The collaborative practice dental hygienist shall:

1. A. refer each patient for a dental examination every 12 months, as well as anyone who may require further dental services, to the patient's consulting dentist or to a dental specialist in the case of an emergency;
2. B. in conjunction with the consulting dentist, be responsible and liable for acts and omissions in the collaborative dental hygiene practice;
3. C. assure that each consulting dentist is duly licensed by the board of dental health care; by verification with the board office;
4. D. maintain a collaborative practice agreement with each consulting dentist; and
5. E. maintain an appropriate level of contact and communication with the consulting dentist;
6. F. contact the patient's dentist of record, if not a consulting dentist, prior to treating the patient to give the dentist the option of becoming a consulting dentist;
7. G. offer the patient a choice of the collaborative practice dental hygienist's consulting dentists if the patient's dentist of record chooses to be a non-participating dentist;
8. H. not to perform any treatment if the patient does not have an active consulting dentist on record with the collaborative practice dental hygienist;
9. I. follow the standardized protocol unless modified by the consulting dentist by prescription or order;
10. J. follow the verbal and written prescriptions and orders of the consulting dentist for those treatments requiring a diagnosis;
11. K. forward all records and x-rays, or duplicates, to the consulting dentist within 14 days;
12. L. assure that each consulting dentist meets the requirements of a consulting dentist as stated in 16.5.17.9 NMAC;
13. M. a copy of the collaborative agreement shall be on file with the board office; any changes to this agreement shall be filed with the board office within 60 days.
14. N. the collaborative dental hygienist shall be subject to provisions of 16.5.58 NMAC.

[16.5.17.11 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.17.11 NMAC, 5/31/2023]