’Bytes and Bites’ – Using Computerized Clinical Records to Improve Patient Safety in General Dental Practice

From Volume 35, Issue 9, November 2008 | Pages 614-619

Authors

Richard Spicer

BDS, BSc, MFGDP(UK), MMedEd

Dental Reference Officer, Dental Services Division, NHS Business Services Authority and Postgraduate Clinical Dental Tutor, Coventry, UK

Articles by Richard Spicer

Abstract

Record-keeping is an essential part of clinical dental practice, having a direct relationship to patient safety and patient care. This study assesses the quality of record-keeping of 134 GDPs against 14 Clinical Governance standards. GDPs using computerized record systems showed statistically significantly (P < 0.05) better conformity for 11 of these standards than those using paper record systems. The use of computer records is therefore encouraged.

In particular, the recording of medical history, soft tissues assessment, periodontal assessment and radiograph clinical evaluation is shown to be suboptimal and this could have potentially serious adverse effects on patient safety and patient care.

Article

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