patient privacy Archives

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many dentists have turned to teledentistry to stay connected with patients while practicing social distancing; providing consultation, evaluation and next step actions. But as with any new technology, teledentistry brings about new questions. Healthcare risk management and compliance expert, Linda Harvey, RDH, shares her expertise in assuring the teledentistry technology you choose for your practice is compliant with HIPAA rules and keeps the privacy and security of your patients intact.

June 24, 2015June 22, 2015
No Comments

Take Your HIPAA Faux Pas Seriously

Practice Management

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 […]

May 27, 2015May 26, 2015
No Comments

What Is Your HIPAA Compliance IQ?

Dental Office Education

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 […]

April 29, 2015April 21, 2015
No Comments

2 Common Social Media HIPAA Questions

Dental Office Education

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 […]

April 14, 2015April 8, 2015
6 Comments

Balancing Social Media and Patient Privacy

Dental Practice Marketing

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 […]

April 10, 2015April 8, 2015
No Comments

And the Winner Is…

Dental Office Education

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 […]

April 7, 2015March 31, 2015
3 Comments

Your Most Pressing Social Media HIPAA Related Questions

Dental Practice Marketing

Your Most Pressing Social Media HIPAA Questions

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 […]

March 31, 2015March 31, 2015
2 Comments

Using Social Media in a Regulated Industry

Dental Practice Marketing

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 […]

March 11, 2015March 3, 2015
No Comments

Do You Know When to Keep the Barn Door Closed?

Practice Management

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. […]

February 25, 2015February 17, 2015
1 Comment

How Much Is Your Data Worth?

Practice Management

Typically, when one thinks of the value of a business – dental practice or otherwise – one tends to think of the physical assets such as equipment, furniture and office supplies. Yet, with the growing reliance on technology and the Internet, intangible assets must also […]

February 18, 2015February 16, 2015
No Comments

A Private Area for Financial Discussions Increases Case Acceptance

Practice Management

Increasing case acceptance is high on every practice’s priority list; however, one factor that often gets overlooked is where the treatment and financial discussions take place. Let’s take a look at a common scenario; you deliver a clear and solid treatment plan and the patient […]

November 25, 2014November 17, 2014
No Comments

When HIPAA Comes Knocking

Practice Management

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 […]

October 28, 2014October 28, 2014
2 Comments

HIPAA Compliance: Next Round of Audits Postponed — but Beware!

Practice Management

Next Round of HIPAA Audits Postponed — but Beware!

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 […]

February 6, 2013
No Comments

Hooray for Data Privacy Day!

Patterson Technology Center

Though I am sure that you didn’t miss it, some readers may be unaware that Data Privacy Day happened back in January. Your intrepid writer celebrated DPD by taking a moment to reflect on the increasing difficulty of maintaining one’s privacy in an increasingly connected […]

November 26, 2012
1 Comment

Social Networking: Blurring the Professional Boundary

Dental Office Education

Social Media and Legal Considerations for Dentistry

As readers of this blog know, we love to discuss how social media tools can improve the patient experience via social networking platforms. While social networking provides a new and intimate layer of service to patients, it also comes with unintended gotchas emanating from the […]

Tag: patient privacy

Social Distancing in Dentistry: HIPAA Compliance and Teledentistry Partners