D3 and D4 students,

Please understand that your assigned patient pool is a group of patients that have been assigned to you. It is your responsibility, until told otherwise, to care for these patients. Over the course of the year, you will have other patients added to your pool, and some may be co-assigned or reassigned to other learners.

DO NOT view these patients as simply requirements. These are people who are gracious enough to come to the school so you can learn. Be respectful, show some compassion and caring towards your assigned patients. There is much more to learn over the next year then just completing your clinical requirements. 

I ask you to review your assigned patient records. This is not so you can assume the treatment plan and think that you know what treatment is ultimately required. You need to understand your patient's treatment history, so you are in a better position to care for them going forward. Do not assume that previous treatment plans remain valid and do not discuss treatment the patient may or may not want to proceed with until YOU have met the patient, completed a treatment plan yourself and then at that time you can talk about treatment options and what direction their dental care will proceed.

Think of your patient pool as if you are in private practice. These are your patients, your responsibility. 

You will provide outstanding general practice dental care in a professional compassionate manner to the patients you are assigned which will not be exclusively dictated by what clinical requirements you need. 

Regards,

Dr. Reeve