Index: Need to Know Resources for School of Dentistry Faculty

Office of Patient Services

   Sharon Petsch, Department Manager
   Room 1301 Dent
   Email petschs@umich.edu
   Online Office of Patient Services

   Stephen Stefanac, DDS, MS, Associate Dean for Patient Services
   Room 1301 Dent
   Email stefanac@umich.edu

Credentialing

• Information about Licensing and Credentialing for the U-M dentist or dental hygienist
• CPR course sign-up and TB testing information
• HIPAA Training (pdf) - required by faculty and staff to be involved with patient care.
• Infection Control and Injury Management (pdf) - learn our best practices for infection and biohazard control plus managing percutaneous injuries

We can provide answers to any questions you might have about the School.  Really, our staff in 1301 either knows the answer or can direct you to someone who does.

Patient Services Units

• The Information Desk team is our reception and registration point for patients.  The team greats our patients and visitors, direct them to their appointment, collect their registration (billing) information, and collect the payments. The Information Desks on each floor are also the distribution point for wheelchairs.
• PAES (Patient Admitting & Emergency Services) Clinic employs staff dentists, dental assistants, and radiology technicians to evaluate, diagnose and treat emergency patients.  The PAES staff also evaluates and assigns new patients to the various levels of dental providers – predoctoral and graduate students, as well as faculty.
• The Information and Appointment Office is often our first point of contact for our patients.  The main telephone number for the School of Dentistry is answered here and calls are triaged appropriately.  Patients also request initial visit appointments, emergency appointments, and are pre-registered by this team.
• Patient/Student Monitoring is a team of individuals who work to coordinate the activities of the student providers with the needs of the patient.  As patient ombudsmen, this group of Patient Care Coordinators and their support staff work closely with faculty and students to ensure good patient management and that completion of clinical requirements is done in a timely manner.
• The Patient Business Office is the financial counseling office for our patients.  The staff in this office meet with patients and providers to resolve billing questions, assist with insurance information, establish and monitor financial arrangements and payment plans.
• Central Records houses over 60,000 patient charts. We pull more than 700 charts per day for providers and other users, send out more than 700 charts per day for providers and users and print nearly 200 patient encounter forms each night.  The staff works in two shifts: 7:30 am until 4:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  They copy chart notes for insurance queries and also process chart duplication requests for patients and legal entities.
• Central Sterilization staff also work two shifts to accommodate the high demand for sterilized instruments and equipment.  This group of technicians also inspects and maintains instruments; they report on quality issues for the instrument replacement process.
• The teams at Dispensing are responsible to sign instruments, supplies and consumables out to the student providers and to check items back in.  They maintain an inventory of clinical product.
• Dental Stores staff runs the central warehouse and supply operations for the School and are located in the basement level.  This diverse and skilled team of workers deliver clinical supplies, deliver research/lab orders, maintain inventory, replenish stock, maintain/repair equipment, order replacements, send/receive lab cases, sort mail, and ship and receive all goods coming to the School in including overnight deliveries.  You also will visit Stores if you need clinic coats and laundry services.

Other Patient Service Areas

• Dental Faculty Associates - Need a dentist?  Our faculty and staff dental hygienists see patients within and outside the School.
• Outreach Program - Our students serve the community through our outreach program.