Gel nails and acrylic nails continue to be popular in today’s world. This article explores the safety of gel and acrylic nails and whether these trends are appropriate for clinical dental team members.

Recently Walgreens was ordered to pay $205,000 in EEOC pregnancy and disability discrimination lawsuit. Evidently a Walgreens store located in Alexandria, Louisiana refused to let an employee take emergency leave to seek medical attention. The pregnant employee...

The ADA updated their recommendations for radiography safety in dentistry on February 1, 2024.  The use of lead abdominal aprons or thyroid collars on patients when taking x-rays is no longer recommended.  This decision was based on the ADA’s expert panel after reviewing published studies on radiography for dental patients.  This applies to all dental patients, including, quite surprisingly, pregnant patients.  According to them, the lead aprons and thyroid collars can block the primary x-ray beam diminishing the quality of the radiograph resulting in more exposures.

We all work from day to day without thinking of the possibilities of a dire emergency happening. But in the offhand chance that someone needs to be revived, is your AED ready?

Imagine this scenario: a patient suddenly needs a defibrillator. The team gets it and brings it to the patient, and it’s covered in a thin layer of dust. The team tries to use it. It is not in working order, and the patient is lost.

Are you a LLC, a PLLC or corporate entity?  Be aware that Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act in 2021. The new federal reporting requirement for beneficial ownership information goes into effect beginning January 1, 2024. The goal of this new law is to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes, including terrorist financing.

The OCR settled with a medical group in Louisiana for a phishing attack that affected 35,000 patients for $480,000.

Phishing attacks can result in identity theft, financial loss, discrimination, stigma, mental anguish, negative consequences to reputation, health, or physical safety of the individuals, or to others identified in the individual’s protected health information, according to the Office of Civil Rights. 

Are you counting down the days until Christmas? With the holiday season fast approaching, questions arise for employers and their teams. Let’s talk about the ABC’s of Christmas in the workplace.

There has been some buzz in the dental field about laws changing that concern x-ray and radiation protection for patients. We’ve recently received questions and comments from clients saying that they’ve heard that lead aprons are soon going to be obsolete, and they are wondering if this is or isn’t true.

The Office of Civil Rights indicates that sanction policies can support HIPAA compliance. Your sanction policies can be an important tool for supporting accountability and improving cybersecurity and data protection. Employees are required to comply with written policies and procedures. If they violate these policies and procedures, sanctions are specifically required by HIPAA’s Privacy Rule and Security Rule. 

As we enter the last quarter of the year, there are important considerations to make in reviewing your regulatory compliance program. Let's look at HIPAA...

As we enter the last quarter of the year, there are important considerations to make in reviewing your regulatory compliance program.  Let’s start with OSHA.  Next issue we’ll address HIPAA.

As many of you are aware, I started working in a dental office when I was 17 years old. I worked part time as a janitor for a cleaning company. 

I cleaned Dr. Artie Peacher's office in Dover, a small rural town in Tennessee where I live. I also worked part-time as the deputy clerk and master in the Chancery Court. Back then, I had no idea how the dental field and the legal profession would collide into my career!

Acadia Health doing business as Just Kids Dental filed a notice of a data breach with the Attorney General of Maine on September 1, 2023. Evidently an unauthorized party accessed patient information including:

Dental compliance and infection control have become even more important to dental practices, and for good reason. Not only does adhering to protocols keep patients and staff safe, but it also virtually minimizes the risk of investigative action or complaints. We talked with Olivia Wann, founder of Modern Practice Solutions and a lawyer and compliance consultant and got her perspective on the complex landscape of dental compliance and infection control. Her combination of practical experience in the industry and legal education makes her an expert guide to dental practices wanting to bridge the gaps in their OSHA, infection control, and HIPAA compliance programs and implement effective safety training.

It is the policy of the Board to require strict compliance with the laws of the State. It is the duty and responsibility of the Board to enforce the Practice Act. 

Prevent a Board complaint from occurring by familiarizing yourself with the Board’s website and reviewing the Board of Dentistry’s disciplinary actions.  Seeing the common pitfalls will help you to avoid the same mistakes.

As many of you are aware, I started working in a dental office when I was 17 years old. I worked part time as a janitor for a cleaning company.

I cleaned Dr. Artie Peacher's office in Dover, a small rural town in Tennessee where I live. I also worked part-time as the deputy clerk and master in the Chancery Court. Back then, I had no idea how the dental field and the legal profession would collide into my career!

In dentistry, we know that informed consent allows patients to make decisions in their dental care. We are aware that parents and legal guardians provide consent for minors. But the question arises, who provides consent for minors who are in foster homes?

There is a deadly fungus among us!  Recently we learned more about Candida auris at the OSAP meeting.  Candida auris (C. auris) is a deadly fungus that spreads in healthcare settings.  It can be carried on the patient’s skin and spread to others.

It may sound redundant, but we cannot please every patient we serve. Although the majority of the individuals we serve may be great patients and contribute to you having a wonderful day at work, the reality is there’s those one or two who make our lives miserable. It’s the rude, disruptive patient who has unrealistic expectations.  They don’t comply with your recommendations and then blame you for unfavorable results. They fail to keep appointments. They don’t pay their bill. And somehow you are the target.

As air quality has been a major headline topic lately in the eastern U.S. and Canada, it is a major consideration for the dental practice as well. The scientific community has made a committed emphasis on indoor air quality of medical and dental facilities since the 1960s, and now with airborne infections becoming a critical focus, there have been new developments in ensuring that your practice’s air is clean and healthy for both the patients and its workers.