The Compliance Divas Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Join the Divas as they share their experiences as dental assistants and consulting with dental assistants in observance of Dental Assistants Week.  Plus, we'd love to hear how you are celebrating this week in your office.  Simply click on one of our social media icons and share your celebrations! Resources: The Compliance Divas: https://www.thecompliancedivas.com/ ADAA: https...

Send us Fan Mail As we all know, there is heightened awareness around water safety. This not only includes water used during patient care, but also how that same water is discharged into waste water streams. This podcast addresses specific requirements for dental practices related amalgam waste in your office. State Compliance Report: https://solmetex.com/compliance-reports/ Solmetex: https://solm...

Send us Fan Mail Are you receiving mailings to purchase labor posters to verify your compliance? Are you confused about what you actually need? The Compliance Divas will share with listens how to find these posters at no cost on the federal and state government websites. Elaw Poster Advisor - https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/posters.htm OSHA Job Safety and Health Poster    https://www.osha.gov/public...

Send us Fan Mail Antibiotic prescription writing has become a concern throughout all of healthcare. According an article in the JADA, dentists prescribe 10% of all outpatient antibiotics. CDC Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/index.html  The Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Checklist https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/communi...

Send us Fan Mail On Jan. 31st President Biden announced that the public health emergency related to COVID-19 will end.  Will this affect dental practices?  Will CDC and OSHA change recommendation on PPE, screening patients and other pandemic related activities?  This episode will provide insight into what this means for dentistry going forward. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Adminis...

Send us Fan Mail California Dental Professionals take note! There are new CAL/OSHA laws called "COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations".  They were approved by the Office of Administrative Law is February 3, 2023 . The regulations will be in effect until  February 3, 2025 and employers must comply.  CAL/OSHA has a reputation for being aggressive when it come to enforcement of Occu...

Send us Fan Mail Using cassettes  increases clinical efficiency, improves workflow and  saves time. In this special episode The Divas discuss how cassettes reduce injuries, save space , and protect instruments. Dental teams who have worked with cassettes say they will never go back. Listen to this Podcast to hear why. Resources: 6 Myths About Instrument Management Systems  https://www.hufriedygrou...

Send us Fan Mail Leveraging social media and collecting positive online review are an ideal way to grow your practice. However, there is a fine line between maintaining patient privacy under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and using social media. This week's episode will discuss what not to say on social media. Permitted uses and disclosures. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidanc...

Send us Fan Mail Sexual harassment can be a sensitive subject. This podcast will help listeners understand what sexual harassment is and how to appropriately deal with this conduct. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) - https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment National Archives Factsheet on Sexual Harassment  https://www.archives.gov/files/eeo/policy/facts-sexual-harassment.pdf Free Calif...

Send us Fan Mail With the tripledemic threat--COVID, RSV and the seasonal flu, it's very important to understand when exactly you should return to work. In this episode the Divas discuss the September 2023 CDC COVID-19 return to work guidelines. Be sure to download a copy for your office from the link below. September 23, 2023 Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2...

Send us Fan Mail As the new year begins, we face continuing challenges in infection prevention and control.  In this episode, the Divas discuss some of the pressing issues including the latest Omicron variant, XBB.1.5. Resources: CDC Flu Activity and Surveillance - https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivitysurv.htm CDC Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is sponsored by Dentisafe. This week the Divas go deeper into the finer points of DUWL testing.  If you are unsure about the safety of your DUWL or having difficulty achieving passing results, check out this week's episode.  CDC Guidelines on Dental Unit Water Quality - https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/summary-infection-prevention-practices/dental-...

Send us Fan Mail Training is critical to enhance the skill set and knowledge of our individual team members, particularly during the labor shortage.  This episode the Divas will discuss how to make training programs effective and fun.  Training Resources: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard - https://www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens/general World.edu- https://world.edu/how-to-create-an-effective-t...

Send us Fan Mail Are you gearing up for 2023! In this episode, the Divas will help you wrap up 2022 on a successful compliance note with these timely year end reminders. Take away OSHA, Infection Control, HIPAA and HR tips you can immediately use to close out the year safely and successfully.  OSHA Safety and Health Topics - Dentistry - https://www.osha.gov/dentistry CDC Infection Prevention Check...

Send us Fan Mail  Not responding to patient requests for records within the legally required time frame is a HIPAA violation. While most offices have good intentions to release records, they frequently become confused how to handle a request when the patient has a balance. Check out this episode to ensure you avoid a patient complaint to the Office of Civil Rights for not releasing records or over...

Send us Fan Mail The holiday season often brings cheers, excitement, and patients bearing yummy goodies. Some dental practices go all out with holiday decorations. While we want our patients to feel “at home” in our office, there are certain things that should not be in the treatment room whether it's the holiday season or not. CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dentistry - 2003 - https:...

Send us Fan Mail With increased supply costs, it may be tempting to reuse certain items that are indicated for single use only. However, there can be serious repercussions if single use items are reused, such as disease transmission from one patient to another. Check out this week's podcast for tips and strategies when using single use items in your practice. Resources: CDC Division of Oral H...

Send us Fan Mail Protecting your patients' privacy may sound straightforward, yet many times confusing circumstances arise and you are not sure of the best course of action. In this episode, the Divas answer some of the common HIPAA compliance questions that arise. Resources: Dept. of Health and Human Services - Health Information Privacy   https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/271/...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the Compliance Divas discuss the CDC's recently issued  Health Alert on dental unit waterlines.   Also featured in this episode are updated statistics on the prevalence of influenza and RSV, and the new variants that continue to cause COVID-19 infections to occur.   Health experts believe that we could have a "tridemic" in the US, of COVID, RSV and...

Send us Fan Mail It's a known fact, dental unit waterlines (DUWL) can become highly colonized with bacteria.  So how do you know if your DUWL are really quality-controlled and meet current safety standards? In this episode, the Compliance Divas discuss the reality of water testing compliance levels and why routine testing and shocking is key. Resources: CDC Health Alert Network - Dental Unit...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a piece of equipment isn't working properly or you don't follow the proper steps for troubleshooting or using the device? What you do next is critical because you just may end up unintentionally creating a hazardous situation in your practice. Listen in as the Divas help you avoid potentially unsafe and dangerous situations in your office. Resources: Re...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever had a Service Dog or Service Animal accompany your patient to their dental appointment? Can service animals enter the treatment room? Are there infection control considerations?  Are comfort, companion, support, therapy and emotional support animals, considered “service” animals? In this podcast the Divas discuss FAQs surrounding Service Animals in the Dental Setting...

Send us Fan Mail Dental Assistants and Hygienists are in high demand and short supply these days. The Compliance Divas sit down with Kevin Henry co-founder of IgniteDA to discuss how dental practices are affected by the high number of dental team professionals leaving the field and not enough skilled newcomers entering it.                                                   https://www.thecompliance...

Send us Fan Mail Do you know about NEW UPDATED CDC COVID-19 Guidelines published on 9-23-22? The COVID-19 pandemic has been a roller coaster of changing guidelines, recommendations, and standards. The Compliance Divas have worked hard to stay abreast of the changes that affect dentistry. Thanks to our perseverance, expertise and connections, you’ll be able to stay right on top of Infection Control...

Send us Fan Mail During the COVID-19 pandemic, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the effectiveness of surface disinfectants.   This episode will discuss characteristics for selecting, proper use and misuse of surface disinfectants. Resources: CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-care Settings 2003 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5217.pdf   CDC Guidelines for Disinfection an...