J Dent Oral Biol | Volume 5, Issue 4 | Research Article | Open Access

A Blood Pressure Check and Percutaneous Oxygen Saturation Measurement Improved Patient Safety in Dental Treatment

Masaki Morishita1,2*, Masanari Hayashi3, Toshihiro Tsukiashi4, Masahiro Kousaka5, Satoru Takigami5, Kousuke Muraoka1, Kazuhiro Tominaga6 and Shuji Awano1

1Department of Oral Function, Division of Clinical Education Development and Research, Kyushu Dental
University, Kitakyushu, Japan
2Health Information Management Office, Kyushu Dental University Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
3Administration Department, Kyushu Dental University Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
4KK Ashisuto, Tokyo, Japan
5Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Tochigi, Japan
6Department of Physical Function, Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan

*Correspondance to: Masaki Morishita 

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Abstract

Objective: Japan is one of the most super-aged societies in the world. Dental treatment is risky for older people, both because they are more likely to have systemic diseases and because dental treatment is stressful. This study investigated how patient safety during dental treatment was affected by promoting the practice of measuring blood pressure and arterial blood oxygen saturation before and after dental treatment. Methods: We promoted the claiming of patient safety management fees from the health care insurance system in Japan that requires dentists to perform a blood pressure check and a percutaneous oxygen saturation measurement before and after dental treatment. We used a 4-step promotion with 355 dentists in a dental hospital over a 32-month period. Data about the number of claims for all types of patient safety management fees was obtained from the electronic dental health record system. Results: The monthly average number of claims for the two types of patient safety management fees significantly increased during the promotion period in all patients and in patients with diseases related to patient safety management fees. Claims for fees for sharing medical information between dentists and medical doctors in the health care insurance system were significantly higher during the promotion period than during the no promotion period. Conclusion: The promotion increased the number of claims for patient safety management fees and improved the patient safety management environment through the exchange of referral documents between dentists and medical doctors and screening for diseases in patients using vital signs.

Keywords:

Dental treatment; Blood pressure; Percutaneous oxygen saturation measurement; Blood pressure

Citation:

Morishita M, Hayashi M, Tsukiashi T, Kousaka M, Takigami S, Muraoka K, et al. A Blood Pressure Check and Percutaneous Oxygen Saturation Measurement Improved Patient Safety in Dental Treatment. J Dent Oral Biol. 2020; 5(4): 1172. ISSN: 2475-5680.

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