s voluntary peer review program and take no action against the licensee;
8. ask a court for injunctive relief. If a former licensee is practicing without a license, this option to ask a court to enjoin the licensee from practicing, along with all of the above options, is available;
9. refer to the authorities for criminal charges.
B. If the complaint is against a non-licensee who has never held a Louisiana license, the recommendations of the DOC can include, but are not limited to any of the following:
1. take no action against the subject of the complaint;
2. asking a court for injunctive relief;
3. refer to the authorities for criminal charges.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 42:56 (January 2016).
§805. Informal Dentist-to-Dentist Meeting
A. If during the investigative phase of matter the option of an informal dentist-to-dentist meeting is chosen by the board, the licensee shall be invited via a correspondence to the informal meeting to meet on an informal basis with the members of the DOC to discuss issues raised by the complaint.
B. The licensee has the option to make an electronic recording of the informal meeting. If the licensee chooses this option, the board is allowed to make its own recording. If the licensee does not choose this option, no recording is to be made. Only electronic recordings are allowed. Due to the informal nature of the meeting, a court reporter or transcriptionist is not allowed in the meeting.
C. The discussions that take place during the informal meeting shall not be used against the licensee if the matter later goes to a formal hearing, unless the licensee chooses the option of electronically recording the meeting, in which case the board will make its own copy of the meeting and will use anything said during the meeting at any subsequent formal proceeding.
D. The meeting is voluntary. The licensee is not required to attend.
E. The meeting is strictly dentist-to-dentist; only the licensee and the DOC members are eligible to be present in the room during the informal meeting.
F. Although only dentists are allowed in the room during the meeting, if the licensee wishes, at any time during the meeting, he may pause the meeting so he can consult his attorney, who is allowed to be present at the board during the meeting, or to call an attorney.
G. The DOC does not have the power to sanction the licensee. It only makes recommendations to the board about how to proceed. If the matter goes to a formal hearing, a second committee will be appointed. Only the second committee has the power to sanction. However, the DOC may attempt to negotiate a settlement with the licensee, which, if agreed to, becomes final and valid only after ratification by the full board. If the full board declines to ratify the settlement, the matter goes back to the DOC for further recommendations.
H. If the licensee and the DOC members negotiate a settlement, the licensee may, but will not be required to, sign the settlement on the same day as the informal meeting. The licensee will be allowed, if he chooses, to take a draft of the settlement home to think about it or to consult an attorney rather than to sign on the day of the informal meeting. If the licensee chooses the option of taking the draft home, he shall be granted at least three business days to consider the settlement offer.
I. If a negotiated settlement occurs during the informal meeting and the licensee is offered a consent decree to settle the matter, prior to the licensee signing the consent decree, the board shall turn over whatever evidence in its possession at the time that it would intend to put into evidence at a formal hearing, if there were to be a formal hearing.
J. If the matter is resolved, subject to board approval, through a consent decree negotiated at the informal meeting or as the result of the informal meeting, the consent decree is treated as a final action by the board, as set forth in R.S. 37:780(B), if ratified by the entire board.
K. If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties at the informal meeting, or in the time period after the informal meeting that the licensee has been given to consider a proposed settlement, then, after the board member(s) assigned to conduct the informal meeting have reported to the president of the board, the latter may then determine whatever further action, if any, he deems necessary, including but not limited to formal adjudication.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 42:57 (January 2016).
Chapter 9. Formal Adjudication
§901. Scope of Chapter
A. The rules of Chapter 9 govern the board's initiation and adjudication of administrative complaints providing cause under law for the suspension or revocation, of a license issued by the board, imposition of probation on or other disciplinary action against persons holding licenses, permits, certifications, or registrations issued by the board, applicants therefor, or any non-licensed person illegally practicing dentistry or dental hygiene. The rules of Chapter 9 are promulgated in order to supplement the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq., and the Dental Practice Act, R.S. 37:751 et seq.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:760 (4), (5), and (8).
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Board of Dentistry, LR 13:178 (March 1987), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 19:1317 (October 1993), amended LR 25:511 (March 1999).
§903. Initiation of Proceedings
A. When determined by the president that a formal adjudication is warranted, proceedings to adjudicate an administrative enforcement action shall be initiated by serving the complaint filed in accordance with §905 of this Chapter. Service of the complaint on the licensee may be accomplished by personal delivery to the licensee by an agent of the board, or delivery by certified U.S. Mail return receipt requested or courier at the most current mailing address of the licensee as indicated in the official records of the board. This complaint may be signed by either the president or a board member or employee designated by the president. Said notice shall name the accused licensee as respondent.
B. If the public health, safety, and/or welfare imperatively requires emergency action, the board, through its president, may order an interim suspension of a dental or dental hygiene license pending formal disciplinary proceedings, as provided in R.S. 49:961(C). The president shall appoint one or more board members to hear the evidence in support of an immediate interim suspension and to make recommendations to the board president, who shall thereafter issue whatever order of interim suspension pending formal adjudication as is warranted by the circumstances.
C. When determined by the president that a formal adjudication is warranted, the board president shall appoint a committee of three or more board members to hear and rule on the charges. This committee is referred to as the Disciplinary Committee, and no board member who served on the Disciplinary Oversight Committee during the investigatory phase of the matter being brought to formal adjudication shall be eligible to serve on the Disciplinary Committee. The board president and any member of the board residing in the same board electoral district as the individual charged shall be ineligible to sit as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. The president shall appoint one member of the Disciplinary Committee to serve as its chairman.
D. If for any reason, through recusal or otherwise, there are not enough board members to form a three-person Disciplinary Committee, the board president may appoint any Louisiana licensed dentists and/or hygienists to serve on the Disciplinary Committee. The only restriction on the licensees to be appointed is that their home address in the board records not be within the same board electoral district as the home address of the licensee being investigated, if the subject of the investigation is a licensee.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:760(4) and (8).
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 19:1317 (October 1993), amended LR 22:1218 (December 1996), LR 27:1892 (November 2001), LR 39:2752 (October 2013), LR 42:57 (January 2016).
§905. Complaint
A. The complaint shall set forth, in separately numbered paragraphs, a concise statement of the material facts and matters alleged and to be proven by the board including the facts giving rise to the board's jurisdiction over the respondent, the facts constituting legal cause under law for administrative action against the respondent, and the statutory or regulatory provisions alleged to have been violated by respondent. The complaint shall conclude with a description of the administrative sanctions or other relief which may be imposed by the board and shall bear the name, address and telephone number of complaint counsel engaged by the board to prosecute the adjudication.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry LR 19:1318 (October 1993).
§907. Notice of Hearing
A. Upon the filing of an administrative complaint pursuant to §903 and §905 of this Chapter, the board shall schedule the complaint for hearing before the committee not fewer than 45 days nor more than 180 days thereafter; provided, however, that such time may be lengthened or shortened as the board determines may be necessary or appropriate to protect the public interest or upon motion of the complaint counsel or respondent pursuant to a showing of proper grounds. In the event that the respondent's license, permit, certification, or registration has been suspended by the board pending hearing, pursuant to R.S. 49:961(C), formal adjudication of the complaint shall be noticed and scheduled not more than 45 days after the filing of the complaint; provided, however, that such time may be lengthened or shortened as the board determines may be necessary or appropriate to protect the public interest or upon motion of the complaint counsel or respondent pursuant to a showing of proper grounds.
B. A written notice accompanied by the complaint of the time, date, and place of the scheduled hearing regarding the matters set forth in the complaint shall be sent to the respondent by personal delivery to the licensee by an agent of the board, or delivery by certified U.S. Mail return receipt requested or courier at the most current mailing address of the licensee as indicated in the official records of the board. This notice shall include a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held and shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the administrative complaint. In the event respondent fails to answer within the prescribed time, or the time as extended, the factual allegations contained within the administrative complaint shall be deemed admitted and proven by clear and convincing evidence.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Dentistry, LR 19:1318 (October 1993), amended LR 22:25 (January 1996), LR 25:1476 (August 1999), LR 27:1892 (November 2001), LR 39:2752 (October 2013).