RMBF Collects Data During National Dental Health Month Click, Share and Save Lives

Feb. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month and the Raven Maria Blanco Foundation (RMBF), Inc. is joining the nation-wide campaign to help raise pediatric dental awareness.

         The Virginia Beach-based RMBF charity is seeking 500 dental patients or more to participate in an online survey regarding attitudes and knowledge about medical emergency preparedness in dental offices. The 35-question survey is free and open to the public through the month of February.

         RMBF is sponsoring the online research and looking for qualified participants, who must have a regular general or family dentist. The results will be valuable to dental professionals to help update and maintain the proper level of emergency preparedness. In addition, it will give insight to dental malpractice liability companies in understanding a patient’s predisposition in seeking out legal help. The information will also be used in published medical documents.

         “RMBF is working to establish patient expectations regarding medical emergency preparedness in dental offices,” said lead researcher, Dr. Larry J. Sangrik, the National Director of Medical Emergency Preparedness for the foundation. “Public opinion is crucial.”

Some of the questions cover knowledge of your general dentist’s training, staff preparedness, emergency plans, medications, equipment and action plans.

“Generally, state dental boards have few, if any, requirements mandating dentists to prepare for a medical emergency,” Dr. Sangrik added. “Therefore, establishing patient expectations will encourage dentists to review their office’s preparation and update them, as appropriate.”

RMBF was formed to help raise awareness about serious health issues that may arise while at the dentist. Raven, the foundation’s namesake, was 8 when she died in the dentist’s chair during a routine procedure in 2007. She received three times the average range of sedatives for a child of her weight and height.

The charity focuses on helping dental professionals and their patients understand the need to be prepared for unexpected medical events, which can occur during dental treatment. RMBF supports efforts among experts in the field of medical emergency management to develop practical, affordable methods for dental offices to respond to a medical crisis.

To participate in the survey, visit:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/rmbf-patient-expectation-survey