Relieving Emergency Department Burden During COVID-19: Section 1135 Waivers for Dental Case Diversion

Many hospital emergency departments (EDs) are currently overburdened with evaluation and management of COVID-19 cases. Dental emergencies, generally attributed to infection or trauma, are costly and inefficiently managed in the ED setting, yet remain in the caseload. Additionally, given the current scarcity of personal protective equipment, staff, and operating rooms, patients who present to EDs with dental pain would be best suited to be immediately referred to an independent dental office. Although current law mandates the evaluation of all patients who present to the ED, legislative carve outs made possible by recent United States executive branch national emergency declarations make it possible for hospitals to immediately divert patients with dental pain to partnering dental offices and relieve valuable time and resources for EDs to direct their efforts at stemming COVID-19.
Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research