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I teach the principle that “if it is not documented, it did not happen”, which is still true. Today, though, there is a new concern…. “You documented it, but was it really necessary, did it really exist and did you really do it?” More practices today are using electronic charting platforms. There are certainly pros and cons to doing so, which is beyond the scope of this blog post. What is important is that the software used today allows providers to template their notes, which are often necessarily-detailed and repetitive. The problem with using templates, especially those with pre-populated answers...

• The terminology around masks and respirators is the cause of a lot of confusion. You use N-95 masks, which you call “masks”. The N-95 mask is classified by OSHA as Face Filtering Respirators (FFR). As such, N-95 respirator masks are subject to the requirements OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (1910.134).

ICYMI - Yes, Texas Gov. Abbott lifted the mask requirement and is allowing restaurants to open 100% (effective March 10th, 2021). How does this impact you, your staff, and your practice? Very little! The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners’ COVID-19 Rule found in Rule 108.7(16) (standard of care) remains in effect until June 18th, 2021 unless or until acted upon by the Board. Considering the Board met less than two weeks ago to modify and re-affirm this rule – the requirements will likely remain in full force until they expire. You can reach the rule directly on the TSBDE website here....

Every day more dentists make the inevitable transition to electronic dental records (EDR) and use of charting templates. There are some definite pros and cons to using charting templates. Let’s take a quick look at each:   Pro’s •Help you quickly document a ton of pertinent negative findings and other information (i.e. documentation of medical necessity) that is reported for most patients•Provide for uniform formatting, minimized spelling/ grammatical errors•Makes charting so simple your assistants can do much of it•Is easier to read than your handwriting•Provides for timely documentation Con’s •They need to be modified from patient to patient to account...

HIPAA Compliance means having written policies and enforcing them! You should have employee medical records, no not dental records, medical records. OSHA medical records include information about work-related exposures, illnesses, and injuries. These records also include hepatitis B vaccination records. These records are not protected under HIPAA and, as such, are not Protected Health Information. Another term you should know is ‘Workforce’. Your workforce is your employees, volunteers, trainees, and other persons whose conduct, in the performance of work for a covered entity, is under the direct control of such entity, whether or not they are paid by the covered entity....