Dental industry news, trends and information from Patterson Dental.
As practices embrace diverse administrative roles, compliance becomes increasingly important. Teams need to be aware of the importance of maintaining compliance, whether staying up to date on labor laws, OSHA and HIPAA regulations, documentation standards or other compliance-related issues. But how does a practice keep […]
Of the major threats that we see our customers presently facing, the most damaging of them is a breach of patient records. Unlike the cyber attacks that we read about regularly that center on elaborate, well-planned attacks perpetrated by a team of cyber criminals with […]
Since the Privacy Rule became effective in 2003, the HIPAA laws have become increasingly complex, with very detailed compliance requirements that come with stiff fines and penalties for noncompliance. As a covered entity, you are also required to follow the Security Rule of 2005, the […]
Recently, I receive a frantic email from an orthodontic client. A team member had emailed a patient’s diagnostic letter to the referring dentist. But the patient had specifically stated she did not want any of her information emailed unless it was encrypted. To make matters […]
All healthcare professionals would agree that maintaining confidentiality and privacy of patient information is of utmost importance. The requirements for maintaining confidentiality and privacy are strictly mandated under the HIPAA laws. The privacy and security regulations apply equally to all covered entities and business associates […]
We’ve been asking you to submit your most pressing HIPAA-related social media questions, and a couple came in that I think are important, common questions. Question 1: How do you handle the release of information process in light of HIPAA in regards to stepparents of […]
Undeniably, technology has transformed the way dentistry is delivered and how we communicate with patients. With these changes come federal and/or state laws such as HIPAA, mandating patient privacy and requiring data security. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows covered entities (CE) including dentists and physicians […]
In-office promotions and patient giveaways are an easy way to market to existing and prospective patients. However, there are always legalities that must be followed to be sure that what is being given away is not in conflict with any contracted dental benefit providers. But […]
A few months ago, I wrote an article called Social Media Legal Considerations for Dentistry. Since then, I’ve received dozens of comments, questions and feedback. Many of you were simply grateful to have some clarity on basic questions like whether signed consents are necessary before using […]
Social media is a very common piece of marketing strategy for many businesses, including dental practices, and often these businesses look to their customers to help create content. Customers are generally asked to either provide content (like reviews, testimonies, success stories, etc.), or they are […]
HIPAA and Release of Information regulations can create sticky situations. Frequently, I am asked how to handle release of information to the caregiver of an elderly patient after the information has already been released. Let’s try to secure that barn door before the horse escapes. […]
If you’re a frequent reader of Off The Cusp, then you’ll know we cover a lot of topics and hear from a lot of different contributors who have a huge range of experiences in the dental industry. I manage this blog, and was curious to […]
Knock, Knock Who’s there? OCR OCR, who? Oh see, are your HIPAA Policies up to date? According to the 2011 Second Annual Benchmark Study on Patient Privacy & Data Security by The Ponemon Institute, data breaches are on the rise − and most of them […]
In February of this year the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced its plans for the Phase 2 mandatory HIPAA compliance audits. Since that time, several details surrounding the HIPAA audits, including the timeline, have become moving targets—literally. Initially, the Phase 2 pre-audit surveys were […]
Setting up for the next patient is a natural part of your daily workflow. You wouldn’t dream of not having an instrument pack or cassette along with disposable items ready before seating the patient. It promotes efficiency, reduces stress and maintains a state of readiness. […]
As a software trainer, I can’t wait to learn all I can about new Eaglesoft features. It excites me to see how these features can be used by practices to increase productivity and give more patients a great experience. That’s why I’m looking forward to […]
As I speak with dentists and team members across the country, I am surprised at the large numbers of people who don’t appreciate the potential for serious consequences to their practice from not being aware of and in compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security […]
At dinner in a restaurant recently with my husband, who is a psychologist, and one of his colleagues, I listened to them “talk shop” about therapists and confidentiality. As I listened to them chat about their challenges, I thought of dentistry, and the need for […]
Social media change is constant. If you’re still managing your Facebook, Twitter and other platforms the same way you did last year, you are likely missing opportunities. Like many of you, I have the honor of working in the social media trenches − where we […]
Back in July, we wrote about HIPAA and HITECH compliance as it relates to automatic patient communications, and discussed how software tools like RevenueWell adhere to these regulations. The deadline for compliance for the Omnibus Rule is today and RevenueWell is being asked whether these […]
As we mentioned previously, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced updates to the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. These updates were published in a new regulation popularly called the “Omnibus Rule.” The Omnibus Rule became effective in spring 2013 with […]
Personal privacy is no longer personal – it’s even in the news these days. Every day seems to bring reports of some celebrity cell phone hack or coverage concerning a business that decided to toss sensitive files in a dumpster instead of shred them as […]
By now, dental practitioners are likely aware that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued long-awaited changes to the Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. The Omnibus Rule was announced on January 17 and has been the “hot topic” for folks in […]
As U.S.-based dental practitioners know, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations require healthcare providers to train staff regularly on policies and procedures to safeguard patient information. HIPAA has been around for a while now, so most practices have some […]
Today begins student week at Patterson Dental. Each day we will be publishing content solely for the dental student heading back to school, or the recent graduate heading into the field. After years of being in dental school, you’re finally embarking on an exciting new […]