Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 234 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN DENTISTRY › Title 234 CMR 5.00 - REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY, DENTAL HYGIENE, AND DENTAL ASSISTING › Section 5.08 - Written Collaborative Agreement (WCA) with a Public Health Dental Hygienist

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A public health dental hygienist who holds a valid license to
				practice dental hygiene in the Commonwealth issued pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112,
				§ 51, and who has completed the appropriate training required by the Board
				and has either three years of full-time or an equivalent 4,500 hours of
				clinical experience shall practice in accordance with Board statutes and
				regulations and shall enter into a written collaborative agreement (WCA) with a
				dentist who holds a valid license issued pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 45
				or with the appropriate local or state government agency or institution
				pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 51, where a dentist licensed pursuant to
				M.G.L. c. 112, § 45, is available to provide the appropriate level of
				communication and consultation with the dental hygienist to ensure patient
				health and safety.
(1) A public health
			 dental hygienist shall:
(a) Enter into a
			 written collaborative agreement (CA) which complies with the requirements at
			 234 CMR 5.08 before rendering treatment, advertising, or soliciting patients to
			 provide any dental hygiene services in a public health setting pursuant to the
			 collaborative agreement;
(b)
			 Maintain contact and document communication with the dentist with whom the
			 public health dental hygienist has entered into a written collaborative
			 agreement (WCA);
(c) Practice in
			 accordance with Board rules and regulations;
(d) Practice in accordance with systems,
			 policies and procedures established pursuant to Board statute and
			 regulations;
(e) Obtain written,
			 signed informed consent of the patient or legal representative which complies
			 with Board regulations contained in 234 CMR 5.08, informs the patient or legal
			 representative that the services provided by the public health dental hygienist
			 are not a substitute for a dental examination by a dentist and informs the
			 patient that the patient or legal representative that the patient should
			 obtain, or should have had a dental examination by a dentist within 90
			 days;
(f) Provide each patient with
			 a written Information Sheet at the conclusion of the patient's visit. Said
			 Information Sheet shall, at a minimum, include the following:
1.Results of the dental hygiene
			 evaluation;
2.The name(s) of the
			 public health dental hygienists and any licensed dentist and other dental
			 auxiliaries who provided services;
3.A description of the treatment rendered
			 including, but not limited to, billed service codes and fees associated with
			 treatment, and tooth numbers when appropriate;
4.Information on how to contact the public
			 health dental hygienist, dental health services program director, mobile dental
			 facility or portable dental operation permit holder (See
			 234
			 CMR 7.00: Mobile and Portable Dentistry);
5.If necessary, provide a referral for
			 emergency assessment by a dentist;
6.When a referral is made, the patient or
			 legal representative shall be referred to the patient's regular dentist if one
			 is identified. If none is identified, then the patient or legal representative
			 must be provided with the names of dentist(s), community health center(s) or
			 dental school clinic(s) located within a reasonable geographic distance from
			 the patient's home and with whom the public health dental hygienist or dental
			 health services program had communicated with regarding the acceptance of
			 referrals;
7.The name and signature
			 of the public health dental hygienist; and
8.If the patient or legal representative has
			 given consent for an institutional facility (e.g. school, nursing home) to
			 access the patient's dental health records, then the dental hygienist shall
			 also provide the institution with a copy of the information sheet.