The Compliance Divas Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The X-ray Apron in your Dental Practice is subject to wear and tear. Do you know how to inspect your apron for internal compromise? Do you store the apron properly, to prevent damage? This episode will provide do's and don'ts and tips to extend the life and usefulness of your apron.    Resources: Kerr Total Care - Wall mount X-ray Apron Hanger https://bit.ly/44zSL6a Univ...

Send us Fan Mail All dental practices are subject to safety inspections of their radiography equipment.  Each state determines the frequency of the inspections, and the safety requirements.  Learn how to access your state's requirements, and be prepared when the inspector walks in the office and feel confident that your equipment will pass inspection. EPA Radiation Protection Programs Map: ht...

Send us Fan Mail How do you lead your team on OSHA and Infection Control when no one wants to follow? Even if most team members buy in, one non compliant or defiant employee can jeopardize safety for patients and rest of the team. The right message delivered the right way can turn even the most resistant  team member into an OSHA and Infection Control Super Star.  Courageous Conversations, Katheri...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the Compliance Divas interview the well-known dental litigator, attorney Ed Zinman.  He was a former dentist, periodontist and highly successful litigator in California.  You don't want to miss this segment to learn what caused dentists to be sued and how you can avoid these same blunders.  A Dentist's Guide to the Law:  https://bit.ly/45jiQHk          ...

Send us Fan Mail No one wants to face regulatory compliance fines or have to defend a law suit.  It boils down to risk - how you effectively manage risk.  Risk assessments identify the need for efficiency and incorporate change. Risk assessments help gather data to prioritize risks, optimize our readiness and protect our dental practice, and on a personal level - protect our dental licenses.  Reso...

Send us Fan Mail The Compliance Divas bring another episode of infectious disease updates that may affect dental patients and teams.   Learn about updates to MRSA guidance, the new RSV vaccine and cases of locally acquired (non-travel related) in the U.S., and more. Resources: CDC Resources on https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/index.html MRSA  SHEA Updated guidance on MRSA https://bit.ly/3Ov8grj FDA Announ...

Send us Fan Mail The CDC is now monitoring a new concerning pathogen--the Candida Auris fungus. Candida Auris or C. Auris is concerning due to it's rapid transmission and the fact that it multi-drug resistant. This episode will raise your awareness of C. Aurus in dental settings and provide practical advice to be sure your current surface disinfectant will kill this deadly pathogen. Resources...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is the second part of episode #106 - Emergency Evacuation Planning.  As workplace violence, especially domestic violence and active shooter incidents are increasing, the Dept. of Homeland Security, the FBI and OSHA are encouraging all employment settings to have an emergency action plan place.  The Divas will discuss the philosophy of Run - Hid - Fight, in the case of...

Send us Fan Mail Dental practices are responsible for ensuring that the treatment water from their dental units is safe for patients and the dental team.  The key to managing the dental unit water quality is to establish a protocol and follow it consistently.  This episode examines all of the components of a successful water quality management protocol. CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dent...

Send us Fan Mail Recent dealings with the Office of Civil Rights' HIPAA investigator provides insight on some of the first things the investigative lawyer looks for.  This episode will assist you in making sure you have basic elements in place for the HIPAA Privacy Rule, such as the Notice of Privacy Practices. How to make a complaint:  https://bit.ly/3JGWg35 Model NPP required elements:  htt...

Send us Fan Mail Staying current with new technology and products that enhance and/or improve infection control and patient safety is a must! In this episode, the Divas discuss the latest technology, research and products presented at the annual OSAP conference. This episode will have an immediate impact on infection control processes and safety in your office or organization. OSAP: https://www.os...

Send us Fan Mail Do you use DEA controlled substances or pharmaceutical medications in your practice? Not sure? Our guest speakers from Health First will review the difference in the various pharmaceutical medications in dental settings along with the proper tracking and disposal of these items. Listen in and take away best practices for managing narcotics and pharmaceutical waste in your practice...

Send us Fan Mail On 5/11/23 the CDC released updated guidance on ventilation in buildings, including healthcare facilities.  This episode discusses these guidelines and how they apply to dental practice settings, including such topics as air exchanges per hour (ACH), HVAC settings and filtration and the use of HEPA air purification devices. Recources : CDC Improving Ventilation in Buildings https:...

Send us Fan Mail After being detected in May 2022, U.S. Mpox cases increased rapidly, peaking in August of 2022. In 1 year, more than 30,000 cases were reported. DHCP need to be well versed on the trending infectious disease outbreaks so they can  answer questions  from patients who may be concerned.  CDC and M-pox  https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/index.html MMWR - The CDC Domestic Mpox Response...

Send us Fan Mail Even though the COVID-19 Medical Emergency Declaration has ended, COVID-19 infections have not.   Although some guidelines, such as practicing source control (masking at all times in the healthcare facility) is no longer required, most of the CDC's recommendations remain unchanged.   In this episode, the Compliance Divas will discuss these updated guidelines in detail and rel...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition, the Divas commemorate a 2 year anniversary  of podcasting. The Compliance Divas recap their favorite episodes and give a heartfelt shout out to the many sponsors and special guests we've had over the past 2 years. What is your favorite podcast?  We'd love to hear from you! The Compliance Divas podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/ycxy3rzv              ...

Send us Fan Mail In recent years we have seen increases in severe weather outbreaks and other types of emergencies that may require a dental facility to be evacuated.   This episode will explore OSHA's requirements and important facts that dental teams should consider when developing or updating their safety plans. Resources: Elements Necessary for a Violation of the OSHA General Duty Clause ...

Send us Fan Mail More than 15% of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCAs) occur in a public location; therefore, public access AEDs and community training have a large role to play in early defibrillation. AED's play an important role in saving lives in dental settings as well. How well do you know your AED?  How to maintain an AED: https://bit.ly/3Hk5i4M AED Fact Sheet: https://bit.ly/3HkpTW...

Send us Fan Mail In a medical emergency, do you know where your Oxygen tank is, how to hook up hoses and start the flow of Oxygen? Does the tank have enough Oxygen to deliver? Our Podcast guest, Henry Serrano of Blue Ocean Safety shares what dental professionals need to know about their Oxygen tank.  Henry's Blog on How Long Does Brain Activity Last After Cardiac Arrest? https://blueoceansafe...

Send us Fan Mail Many people enjoy watching reels and videos on social media.  If you are already posting videos or are thinking about posting videos, this episode will provide valid considerations to be sure your goals align with that of the practices and regulatory requirements. Resources: Rita Zamora Connections - https:www.ritazamora.com The HIPAA Journal - HIPAA Social Media Rules https://www...

Send us Fan Mail  If your office does not require the use of respirators, what are the OSHA requirements if you decide to wear a N95 voluntarily? This podcast provides an overview of OSHA's requirements and important considerations for your respiratory protection.  Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)...

Send us Fan Mail How do you know if your instruments are really sterile? What if your sterilizer is not performing its job? In this special episode, the Compliance Divas cover best practices for sterilization monitoring  and how to handle a failed sterilizer test. Best Practice for Routine Sterilizer Efficacy Monitoring: https://bit.ly/44fngiZf CDC Sterilization Monitoring:  https://bit.ly/44xvOBY...

Send us Fan Mail Background checks can prevent employee embezzlement.  In this episode, David Harris,  embezzlement expert discusses how embezzlement adversely affects dental practices and provide tips for avoiding this dilemma. Join us in listening to some of David's jaw-dropping cases. Embezzlement Risk Self Assessment Questionnaire: https://bit.ly/2SDSQlG Prosperident: https://www.prosperi...

Send us Fan Mail Coming live from the Hinman Meeting, the Divas discuss sterilizer monitoring, also known as spore testing and use of biological indicators as part of the instrument reprocessing protocol.   In order to ensure that instruments are safe for reuse, dental teams must verify their heat sterilizers are functioning properly.  This episode will discuss the proper method for performing the...

Send us Fan Mail Recently, the CDC held two virtual listening room sessions to solicit feedback and insights about dental specific resources on the CDC website. Participants in the listening rooms included consultants, dentists, team members, educators and manufacturers and distributors. This podcast shines a light on the free resources offered by the CDC and more.   CDC Oral Health Frequently Ask...