by Terri Walker
During an OSHA or Dental Board inspection or audit, the inspector will likely begin by requesting your documentation, which will include your safety policies and records of completed tasks.
by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH
1. Failure to Provide Appropriate Training
Dental offices often fail to provide adequate training, including bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication training. This training is essential for ensuring staff understand potential risks and safety protocols.
by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH
Chemical dependency, or substance abuse disorder, may seem like a condition far removed from the dental operatory. In fact, not only are we likely to encounter patients suffering from this disease, but we are also in a unique position to identify substance abuse in patients, help educate them, and provide them with resources.
by Brenda Thornburg
What is two factor authentication? Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an identity and access management security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data. 2FA gives businesses the ability to monitor and help safeguard their most vulnerable information and networks.
by Caitlin Denison, BS, RDH
Can I share my patient’s protected health information with their spouse? The answer is, in certain circumstances, yes.
By Olivia Wann
During an onsite mock OSHA – Infection Control audit, we evaluate how the treatment room is cleaned and disinfected. Quite often we note that the keyboards and mice are not addressed. Keyboards can become contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and can result in cross contamination.
by Gracie Hogue
In a busy practice, it can be easy for the team to lose track of each other even if they are working together. We can all develop tunnel vision with our own to-do lists and daily duties, then losing the scope of teamwork. How do we step back and get a better perspective of the whole?
by Terri Walker
Congratulations on your selection as Safety Manager! This esteemed role is more than just a title; it represents the trust placed in you to significantly impact the safety of everyone in the office, including your team members, doctors, and patients.
by Brenda Thornburg
When evaluating disposal items such as bloody gauze, cotton rolls, patient bibs and other disposable items, determine whether the item is saturated enough to release blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) if compressed. If so, dispose of this waste as regulated biohazardous waste in the red bag or Isolyser.
by Olivia Wann
Can you classify a temporary or part-time hygienist as a 1099? It seems like it would be a lot less paperwork and reporting hassle to simply classify the RDH as a 1099 rather than a W2. However, according to the IRS, we must examine the business relationship that exists between the employer and the person performing the service, the hygienist. We evaluate the degree of control and independence to include behavioral, financial and the type of relationship as measured with the IRS standards to include behavioral control.