Professionalism Policy
PROFESSIONALISM POLICY
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) is committed to preparing students to become exemplary professionals and leaders. The purpose of this policy is to promote, instill, and support civil, respectful, and professional attributes that will help UMSOD students to be well prepared to make a positive contribution to the profession of dentistry. Society affords the privilege and obligation of self-governing to the profession of dentistry: https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/principles-of-ethics-code-of-professional-conduct. This means that it is incumbent upon professionals in the field to engage in behavior that a reasonable person would think promotes goodwill for the profession. It also means that, depending on the nature and severity of the situation, reasonable action (e.g. reporting, referral to support services, etc.) should be taken to address, through appropriate channels, any behaviors that a reasonable person believes are damaging the reputation, standards, or public perception of the profession.
Definition of Professionalism
While enrolled in dental education, students must maintain and exhibit ethical and professional behaviors commensurate with the role of the dentist in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students, and the community.
Professionalism is defined as “the habitual and judicious use of communication, knowledge, critical appraisal, clinical reasoning, emotions, values and reflection in daily practice for the benefit of the individuals and communities served.” (Pre-doctoral CODA Standards)
Definition of Harassment and Discrimination
It is expected, and articulated in specifics in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Non-Discrimination Policy, that students not engage in conduct that a dental professional, or professional in training, knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or protected veteran’s status in conduct related to the practice of dentistry at UMB.
Discrimination and harassment by dental professionals undermines confidence in the profession and the responsibility of dental professionals in health care. Such discrimination includes verbal or physical conduct that constitutes illegal bias or prejudice towards others.
The following key attributes of professionalism include:
Integrity Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Consistent honesty. Practice the principle of veracity “truthfulness”
- Conscientious and diligent safeguarding of confidential information
- Trustworthiness with the property of others
Empathy Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Showing compassion for others
- Responding appropriately to the emotional response of patients and their family members
- Demonstrating respect for others
- Demonstrating a calm, compassionate and helpful demeanor toward those in need
- Being supportive and reassuring to others
Teamwork and Diplomacy Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Placing the success of the team equal to one’s own self-interest
- Helping and supporting other team members
- Showing respect for all team members
- Remaining flexible and open to change
- Communicating with others to resolve problems
- Leadership
- Proactively represent yourself and the team/organization in an excellent way
Communications Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Communicate ideas effectively by speaking clearly, repeating as necessary
- Adjusting communication strategies to various situations
- Listening actively
- Communicate ideas effectively striving for non-judgmental, expression
- Social media should be used as a tool to establish and improve professional networking
- Proactively seek solutions to problems by availing oneself to resources, policies, support, services, and other options, made available in one’s educational or employment setting
Respect Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Being polite to others
- Being tolerant of others
- Not using derogatory or demeaning terms
- Behaving in a manner that brings credit to the profession
Time Management Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Completing tasks and assignments on time
Patient Advocacy Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Not allowing personal bias or feelings to interfere with patient care
- Placing important care-related needs of patients before personal inconvenience
- Protecting and respecting patient confidentiality and dignity
- Respecting the patient’s rights to self-determination and confidentiality
Practice the principle of beneficence “do good”
Competent Delivery of Service Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Mastering and refreshing skills
- Following policies, procedures, protocols, and orders
- Treating patients in a way that you would like to be treated yourself, or that you would treat family
- Practicing nonmaleficence “do no harm”. Refer and consult for the welfare of the patient.
- Practice the principle of justice by treating people fairly
- Consistent complete and accurate documentation of patient care
- Consistent documentation of learning activities (continuing education)
- Being thoroughly prepared for patient care
Self Confidence Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Exercise good judgment
- Thorough preparation for patient visits
- Be clear and reassuring about areas of mastery and experience
- Demonstrating an awareness of strengths and limitations
Appearance and Personal Hygiene Examples of professional behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Wearing appropriate clothing or uniform that is neat, clean and well maintained
- Good personal hygiene and grooming
Examples of professional misconduct include but are not limited to:
Discrimination/Harassment: Examples of professional misconduct include, but are not limited to:
- Harmful verbal or physical conduct that constitutes illegal bias or prejudice towards others (discrimination). This includes the distribution, display or communication of materials such as books, posters, magazines, cartoons, cards, emails, advertisements, photographs, videos, social media postings, in a manner that interferes with the right of others to have access to UMB’s academic and professional activities and facilities without discrimination.
- Derogatory or demeaning verbal or physical contact that is persistent, unwelcome, offensive, prejudiced, or threatening in nature.
Malfeasance/Carelessness: Examples of professional misconduct include, but are not limited to negligent, reckless, knowing or intentional:
- Falsification of records
- Recording untruthful information describing patient procedures
- Recording untruthful information describing patient medications
- Delivering a crown with open margins
- Prescribing treatment that is not indicated
- Performing unnecessary treatment
- Recording an incomplete, or inaccurate health history
- Failure to update the health history
- Failure to take into account a patient’s relevant medical history during treatment
- Failure to obtain second opinions, consultations, or referrals when indicated
- Failure to follow policies, procedures, protocols, and orders
- Failure to properly prepare for the patient visit including review of the procedure and health history
- Treating the wrong tooth
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Failure to listen, communicate and alter or correct treatment
- Failure to generate a clear treatment plan
Violating Patient Confidentiality : Examples of professional misconduct include, but are not limited to:
- Unauthorized use or disclosure in any form (e.g., electronic, paper, oral) of PHI or individually identifiable health and demographic data (as defined in HIPAA), student educational record information (as defined in FERPA) or personally identifiable information (as defined in Maryland State law)
- Sharing pictures on social media that contain a recognizable likeness of a patient
- Sharing patient health records without authorization, proper encryption, or need-to-know
- Accessing PHI or other confidential information from an unsecured location
Safety Violations: Examples of professional misconduct include, but are not limited to:
- Using unsterilized dental equipment
- Improper cleaning and disinfection protocol
- Improper sterilization protocol
- Not following OSHA and MOSHA guidelines for bloodborne pathogens and infection control