Q:  I am thinking of having a member of my staff write our compliance manual, what are your feelings on this?

A:  A compliance manual is a complex project requiring research and specialized expertise.  When written properly it reflects the policies & procedures of your office based upon the guidelines and regulations from nine regulatory agencies.  Also it must be kept current as new regulations are published.  The fact is both time and money will be spent on writing your compliance manual no matter who does the work, the difference will be how long, how much, and the end results. To answer your question, I do not recommend writing your own compliance manual and I also do not recommend patients do their own dental work, instead seek the service of an expert.

Q: Are dental professionals required to have Healthcare Provider level CPR training for license renewal?

A: Although I highly recommend that all dental professionals, from front office to back get the Healthcare Provider level CPR training, the answer to your question currently is No.  Referring to the Dental Practice Act, Article 4, Chapter 1, Section 1016, mandatory courses required by the board for license renewal is the Dental Practice Act, Dental Board Infection Control Regulations 1005, and a course in Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR approved by American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

When it comes to patient safety the best training and the best skills is paramount – for onsite CPR Training in the Greater Bay Area, I recommend contacting Roland Guy at Critical Care Solutions, 916.226.6053, visit their website: www.criticalcaresolutions.com

Q:  Are onsite seminars better than attending an open seminar?

A:  When it comes to compliance and infection control training I believe onsite seminars offer a huge advantage over open seminars. Think about it – using your office as the model, an onsite seminar now becomes personalized training and hands-on guidance that produces immediate tangible results, something that cannot be accomplish while sitting in a conference or meeting room. Don’t get me wrong, open seminars provide valuable information and positive learning environments, I personally conduct 22 open seminars each year, but some critical skill concepts must be shown and not told; it’s like trying to do dentistry over the phone.

Q: I am a RDA and work for a dentist who reuses disposable items, can I be held responsible for using disposable items because I follow my employer’s policy?

A: YES – your professional license is yours and not your employers, what comes with that license is your responsibility to be compliant with the regulations and your employer can’t take that away.  I suggest looking for another employer, one that puts patient and employee safety above profits, but look hard because the practice of reusing disposables is very common!

Q:  Is it true that the Dental Board of California only accepts Continuing Education Certificates that are issued by Registered Providers?

A:  YES – the Dental Board only approves Continuing Education Certificates that are issued by Registered Providers who are registered with the Dental Board of California.  I suggest making sure by checking out the provider by asking for their RP number and going to the Dental Board’s License Verification website: www.dbc.ca.gov/verification/license_verification.shtml

Q:  Is there a difference between a Dental Compliance & Safety Expert and an OSHA Consultant?

A: YES – a Dental Compliance & Safety Expert handles all regulations that pertains to a dental office and not just OSHA.  This includes Federal OSHA, Cal/OSHA, HIPAA, Dental Board of California, Consumer Affairs, Federal Department of Health Services, California Department of Health Services, Labor Board and City & County ordinances.  In addition a Dental Compliance & Safety Expert covers the quality assurance requirements by insurance companies like Delta Dental, Signa, Blue Cross, etc. An OSHA Consultant focus on OSHA regulations only, but since OSHA regulations are only 5 % of the total regulations requirements for a dental office in California having a Dental Compliance & Safety Expert makes smart business sense.

Q:  How is a dental office expected to keep-up with the raising cost of compliance?

A:  If you take a look at the last ten years, cost associated with compliance did not increase as a result of regulation. However compliance cost analysis of dental office we conducted did disclose the increase in cost of compliance was management purchasing products and/or services that were not necessary and in all cases did not benefit the dental office at all, also a huge cost factor was labor due to inexperienced and undertrained employees. Being compliant is not an option and the cost associated with being compliant is part of doing business but it is a cost that can be reduced and controlled if you know how.

Q: Where can I purchase an Emergency Medical Kit?

A: Contact Roland Guy at Critical Care Solutions: 916.226.6053 or go to their website: www.criticalcaresolutions.com

Q: Do I need to provide training for my staff every two years?

A: You must provide staff training when a need occurs, like using new chemicals, equipment, etc. or as new staff is added.  In addition you should conduct update training when regulations are released or revised, like the Table of Permitted Duties which changes twice a year and the Dental Board Infection Control Regulations which is revised yearly.  In OSHA’s case, the minimum staff training is yearly, the key topics are: Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Injury & Illness Prevention, and Hazard Communications.

Q: Is it true that a Dental Assistant who has a Coronal Polishing Certificate can perform coronal polishing if supervised by a dentist?

A: No it is not true, in order for a Dental Assistant to activate their Coronal Polishing Certificate, they must become a Registered Dental Assistant. Refer to the Table of Permitted Duties issued by the Dental Board of California, www.dbc.ca.gov for more information.