Infection Control is Not Optional: Dental Practitioners Need to be Involved and Risk Management & HIPAA Compliance in the Dental Office
Louis DePaola, DDS, MS, FAAOM, FACD, FICD
Bio
Louis DePaola, DDS, MS, FAAOM, FACD, FICD is Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Professor, Department of Oncology and Diagnostic. Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Overview
Part 1: Infection Control is Not Optional: Dental Practitioners Need to be Involved
This program will provide dental providers with the latest information on the prevention of recent emerging diseases such as monkeypox, measles, polio and COVID-19 in the dental office. Paramount to controlling this pandemic are the principles of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and enhancements in respiratory protection that may need to be implemented.
Emphasis will be placed on compliance issues and how a practical, cost effective “safe workplace” can be achieved in 2022.
Course Objectives
This program will help the oral care provider to:
- Understand the routes of transmission of infectious diseases and how to break the chain of infection.
- Know the updated recommendations for Standard, Contact and Airborne Precautions.
- Learn the principles of respiratory etiquette to reduce the impact of colds and flu.
- Learn what is new in the 2016, and 2022 Guidelines and how to develop a practical and cost-effective infection control methodology to safely treat patients infected with bloodborne and airborne diseases, achieve a “safe workplace” and comply
with the most current CDC/ OSHA recommendations.
Part 2: Risk Management & HIPAA Compliance in the Dental Office
2026 Course Description
Modern dental practice is challenging. Patients are much more demanding and are very willing to file a complaint or initiate legal action. If the proper procedures and policies are not followed, significant adverse consequences may occur.
How do dentists reduce their expo- sure to these complaints? The answer the charting and documentation. This course will review the necessary components of the dental record required in Maryland by COMAR 1044.3; and how to prepare for litigation and/or dental board action. It is imperative that each dental practice learn how to lower their overall risk profile. In this program the principles of risk management will be presented, and examples of risk reduction will be explained.
