Charter of Patient Rights
Within Australia, the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (ACHR)applies to the entire healthcare system, and it allows patients, consumers, families, carers and healthcare providers to have a common understanding of the rights of people receiving healthcare. The rights included in the ACHR relate to access, safety, respect, communication, participation, privacy and comment.
Granite Belt Dental’s Patient Rights Policy
Granite Belt Dental has developed the following practice specific charter of patient rights that is consistent with the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
Notifying patients about their rights
Granite Belt Dental will always endeavour to advise patients about their rights and the way our practice operates. Part of the process of providing this information to patients and/or carers is providing access to our practice Charter of Patient Rights.
All staff will assist patients to understand their patient rights and the way our practice operates. It is the responsibility of staff to proactively identify those patients who may be ‘at risk’ of not understanding their healthcare rights and to consult the dental practitioner if further guidance is needed.
Our Charter of Healthcare Rights is made available to patients in the following ways:
- Poster/signage displayed within the practice
- Charter of patient rights distributed with new patient welcome documentation
- Charter is distributed with patient medical/medication history documentation
- Available on our website
Respect
Granite Belt Dental values all patients as a unique person and hope that at all times we can provide dental treatment in a manner that is respectful of their culture, beliefs, values and personal characteristics. Patients are asked to reciprocate this respect by being mindful of all staff and other patients.
Safety
All patients are required to complete a full medical and medication history as accurately and completely as possible, to allow practitioners and staff to identify any circumstances that may increase the risks associated with dental care.
In the unlikely occurrence of an adverse event, dental practitioners at Granite Belt Dental have a responsibility to be open and honest in communications with the patient involved, and families or carers if applicable.
It is the responsibility of the registered dental practitioner, in accordance with the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct for Registered Health Practitioners, to explain to the patient what happened and why, as well as offering support and advice with regard to how the situation can best be resolved or managed.
