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.
We’ve addressed this support question regularly over the years when dental offices inquire whether their surveillance system violates HIPAA compliance and patient privacy. Let’s explore the topic balancing HIPAA compliance and job safety.
As many of you are aware, the Federal Trade Commission issued its final rule on April 23, 2024, banning the use of non-compete agreements. Dentists worry that their employment agreements with associate dentists may not hold up. As a result, an associate could potentially open a nearby practice within minutes and draw patients away from their former employer. How should we react to this ban on Non-Compete Contracts
Gel 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 an EEOC pregnancy and disability discrimination lawsuit, highlighting the importance of being fair to pregnant employees. Evidently, a Walgreens store located in Alexandria, Louisiana, refused to let an employee take emergency leave to seek medical attention
Are you confused by all the changes? Shield or don’t shield?