by Gracie Hogue
When a patient brings a service animal to the practice, the situation can be potentially baffling to staff. It’s understandable if practice staff can feel apprehensive about what to do next, or wonder what the correct questions are to ask and what questions are to be avoided. As this situation seems to be increasingly more common in dental practices, it could be easy to say or ask the wrong thing.
In the workplace, we must foster an environment that respects diverse opinions, especially during times of political tension. The subject of politics can be polarizing and stir up strong emotions that are tied to our personal core values
OSHA published the Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers and plans to release a proposed rule in December, which would take effect in 2025.
By Olivia Wann
OSHA published the Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers and now plans to release a proposed rule in December which would be effective in 2025.
Interestingly, California dental practices were required to establish, implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention plan July 1st of this year, regardless of how many employees are in place.[1]
by Olivia Wann, JD
OSHA published the Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers and now plans to release a proposed rule in December which would be effective in 2025.
Perhaps you heard the shocking and disturbing news about a Knoxville, TN dental practice that violated basic dental practice ethics by sharing a video on social media. This incident parked widespread concern about professionalism and patient confidentiality in the dental field.
The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act took effect on July 1, 2024, in Tennessee. It introduces significant changes to healthcare practices by emphasizing parental consent. This law ensures parents have exclusive authority over their child’s physical and mental healthcare decisions. Furthermore, it highlights the critical role of parental involvement in such matters.
OSHA recently revised the criteria under the Hazard Communication Standard to enhance the information available to employees regarding various health and physical hazard classes. These updates are designed to ensure workers have clearer and more comprehensive guidance about potential risks in their work environment, promoting safety and compliance.
CAUTION!!! One of our dentists reported receiving a phone call claiming to be from the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. Stay vigilant and aware of fraudulent calls targeting professionals to protect your personal and professional information.
As you are aware, Change Healthcare experienced a cyberattack in early 2024. Change Healthcare is owned by UnitedHealth Group and manages healthcare technology connected to processing insurance claims and billing. This includes Practice Works, SoftDent, Dentrix, EagleSoft, Open Dental, and many more companies. They serve essentially as the business associate to the covered entity. Please review your Business Associate Agreements in place with these companies.