Talking with the Toothcop

Are PMP inquiries required for sedation meds that are dispensed in the office? A listener read through the rules in January 2020 and spoke with a sedation officer and was advised that they  did not  need to do the PMP check if they were dispensing in the office. But the way the rule is worded makes it seem as though you do need to. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I will...

In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, I share some sobering news that recently happened in Kansas. I'll also share some important updates that dentists need to be aware of that were highlighted in the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Newsletter. Stay up-to-date on the latest dentistry compliance issues—don't miss it.  Outline of This Episode [0:21] 3-year-old boy dies during dental pr...

A lot of people get the Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO) Exception wrong. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I dissect what it is. We also talk about what to do if you need patient authorization and the importance of informed consent for treatment. Don't miss it!  Outline of This Episode [0:21] Coffee + Rom-Coms [4:07] Learn more about  ProEdge Dental !...

Recently, I've dealt with some level of confusion surrounding the Hepatitis B vaccinations (HBV) and post-vaccination testing requirements. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, I'm going to cover what both OSHA and the CDC require for the HBV and post-vaccination testing.  Outline of This Episode [2:03] Hepatitis B vaccination requirements in dentistry [5:08] OSHA requirements for post...

This episode of Talking with the Toothcop is a two-parter! In the first half, you'll get a look behind the curtain and get to know me—Duane Tinker—and my co-host, Andrea Baysinger. In the second half of this episode, we share an important reminder about nitrous oxide compliance rules. Don't miss it!  Outline of This Episode [3:01] How Andrea became my co-host [6:05] I'm an introvert—until I take t...

In our last episode, we talked about how the Texas State Board allowed their COVID-19 rules to expire. We think it's a good thing! But a lot of dentists are not  happy about it. So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I dive a little deeper into the topic. We'll share why we think it's a good thing and what dentists can do moving forward.  Outline of This Episode [2:51] The fee...

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 Tem...

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...

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 happe...

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 th...

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...

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...

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 Episod...

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 Ep...

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...

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 crea...

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...

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...

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 Ep...

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...

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...

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 Inj...

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...

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...

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....