The mindset for dentistry is on OSHA where it should be on the Dental Board of California which is under Consumer Affairs. I am amazed to find dental offices focused on issues like labeling and MSDS binders more than sterilization and infection control. It is clear that the dental professional needs to become more aware as to what they must know and do regarding patient safety. Patient safety is paramount and it must be delivered consistently but only can be achieved when everyone is on the right page armed with the right knowledge. The Table of Permitted Duties and the Dental Board Infection Control Regulations is a good place to start! Visit the Dental Board’s websites: www.dbc.ca.gov

When it comes to dental compliance do you listen to those who know or do you listen to those who sell?

When choosing a seminar or compliance service you should select on the bases of getting quality how-to information from an expert, the kind of information and expertise that produces results and moves your office forward. Stop listening to those who sell gimmicks and produce nothing but BS.  This choice will cost you many times over in fines, citations, and litigation. Remember these two life teachings – “if it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t” and “you get what you paid for”

Q: Should my hygienists attend your seminar, they feel it is unnecessary since they get OSHA training at their other office they work at.

A: I wonder what your hygienists tell the employer at the other office they work at???

There is a lot more to dental compliance than OSHA, in my seminar OSHA is only 5% of the material I present.. I am amazed why dentist leave out key employees in meetings, trainings or seminars then think their office is compliant and everyone is on the same page as a “team”. I am also amazed why dentists allow their hygienists to refuse to follow policies & procedures or do things their way – are they not EMPLOYEES and are you not the EMPLOYER, get it?

Hygienists, why do you feel that you are above everyone else in the office and that there is nothing new to learn because you have infinite intelligence? How do you expect to contribute to the standard of the office and be a team player when you are not even close to being on the right page?

Now before I start getting a ton of hate email let me clear something up, my comments ARE NOT directed to ALL hygienists, I have worked with some of the greatest hygienists in the profession, these people in my mind are TRUE healthcare professionals of the highest caliber, they know who they are and they make-up only 2% of the hygienists population.

Bottom line, in order to be a Patient Compliant office that provides “Excellence in Patient Safety and Infection Control” every member of the team MUST be pulling in the same direction. Every member must add value to what they do, be able to teach others by example and themselves be teachable.

Only 2% of dentists will put patient and employee safety before profits – it’s a real shame! Maybe it’s time for the rest to look at another career!

When it comes to Patient Safety there are three classifications for dental offices – 1. Safe, 2. Think You’re Safe, 3. Not Even Close!

Patient safety shouldn’t  be a guessing game, your office is either Patient Compliant or not!

I am very busy working with new clients who had requested my services because their practice was inspected by OSHA or the Dental Board and the results were not favorable.  In the process of bringing these dental offices into compliance I discovered something they all had in common, they all had some type of compliance services or product which they relied on but apparently failed.  Here is the list,

1. Online OSHA training
2. OSHA training videos
3. OSHA monthly newsletter service
4. Attend dental associations seminars & conventions
5. OSHA training provided by a dental supply representative
6. OSHA training provided by their waste management company
7. Compliance Manuals which they download from a dental association
8. Compliance Manuals provided by their waste management company
9. Service from compliance service companies who guaranteed to pay any fines

Dental compliance training is a hands-on, show me learning process that should be conducted in your office by an expert.

91 % of the dentists who thought their dental office was compliant were wrong. I “think so” doesn’t  make a office safe!

97% of the people who have been put in charge of OSHA compliance for their dental office feel they do not have the knowledge and experience to do the job. Doctors are you expecting any results?

Passing a Delta Dental inspection is a good thing but not a gauge for an inspection by OSHA or the Dental Board.  I get calls everyday from Dental Offices that passed Delta Dental inspections with flying colors but didn’t pass OSHA or Dental Board inspections.  They call me for advice and direction wanting to know what went wrong and how-to correct the problem. The answer is quite simple – set the right standard and do the things to achieve it.  Example – if you set a standard to pass a Delta Dental inspection you will not pass inspections that require a higher standard.  This is why 9 out of 10 Dental Offices fail inspections, their standards are too low.

My advise – establish a standard that every patient will receive the highest quality of care and the highest level of safety, then do the things to achieve it  in other words make your office “Patient Compliant”, your office will pass every inspection every time. Remember it isn’t government regulations that makes a dental office safe it’s the people who work in it!

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!