Guidelines
Welcome to Melbourne Dental School
Students are required to observe standards consistent with the privilege of treating patients. Being constantly under scrutiny, not only in the clinics, but generally moving about the public thoroughfares of the Dental School/Hospital building, it is important to observe UoM guidelines. Students are required to dress professionally when in the building and present for any clinical business or interactions with patients. Professional dress and behaviour conveys an appropriate impression when handling patients' needs. The requirements for dress and conduct of students have been produced after consultation between staff and students.
In order to avoid unnecessary embarrassment, which may be caused by disciplinary action, Students must observe these requirements at ALL times when in the Dental School/Hospital building.
Students MUST follow these requirements or may not be permitted to participate in classes.
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Dental School/Hospital Rules
Students are required to observe the rules of both Melbourne Dental School & the Dental Health Services of Victoria who run the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne
Dental School/Hospital Rules
- Student ID must be worn at all times and in all areas of the School/Hospital, visibly identifying them as a student. Students may be asked to leave by Hospital Security if not carrying identification.
- Students must not congregate around, or block, the entrances, exits or stairwells within and around the Hospital, and must make way or move to another area if directed by either Hospital or University staff.
- Students need to be mindful and respectful of patients, Hospital staff and University staff whilst inside and around the buildings ensuring that noise is kept to a minimum so as to not distract others, especially whilst waiting for classes or coming in and out of rooms.
- Alcohol cannot be brought into, nor consumed in, the Dental School/Hospital building.
- No food or drink can be brought into, nor consumed in, the lecture theatres, seminar rooms or preclinical laboratories.
- Smoking is not permitted at any time in the Dental School/Hospital building, or any University of Melbourne campuses.
- No drugs, materials or instruments can be brought into the School/Hospital for use in either the clinics or laboratories unless approved by the School/Hospital. Students wasting drugs or materials will be required to make up the deficiency.
- All dental technicians' laboratories in the Hospital are out of bounds to students, except for direct communication on specific clinical problems.
- Students must vacate the Dental School/Hospital building by 6.00pm.
- Students are required to observe the detailed regulations governing conduct in the pre-clinical laboratories.
Any action that results in a breach of the above rules and requires Hospital Staff to escort students from the premises will not be taken into account as a vaild reason for not having attended any classes/sessions that have an attendance hurdle.
- Clinic Rules
Clinical Placement & Clinical activities are a large part of the Student Experience within the School. These rules are for the benefit of both student & patients in the clinics.
Clinic Rules
- Students must be on time for all sessions and remain in attendance for the entire duration. Students are only excused or permitted to leave early with permission from their relevant supervisors/ demonstrators.
- In the event that a student is unable to attend a clinical session, it is a requirement to contact the student absence hotline ph: 9341 1500 as well as contacting the Clinical Supervisor to warn in advance of non-attendance. Students will then receive an email noting the absence with a link to the student absence form which must be filled out and submitted online HANDS Form.
- Students are permitted to carry out clinical work only on registered patients of Dental Health Services Victoria. This work must be approved and carried out under supervision and with the authority of the clinician* in charge of the patient.
- Clinical records, radiographs or any material relating to a patient's treatment or history are confidential and must not be removed from clinics by students.
- Patient records must be managed such that no other patient or student involved in direct treatment of that patient has access to the records.
- If using a patient record for assessment (e.g. patient presentation), permission must be obtained from the Clinical Manager to copy any part of the record and MUST ensure that all means of identifying the patient has been removed on that copy.
- Patient records and information are controlled by strict Privacy Legislation Laws which incur severe penalties if breached.
- Instruments and clinical/laboratory materials associated with patient treatment or laboratory exercises (finished or unfinished) must not be taken out of pre-clinical or clinical areas without the permission of the appropriate staff in charge.
- Clinical record books, schedules of requirements or other records of a student's work must not be removed from the location of storage.
- Students may enter the theatre and ward areas of the Hospital only when rostered to do so or with the express permission of the duty clinician.
*Clinician means any full or part-time member of the clinical staff of the Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, the RDHM clinics or a Community Health Centre.
- Dress and Behaviour
Students are required to observe dress code standards in order to meet both professionalism as well as health & safety for themselves, patients & others.
Dress and Behaviour
The dress code as detailed below must be adhered to at all times.
- The following clothing/footwear must not be worn in any clinic: jeans, faded, frayed or dirty clothing, brief tops/skirts/shorts, excessively low cut trousers, sporting attire, sneakers, suede shoes, thongs, sandals or any open-toe shoe.
- A minimal standard of personal hygiene and grooming is expected. Hair may be long or short, but must be neat. Men should be freshly shaved or ensure that their moustaches/beards are neatly groomed.
- A long, white laboratory coat must be worn by the first, second and third year DDS students and the first year BOH students for various practical classes, e.g. Microbiology, Histology, Chemistry.
- Laboratory gowns (supplied by the students) and a Student ID must be worn by all students when undertaking practical work in the School laboratories.
- Hospital gowns and other protective wear such as facemasks and gloves (supplied by the Hospital) and a Student ID must be worn by ALL students when undertaking work in the clinics. Hospital gowns must not be worn outside the clinical treatment areas, including the reception area/patient waiting room and when you are escorting patients to and from the clinic. When the clinical work has finished, students must dispose of these gowns in the “dirty linen bags” located throughout these areas.
- Students should also note that the Royal Melbourne and Austin Hospitals and Private Oral Medicine and Surgery rooms require dental students to maintain the same standard of dress as medical students, which includes a tie for male students.
The following additional points should be observed during clinical work when in close proximity to patients:
→ Long hair must be tied back (long pony tails must be placed in a bun) so that it does not obscure your vision or fall onto the patient’s face. Fringe must be pushed back with a hair band or clipped back.
→ It is essential to use an effective deodorant.
→ If a smoker, ensure any smoking odour is masked.
→ Halitosis is a problem associated with smoking as well with some foods. These foods must be avoided prior to clinical work.
→ Alcohol and drugs must NOT be consumed prior to any clinical session.
→ Fingers and fingernails should be short and clean, and nails MUST NOT be painted with a coloured lacquer.
→ No jewellery or accessories should be worn from elbow to finger tips (this includes bracelets, watches, fitness bands and rings (including wedding rings).
→ Long sleeves should be pushed back or folded back to elbow.
- Infection Control Guidelines
Infection Control is a critical requirement in all public & private health practices & must be ahered to at all times.
Infection Control Guidelines
Use of common sense should result in hygienic practices being carried out in the clinical environment. However, observation of work undertaken in clinics has proven that infection control protocols often are NOT being followed.
Please read the following information thoroughly. Claimed ignorance of infection control procedures will NOT be an acceptable reason for failure to observe them.