Patient's Rights and Responsibilities

The Dental Hygiene students have established schedules when they are available to give patient care.  Since the goal is quality dental hygiene care within a teaching/learning environment, patient cooperation is essential.

Patients should understand that this is an educational setting and that the student’s learning experience and progress depend on the patient’s full cooperation.  Everyone’s time is valuable.  If for some reason a patient is unable to keep an appointment, advance notice of 24 hours is appreciated, to allow the student to arrange to treat other patients.

Patient’s Bill of Rights

1. You have the right to considerate, respectful and confidential treatment.
2. You have the right to complete and current information about your condition.
3. You have the right to advanced knowledge of the cost of treatment.
4. You have the right to informed consent.
5. You have the right to treatment that is appropriate for your situation and which meets the standard of care in the profession.
6. You have the right to ask questions and discuss any recommended treatment, expected outcomes, and the risk of no treatment.
7. You have the right to refuse treatment and to discontinue participation in the treatment at any time.
8. You have the right to continuity and completion of treatment.
9. You have the right to provide feedback, comments, or complaints about treatment using the confidential Patient Satisfaction Survey.

Patient’s Responsibilities

1. You are responsible for providing complete and accurate information regarding any health problems you have or have had in the past and any medications or treatment you currently receive.
2. You are responsible for keeping appointments and meeting financial obligations promptly.
3. You are responsible for following directives and cooperating with all persons providing care and for asking questions if directives are not understood.
4. You are responsible for being respectful and considerate of other patients and all clinic      personnel.
5. You are responsible for expressing all complaints or problems to the appropriate supervisor.
6. You are responsible for recognizing that the Middlesex County College Dental Hygiene Clinic is an educational institution and that dental hygiene treatment may proceed at a paceslower than you had anticipated.
7. You are responsible for understanding that the treatment provided in this clinic is the best that can be provided, but there are no guarantees of permanence in any treatment provided.