HCA 205A Day in the Life

Dental Hygienists.

Dental hygienists are licensed medical practitioners who work closely with dentists and dental assistants in a dentists’ office (Chapter 4, N.d.). Primarily, hygienists work to examine patients for the presence of oral diseases. This situation enables them to provide ailing patients with preventive care to allow them to exude optimum oral health (Chapter 4, N.d.). Also, they educate their patients about the methods that they can use to maintain or improve their oral health (Chapter 4, N.d.).

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).

These individuals are licensed clinical social workers are who work in diverse setups including hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice, schools, and social service (Chapter 4, N.d.). Primarily, they provide a wide array of health services to people experiencing trauma and life challenges such as child adoption or terminal illness at every stage of their ordeal (Chapter 4, N.d.). Also, they work to support vulnerable societal groups including children, geriatrics, disabled persons, and the homeless by ensuring they have access to critical necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and security (Chapter 4, N.d.).

Dental hygienists often begin a typical day by examining their scheduled patient charts to ascertain the necessary preventive treatment for different patients. After that, they proceed to meet with the rest of the staff to brief them on the help that they might need to ensure the day runs well and that patients receive a high quality of care. Afterward, they then set up their treatment rooms to ensure that they have all the resources they need for the adequate treatment of their patients. In running their day, critical issues may arise when dental hygienists confront a patient who refuses to take an x-ray for fear of the potential harm the radiation poses to their health. Also, they may encounter a crisis when their patients in exercising their autonomy choose a treatment option that threatens to impede their long-term wellness.

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS: HCA 205A Day in the Life

In regards to LCSW, they often begin their day with a staff meeting to get insight on their roles for the day. After that, they proceed to meet with their patients in their diverse settings to offer continual help in dealing with their social problems. Moreover, they may also provide diagnosis and treatment services to patients who exude severe emotional or mental issues to help them cope with their predicaments. In running their day, the primary critical issue that LCSW may face includes a lack of ready access to assist in dealing with strife especially amongst patients in rural areas. Also, they may encounter problems in maintaining patient confidentiality in situations where the problem under treatment is out of their scope. This situation may impede their efforts to form trusting relations with their patients.

Chapter 4. (N.d.). Healthcare Personnel.

I have actually witnessed a dental patient complain about their dislike of the radiation from x-rays. In these situations I believe the hygienist would take the time to properly explain the lead vest places over the patient as well as the small dose of radiation from the highly focused x-ray. Reassuring the patient that they are around trained professionals using tested proper equipment. When a Social worker encounters a problem out of their scope, they need to ensure that the proper HIPAA and PII protocols are followed. providers are trained on proper ways to discuss and release patient information and understand fully the penalties involved.

-Daniel

I think the job of a Dental Hygienists is very interesting and very similar to that of a Dentist. The only thing different is that the Dental Hygienist does not extract teeth. The Dental Hygienist is the eyes of the Dentist. They are the ones that take the X-rays, cleans the patient’s teeth, and while they are cleaning the patient’s teeth, they are also looking for things such as brittle teeth, a potential for overbites, or underbites, and they can also tell when a child’s teeth are not going to be able to fit into their mouth properly by looking at the X-ray. You mentioned that sometimes patients may not want to take an X-ray due to the fear of being exposed to radiation. The Dental Hygienist can simply explain that the X-ray is a critical part of getting their teeth cleaned. It will help the dentist see if there are any underlying issues that the patient may not notice at the moment and will save them pain and time just by getting the X-ray. Also, there are ways to protect the patient from being exposed to the radiation. Just like when a pregnant woman has to get an X-ray, there is an apron that is placed across the pregnant woman’s stomach, that fits like an apron. The patient can wear that during the X-ray. A Dental Hygienist’s day can be very busy and fulfilling, especially when cleaning children’s teeth. At the end of the visit, they usually let the child choose a sticker, and give them a brand new toothbrush with some dental floss. That sticker brightens up that child’s entire visit. I am sure that is the highlight of the Dental Hygienists day.

HCA 205A Day in the Life