The Texas dental board let the COVID-19 rule expire (rule 108.7 subsection 16). How does that impact dentists moving forward? What rules do some providers still need to follow? What procedures are still recommended by the CDC? We cover it all in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop!  Outline of This Episode [3:20] The impact of the expiration of the COVID-19 rule [4:41] The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard [9:25] 1910.504: The Mini Respiratory Protection Program [16:35] Subscribe to...

Are you doing proper sedation and anesthesia reviews? Are you making sure you don’t have drugs sitting in your office that expired pre-COVID? Are you checking with a patient’s primary care provider before administering anesthesia? Being busy and overwhelmed isn’t an excuse for not doing your due diligence. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I touch on the importance of doing a proper review.  Outline of This Episode [4:09] Sedation and anesthesia reviews [8:49]...

Last week, I read an article about an oral surgeon in North Carolina who got busted after a patient died. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we’re going to talk about what happened, why it happened, and how it could have been prevented. This isn’t to shame the dentist or staff involved, but to learn from the mistakes that were made. Tragedies in the dental office should never happen.  Outline of This Episode [0:22] Death in the dental office [8:50] Get professional help before...

I recently realized it’s been so long since I’ve played my guitar that the strings have started to rust. It’s sad and embarrassing to realize I’ve let something I love that’s important to me get forgotten. But it made me question: Where do you have rusty strings in your dental practice? Where are you not putting in the energy and effort into things that you should be? Have you let the things that are important to you go to the wayside? In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, our goal is...

Who says compliance training can’t be fun—or funny? In this fun episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we take a short break from our scheduled programming to hopefully share some laughs. Plus, we drop some important news about upcoming events. Don’t miss it! Outline of This Episode [2:08] Why OSHA training is dangerous [6:44] An intentional demonstration [12:19] Bootcamp is coming BACK! Why OSHA training is dangerous Those who know me know I LOVE public speaking. Recently, I was doing an...

In the first episode of this series, we talked about what a corporate integrity agreement is. In the second episode, we covered focusing on compliance. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we are going to walk through an actual corporate integrity agreement. If you’re caught in the OIG’s crosshairs, this is just one example of what you might expect.  NOTE: These are NOT confidential and are public documents on the OIG website. Outline of This Episode [2:15] A pediatric corporate...

In the last episode, we talked about what a corporate integrity agreement is and what compliance programs should look like. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we continue our series on corporate integrity agreements by looking at the OIG’s Focus on Compliance roundtable discussion. If you participate with Medicare or Medicaid, you HAVE to pay attention to this.  Outline of This Episode [3:23] Corporate Integrity Agreements [5:21] The focus on compliance document [8:59] The board...

This episode is the beginning of a series about corporate integrity agreements. One of the important elements that is part of a corporate integrity agreement is implementing a compliance program. Why is it so important to have a compliance program? What should it consist of? How can a compliance program save your practice? Find out in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop! Outline of This Episode [2:40] Corporate integrity agreements  [4:41] Compliance program guidelines [6:48] Why you...

Emergency medical kits are essential for dental practices—but most have a kit thrown under a cabinet that’s stocked with expired medications. Scott Sankary is the Co-Founder at Protect It First Aid & Safety, a company striving to change this unsafe practice. They supply emergency products and monitor expiration dates to keep customers in compliance. What do they offer to dental practices? How is their solution better than their competitors? Find out in this episode of Talking with the...

Are you cultivating a culture of compliance in your dental practice? Are you careful about what you post on social media? Are you staying on top of X-ray machine maintenance? In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I dive into some important compliance reminders you need to be mindful of—especially because OSHA is cracking the whip. Outline of This Episode [3:21] It’s time to create a culture of safety [4:59] A brief social media etiquette guide [6:22] OSHA is stepping it...

If you fail to follow the infection control protocols that you KNOW will prevent the transmission of disease, you’ll find yourself dealing with an infection control breach. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, India Chance, Michelle Strange, Andrea, and I wrap up our conversation on infection control breaches. We talk about posting on social media, the CDC’s steps to evaluate an infection control breach, and things you can easily implement to prevent infections in your dental office....

What qualifies as an infection control breach? What is the easiest way to prevent them? In this episode of Talking with the Toothchop, India Chance and Michelle Strange return for a conversation about infection control breaches. We talk about what they are, why we can’t ignore them, and how we can do our part to prevent them.  Outline of This Episode [7:05] What is an infection control breach? [13:11] Have written protocols in place [15:56] The most common infection control breach [21:30]...

Why is the role of an infection control coordinator so important? How do you simplify safety so any dental office can appoint an infection control coordinator and properly train them? In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Michelle Strange and India Chance join Andrea and I to talk about the importance of having an infection control coordinator in your dental practice.  Outline of This Episode [2:17] The importance of an infection prevention coordinator [6:27] Who should fill the...

Dr. Lisa Kane is to New England what I am to Texas. She is THE compliance guru. She practiced dentistry for 20 years before switching to consulting. After years of dealing with migraines from leaning over patients, she made the move—which she’s done for the last four years. She’s always loved the business side of dentistry and it was the perfect fit.  Outline of This Episode [0:21] Dr. Lisa Kane joins the Toothcop [3:50] Compliance, education, PHI, & civil rights [7:58] What people...

We like to provide clients all the materials they need to prepare for the next calendar year. We usually try to get it to them before Christmas, so it’s a sort of Christmas present. One of the things we include in this packet is a blank master chemical list. We’ve been getting a lot of questions about this list, as well as establishing a code of conduct. Listen to this episode to learn about both of them!  Outline of This Episode [0:40] A compliance Christmas present [5:11] Nail down your...

Needlestick injuries have been cropping up again in the last few months. These injuries are considered “occupational hazards” in dentistry—but should they be? Why is it happening? What’s the contributing cause? In this episode of Talking With The Toothcop, Andrea and I talk about this costly “never event” and how to best prevent it.  Outline of This Episode [0:52] The protocol with needlestick Injuries [5:25] Coordinating testing with patients [8:20] Annual Sharps Evaluation + Usage [10:59]...

In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we’re sharing a few more important reminders and things to stay on top of in 2021. This includes evaluating X-ray equipment, quarterly water testing, new CE requirements, completing CPR courses, and handling your exclusions monitoring. Why is it so important to stay on top of these things? Find out in this episode! Outline of This Episode [2:27] X-ray equipment [6:26] Quarterly water testing [7:53] Human trafficking CE [9:51] CPR courses [12:04]...

What’s new in 2021? CE requirements are changing, PMP self-query rules are in effect, and e-prescribing has officially kicked off. Andrea and I talk about all of the changes—and where to learn more—in this episode of Talking With The Toothcop. Don't miss it! Outline of This Episode [0:21] The first episode of 2021! [2:26] PMP Self-query [4:20] Check patient history [6:04] E-prescribing rules [9:07] NEW CE requirements PMP Self Query According to Rule 111.2, if you have a DEA registration...

If COVID has taught us anything, it’s given us clarity. The first thing you should question for 2021 is “What do you want?” Dentists are realizing that “I might” or “I should” needs to turn into a solid plan. Do you want to recover losses? Do you want to grow? Do you want to slow down? Sometimes the best way to implement goals is to have someone come alongside you to help you through the process. That’s where Tonya Burns comes in. Tonya is a consultant working exclusively with pediatric...

Texas has rolled out some regulations and rule changes that dentists need to stay on top of. From controlled substance CE changes and equipment performance evaluations to medical emergency preparedness training and sedation inspections—we cover it all in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop. Don’t miss it!  Outline of This Episode [0:21] A trip down memory lane [4:41] Controlled Substance CE changes [13:57] Controlled Substances: EPCS + patient query [19:11] The Human Trafficking...

Why do you need to monitor and audit your charting? Why is verifying that your billing is done correctly so important? Because your life and your livelihood depend on it. An ongoing evaluation process is so important to a successful compliance program. Are your standards and procedures accurate? Is your compliance program working? Are claims being submitted properly?  All of these questions are important to answer. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I walk through...

Years ago, the federal judiciary realized that federal judges needed sentencing guidelines for healthcare fraud. In the process, they issued compliance guidelines for different healthcare industries. Each incorporates the seven elements of compliance to combat healthcare fraud. The ramifications of violating the false claims act are tremendous. So what do you need to do to protect your dental practice? What are the seven elements that need to be incorporated into compliance programs? Listen...

Did you know that October is the National Substance Abuse Prevention Month? In keeping with that theme, this episode of Talking with the Toothcop is all about drug regulatory issues and updates, schedule II drug monitoring, and substance abuse prevention. We share some helpful resources and DEA regulation updates—don’t miss it! Outline of This Episode [1:33] DEA drug regulatory changes [3:53] Medicare consolidating credentialing in TX [4:28] Electronic 222 forms for schedule II drugs [6:36]...

Every five years, Texas conducts inspections of any practice that uses sedation. Some practices have recently undergone their initial inspections. From what I’ve heard, most have gone pretty well. Some are getting busted for things they consider nit-picky—like missing information on their preoperative checklist—but that the state board takes seriously. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I chat about preoperative checklist requirements, the Electronic Prescribing of...

Water is the lifeline of your dental practice. If your dental unit waterlines are covered in biofilm, you’re in trouble. How do you test your water lines properly? How do you treat your systems? What do you do if you don’t have a closed system? With the heightened awareness of spreading germs due to the Coronavirus crisis, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of prevention in your practice. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Dwight and I chat with Mike Rust and Kellie...