Talking with the Toothcop

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...

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 i...

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 prac...

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] Medi...

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 Toothc...

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....

HIPAA security compliance isn't talked about often in the dental community. But the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) can and are investigating dental offices. If you're not properly or adequately protecting your patient's protected health information (PHI) you're at risk of a hefty fine. In this episode of Talking With The Toothcop, I talk about the HIPAA security rule, business associate agreements,...

In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Dwight Shreve joins Andrea and I to cover some of the most-asked questions that have accumulated during the Coronavirus pandemic. We talk about face masks and respirators and how to use them properly. We also talk about addressing issues in your practice and the proper procedure if a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19. If you have unanswered quest...

The impact of the Coronavirus is leading to heightened emotions and increased tension. I've been fielding a lot of phone calls from dentists who've had patients test positive for COVID-19—after they'd been seen in office. Some dentists have had staff who have been exposed or are testing positive for the virus. Dental practices are immersed in chaos and navigating through conflict has been difficul...

Are you looking for a tax consultant for your dental practice? Do you understand the necessity of tax planning and preparation for your business? Even better—are you aware of the tax savings you're missing out on? Tax Consultant Craig Cody joins us to talk about financial planning & taxes. Craig Cody is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the President & Founder of Craig Cody & Company. He was...

Many dental practices have been sitting closed, deemed non-essential businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Or they've only seen patients on an emergency basis. States will soon slowly start reopening businesses. But that begs the question—how will this crisis change dental practices? Will there be new standards put in place? Will infection control finally get the attention it deserves? Mike Ru...

Critical Incident Stress Management . Unless you're in the military or a first responder, you're likely not familiar with this terminology. It is a protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. I've shared many times that I was a cop before becoming the Toothcop. But what many don't know is that I was also a chaplain. I was trained to help fellow first-responders through physi...

Sterilization processes are always important in dental practices to protect your staff and your customers. During the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone is especially concerned about proper procedure. You have to follow Instructions for Use (IFUs) and properly sanitize and sterilize your instruments. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Stephen Kovach—whom I am now referring to as the "Godfat...

Today I talk with my good friend and compliance colleague India Chance.  This podcast is a way to update you on the rapidly changing situation in Dentistry as it relates to the Coronavirus. We are updating you on the changes and how to access information to help your practice.  If you need help with compliance or have questions about infection control call us at 817-755-0035 www.dentalcompliance.c...

We can all agree, things are going badly right now. Times are tough. This podcast is a group effort- an attempt to help you re-focus your efforts and turn this downturn into a profitable time for your business. Our think tank Duane Tinker- AKA: "The Tooth Cop" CEO of Dental Compliance Specialists, Andrea Baysinger, Chief Client Happiness Officer and co-host extraordinaire and Jacque Tinker, COO of...

Leadership in dentistry is severely lacking in this day and age. I'm not talking about governing bodies—but dentists who are true leaders in their field and practice. Steve Dove, DDS, and Bryan Crawford join me to have a raw and real discussion about cultivating leadership, our heart for dentistry, and our shared vision of growing leaders in the industry.  Disclaimer : we recorded this at the Voic...

Have you considered adding a dental membership plan to your practice? Have you looked at the pros and cons but just haven't pulled the trigger? My guest today, Jordon Comstock, has simplified the process by creating BoomCloud—Dental Membership Software. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop we talk about why a dental membership plan is worth it, having systems in place, and the BoomCloud in...

While it's a phrase straight from the mouth of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, it holds true. Safety never takes a holiday , and the safety of your staff and patients should be first and foremost in your mind. Dental professionals need to be educated on proper procedures for cleaning and sterilizing the tools that they're using every day so they're not exposing people to pathogens.  Over the course of this...

In this special Q&A episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Jacque and I will tackle questions we've been receiving from listeners. We want to preface this episode by saying that we never intend to promote our business with this podcast. First and foremost, we want to focus on educating the dental community about compliance. However, we've received so many questions about what we do that we thought...

Dental insurance billing is something many dental offices struggle with because it can be so complex. When do you bill? What rates do you bill? What if the patient has two insurance coverages? How do you keep your office organized and implement a system? It's a lot to remember. Colleen Huff joins me in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop to answer some of those questions—and help you simplif...

How to Utilize Instructions for Use in Infection ControlInstructions for Use (IFUs) should be included with any and every medical device that you use in your practice. Learning how to properly use and follow IFUs will aid in proper infection control. As we are rolling into 2020, improvement in infection control in dentistry is at the forefront of my mind. So in this episode of Talking with the Too...

Airborne diseases in dentistry are unfortunately prevalent but preventable . Protecting yourself, your staff, and your patients from aerosols should be a priority in your practice. We are all up-in-arms about bloodborne pathogens and do everything in our power to prevent them, but we neglect airborne diseases. That needs to change! Michelle Strange joins me in this episode of Talking with the Toot...

Dental billing is an ever-changing process. As a dental provider, how do you stay on top of changing regulations and coding? Do you outsource your billing? Leslie Icenogle joins me today to talk about medical billing for dentistry and where it overlaps with dental billing. We also chat about outsourcing your billing and continuing education for your staff.  Leslie got her start in pediatric dentis...

What are some of the security measures you need to have in place to protect your practice? In today's day and age, security breaches can come from many different directions. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Andrea and I will lay out some ways you can protect your business. From security breaches to controlled substance regulations—we've got you covered.  Outline of This Episode [0:20]...

Everyone lives by the mantra that medical emergencies in the dental office will "never happen to us ". Patients certainly don't think about that when they schedule a dentist appointment. But it is your job as a provider to be prepared for the unthinkable. Failure to plan is a plan to fail . There is risk in what you do whether you think about it or not. We cover medical emergencies in detail in th...