Hygienist calls the shots w/out dentist -- acceptible?

09-10-2003, 03:05 PM

Your comments are accurate. I stand corrected!

Thanks. Yes Pennsylvania is the "wild west" of dentistry!

Joel

On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 14:25:46 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:

Quote:

>Sure, Joel, encourage the dentist to continue with his "insurance fraud".
>Charging for work that isn't done is illegal in at least 49 states. I
>thought it was illegal in all 50 of 'em...but you must know something
>different about Pennsylvania.
>
>
>"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
>news:.. .

Quote:

>> This isn't helping ........ its hard to get a competent, honest,
>> non-crown-happy dentist ........ if you have one cut him some slack
>> and let him extract an extra $20 as that might be the difference
>> between his happiness and his morose side!
>>
>> Joel
>>
>> On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 12:59:31 GMT, Zrat <> wrote:
>>

Quote:

>> >On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 12:44:56 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:
>> >
>> >>Contact the dentist. Sometimes our front desk people get a little too
>> >>ambitious and we're not even aware. If he fails to issue you a refund,

>then

Quote:

>> >>contact the insurance company.
>> >>
>> >
>> >I called and spoke to the receptionist. At first she said we were
>> >charged for a periodic oral exam. Then I mentioned that my wife never
>> >saw the dentist, and the receptionist then said, "Oh wait...nope! You
>> >weren't charged for that." For what? "The exam by the dentist."
>> >
>> >The issue remains that the hygienist, not the dentist, identified the
>> >cavity and the chipped filling, and after the cleaning, the hygienist
>> >took the patient and her records to the receptionist and mentioned the
>> >recommended treatment to the receptionist for scheduling purposes.
>> >Regardless of whether we were charged for a dentist's examination,
>> >isn't this a problem? Would it be okay with you to pay less once per
>> >year to get a dental analysis by a hygienist?

>>
>> --
>> Joel M. Eichen, .
>> Philadelphia PA
>>
>> STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
>> <You fill it in>

>

--
Joel M. Eichen, .
Philadelphia PA

STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
<You fill it in>

09-10-2003, 03:09 PM

No you are correct. If the patient can see it, feel it, or if you can
lift it up with an explorer, it needs immediate attention and should
be scheduled right away. Of course one must be careful as in,

HH (Happy Hygienist):" Of course when you see the doctor, he will
diagnose and decide upon treatment himself ...."

..

On 10 Sep 2003 01:26:18 GMT, only (Shirley Gutkowski
RDH) wrote:

Quote:

>>The issue remains that the hygienist, not the dentist, identified the
>>cavity and the chipped filling, and after the cleaning, the hygienist
>>took the patient and her records to the receptionist and mentioned the
>>recommended treatment to the receptionist for scheduling purposes.
>>Regardless of whether we were charged for a dentist's examination,
>>isn't this a problem? Would it be okay with you to pay less once per
>>year to get a dental analysis by a hygienist?

>
>Would you rather walk around with needed treatment that you didn't know you
>needed?
>This is so goofy! When I worked without a dentist, or he was too busy to come
>do the exam I handled it this way:
>Heidi Hygienist: Wow, it looks like you chipped a filling. Can you feel it
>with your tongue?
>Patty Patient: Where?
>HH: Lower left, right there. Here's a mirror.
>PP: Oh, I guess so!
>HH: Well, the doctor can't come in right now. Let's do this. I'll schedule
>enough time for the doctor to do the filling if he things you need it. Either
>way he needs to look at it.
>PP: Ok, I guess that'll work. I have Friday's off.
>HH: So does the doc. Let's let the receptionist handle the scheduleing.
>
>The laws are clear that hygienists cannot diagnose. We have a fine line to
>walk, ethically if nothing else. Hygienists cannot
>let frank decay walk out the door, and we have to say something even if the doc
>chooses not to.
>A couple of days ago I posted here about the dentists that didn't mention frank
>decay on xrays or abscesses on pan radiograph. Should I keep my mouth shut?
>This reminds me, to all patients, if the dentist has a new hygienist every time
>you go there, get a new dentist.
>
>
>Shirley Gutkowski, RDH, BSDH
>"Everbody wants to save the earth - nobody wants to help Mom to do the dishes."
> - P. J. O'Rourke
>~~~~~~~~~
>http://www.dentistry.com/poralhealth_02.asp

--
Joel M. Eichen, .
Philadelphia PA

STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
<You fill it in>

09-10-2003, 03:12 PM

I do the same with restaurants ....... if they have new waitresses, I
do not care how good the food is. I switch to where the best
waitresses are.

[Actual argument proposed by a waitress I know who believes that the
patrons come to see her, not to get good food!]

PS- I hired her as my receptionist and never raised an eyebrow about
her waitress-comments. I was hoing all of the people from the
restaurant would stop over at my place for some dentistry instead of
eating their lunch.

She was an excellent employee!

Joel

On 10 Sep 2003 01:26:18 GMT, only (Shirley Gutkowski
RDH) wrote:

Quote:

>This reminds me, to all patients, if the dentist has a new hygienist every time
>you go there, get a new dentist.

--
Joel M. Eichen, .
Philadelphia PA

STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
<You fill it in>

09-10-2003, 09:29 PM

On 10 Sep 2003 01:26:18 GMT, only (Shirley Gutkowski RDH) wrote:

Quote:

>Heidi Hygienist: Wow, it looks like you chipped a filling. Can you feel it
>with your tongue?
>Patty Patient: Where?

Penelope Patient is just as nice as her cousin Patty and cuter too !
--

Take out the G'RBAGE to reply

09-10-2003, 10:40 PM

Her coffee was great!

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:57:44 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:

Quote:

>
>"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
>news

.. .

Quote:

>> I do the same with restaurants ....... if they have new waitresses, I
>> do not care how good the food is. I switch to where the best
>> waitresses are.
>>
>> [Actual argument proposed by a waitress I know who believes that the
>> patrons come to see her, not to get good food!]
>>
>> PS- I hired her as my receptionist and never raised an eyebrow about
>> her waitress-comments. I was hoing all of the people from the
>> restaurant would stop over at my place for some dentistry instead of
>> eating their lunch.
>>
>> She was an excellent employee!

>
>How was her cooking?
>
>

--
Joel M. Eichen, .
Philadelphia PA

STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
<You fill it in>

09-11-2003, 02:23 AM

Is the restaurant she worked at still in business? How'd they manage
without her?

"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
news:...

Quote:

> Her coffee was great!
>
> On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:57:44 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:
>

Quote:

> >
> >"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
> >news

.. .

Quote:

> >> I do the same with restaurants ....... if they have new waitresses, I
> >> do not care how good the food is. I switch to where the best
> >> waitresses are.
> >>
> >> [Actual argument proposed by a waitress I know who believes that the
> >> patrons come to see her, not to get good food!]
> >>
> >> PS- I hired her as my receptionist and never raised an eyebrow about
> >> her waitress-comments. I was hoing all of the people from the
> >> restaurant would stop over at my place for some dentistry instead of
> >> eating their lunch.
> >>
> >> She was an excellent employee!

> >
> >How was her cooking?
> >
> >

>
> --
> Joel M. Eichen, .
> Philadelphia PA
>
> STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
> <You fill it in>
>

09-11-2003, 09:18 AM

She became a hygienist but when she changes jobs the dentists go out
of business within three months .....

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 02:23:03 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:

Quote:

>Is the restaurant she worked at still in business? How'd they manage
>without her?
>
>"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
>news:.. .

Quote:

>> Her coffee was great!
>>
>> On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:57:44 GMT, "NOYB" <> wrote:
>>

Quote:

>> >
>> >"Joel M. Eichen D.D.S." <> wrote in message
>> >news

.. .
>> >> I do the same with restaurants ....... if they have new waitresses, I
>> >> do not care how good the food is. I switch to where the best
>> >> waitresses are.
>> >>
>> >> [Actual argument proposed by a waitress I know who believes that the
>> >> patrons come to see her, not to get good food!]
>> >>
>> >> PS- I hired her as my receptionist and never raised an eyebrow about
>> >> her waitress-comments. I was hoing all of the people from the
>> >> restaurant would stop over at my place for some dentistry instead of
>> >> eating their lunch.
>> >>
>> >> She was an excellent employee!
>> >
>> >How was her cooking?
>> >
>> >

>>
>> --
>> Joel M. Eichen, .
>> Philadelphia PA
>>
>> STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
>> <You fill it in>
>>

>

--
Joel M. Eichen, .
Philadelphia PA

STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies:
<You fill it in>

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