Dentistry

Jan 29, 2020
Patient Billing Challenges: Frequently Asked Questions
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, Senior Director, Patient Safety Education; and Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel
Our experts answer questions about billing issues, including when patients are unable or unwilling to pay doctor charges.

Professional Education
Internal Medicine: When Personal Relationships Interfere with the Standard of Care (Claims Corner CME)
Claims Corner CME
Physicians and dentists are often faced with the decision whether to treat friends and families without realizing the inherent risks in doing so. A review of one case will highlight some common circumstances and risks associated with the treatment of friends and family members.
0.75 Credit

Professional Education
Safe and Effective Opioid Prescribing - Georgia Edition
This three-hour learning activity provides instruction on controlled substance prescribing guidelines, recognizing signs of abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management, as delineated in Georgia Rule 360-15-.01. It also provides tools and resources to assist in educating staff and informing patients.
3.0 Credits

Professional Education
Prescribing Opioids Safely
Faced with an opioid-related epidemic that continues to bring addiction and deaths, it is important to define the role of opioids for both acute and chronic pain management. This activity spotlights the epidemic and presents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, regulations, studies, and emerging solutions to address the epidemic and allow for effective and appropriate use of these drugs.
2.5 Credits

Professional Education
Safe and Effective Opioid Prescribing - Michigan Edition
This three-hour learning activity provides instruction on controlled substance prescribing guidelines, recognizing signs of abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and requirements delineated in Michigan’s law. It also provides tools and resources to assist in educating staff and informing patients.
3.0 Credits

Professional Education
Safe and Effective Opioid Prescribing - Florida Edition
Note: this course includes information specific to physicians licensed to practice in Florida. Content is approved by the Florida Board of Medicine.
The Doctors Company recognizes the opioid epidemic in this country. This course provides insights into the risks of opioid usage, as shown by malpractice claims, and how to reduce those risks both for your patient and for your practice. The course presents updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Health and Human Services, and providers into clinical applications, tips and strategies which help you and your patients manage pain. The course covers alternatives to opioids but also recognizes that opioids have a place in medicine, for example in treating cancer patients. It covers lessons learned about their appropriate and safe use, how to reduce the dosage and duration of opioids to prevent addiction, and the patient education that is essential to ending the epidemic. The information contained in this CME activity applies to dentists.
2.0 credits

Nov 05, 2019
When Treating Kids, Learn from the Emergency Department
Phyllis L. Hendry, MD, FAAP, FACEP
To prevent communication gaps when treating kids, all specialties can benefit from lessons learned in the Emergency Department, where conversations are rushed, stakes are high, teams are assembled ad hoc, and physicians seldom have relationships with the patient.

Aug 27, 2019
Electronic Health Records Continue to Lead to Medical Malpractice Suits
Darrell Ranum, JD, Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk Management
We analyzed 216 medical malpractice claims that closed from 2010 to 2018 in which EHRs contributed to patient injury. The pace of these claims grew, from a low of seven cases in 2010 to an average of 22.5 cases per year in 2017 and 2018. As EHRs approach near-universal adoption, they may become a more prevalent source of patient safety risk.

Jul 23, 2019
Preventing Wrong Tooth Dental Procedures
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
Wrong-site procedures are a common problem in dentistry. A wrong tooth extraction can be prevented with the use of proper protocols, including confirmed communication with referring dentists and documentation of verbal discussions with patients.

Professional Education
Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Informed Consent
Informed consent involves more than a patient signing a form. This activity explains how to enact an informed consent process based on best practices in dentistry and oral surgery.
1.0 Credit

Feb 15, 2019
Is Your Patient a Victim of Human Trafficking?
Amy Wasdin, RN, MBA, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
A visit to a physician or dental practice may provide an opportunity to help a human trafficking victim.

Professional Education
Dentistry Medical Error Prevention: CE Risk Management Course for Dental Practices
Few dental errors are attributed to faulty judgment. More commonly, they are attributed to system failures inherent in healthcare delivery. By drawing on our professional liability closed claims data, we have identified common performance and diagnostic errors.
2.0 Credits

Professional Education
Dentistry Medical Error Prevention: CE Risk Management Course for Florida Dental Practices
Florida Practices
Few dental errors are attributed to faulty judgment. More commonly, they are attributed to system failures inherent in healthcare delivery. By drawing on our professional liability closed claims data, we have identified common performance and diagnostic errors. This course is specific to Florida statutes and reflects regulations effective in February 2018 for dentists licensed by the Florida Board of Dentistry.
2.0 Credits

Nov 14, 2018
Patient Selection for Elective Procedures
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, Senior Director, Patient Safety and Risk Management Education
The patient selection process is a valuable tool for loss control, because many claims occur with patients who are not appropriate candidates for a procedure.

Jul 27, 2018
Distracting Devices in Healthcare: Malpractice Implications
Shelley Rizzo, MSN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
Digital distraction in healthcare is emerging as a great threat to patient safety and physician well-being. Personal electronic devices can create a digital distraction so engaging that it consumes awareness, potentially preventing healthcare providers from focusing on the primary task at hand—caring for and interacting with patients.

Mar 23, 2018
Management of Treatment Complications
Sue Wilson, MBA, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Even when a patient is provided with care that meets the standard of care, complications may arise during, or as a result of, the treatment provided.

Professional Education
Dentistry Improper Performance: Why Is It Still Happening?
Using data from the National Practitioners Data Bank and The Doctors Company, this activity explores the most prevalent patient injuries resulting in negligence claims or professional sanctions due to allegations of improper performance in dentistry.
1.25 Credits

Dec 19, 2017
Risks in Electronic Dental Records
Donald Wood, CRNA, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
System and user errors result in many EHR-related dental claims.

Nov 01, 2017
The Importance of Infection Control in the Community Dental Office
Mariel S. Kagan, JD, MSN, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
Develop appropriate policies and procedures to reduce potential infections and improve patient safety.

Aug 28, 2017
The Search for Mary Smith
David B. Troxel, MD, Medical Director, Board of Governors
A case study illustrating the importance of researching healthcare technologies thoroughly before implementing them.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Aug 24, 2017
The Importance of Medication Reconciliation in the Dental Practice
Donald Wood, CRNA, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
There are two important tasks for successful medication reconciliation outcomes. Determine the medication currently taken by the patient, and ask the patient if he or she has any allergies to medication, food, or other substances.

Jun 27, 2017
Referral and Negligent Referral in a Dental Practice
Kim Hathaway, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager.
General dentists should be aware of potential liability issues involving patient referrals.

Jun 06, 2017
Providing Dental Services in the Hospital Setting
Amy Wasdin, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
Because of the infrequency of providing dental care in the hospital setting, many dentists are unfamiliar with hospital and medical staff requirements that apply to the providers who examine and treat inpatients.

May 22, 2017
Good Communication Improves Patient Care
Donald Wood, CRNA, CPHRM, Patient Safety/Risk Manager
Dentists regularly provide care to patients who require a healthcare team with several medical specialties. Effective communication among the healthcare team is an important process for successful dental treatment outcomes.

Apr 01, 2017
Latex Precautions in the Dental Setting
Rosanne Cain, BSN, LHRM, Patient Safety/Risk Manager II
Recognizing latex allergies is an important patient safety precaution.

Mar 16, 2017
San Diego Death Diaries
Roneet Lev, MD
Dr. Roneet Lev provides insights into the prescription opioid abuse epidemic.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Mar 16, 2017
Analysis of Medication-Related Claims from The Doctors Company
David B. Troxel, MD, Medical Director, Board of Governors
Dr. David Troxel reviews 1,770 closed by The Doctors Company in which patient harm involved medication factors.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Mar 02, 2017
Job Shadowing―Observers and Volunteers in the Dental Practice
Kim Hathaway, MSN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Create guidelines to prevent practice risks, eliminate patient harm, and protect patient privacy.

Feb 18, 2017
Up for Review: Five Keys to Managing Online Criticism
Kevin Pho, MD, Founder and Editor, KevinMD.com
No matter how professional and caring a doctor you may be, eventually you will face criticism on the web. Here are five keys to managing that criticism.

Feb 15, 2017
Withdrawing From the Dentist-Patient Relationship
David O. Hester, FASHRM, CPHRM, Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Using appropriate guidelines can prevent a malpractice claim.

Dec 13, 2016
Medical Emergencies in the Dental Setting
Rosanne Cain, LHRM, CLNC, Patient Safety risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Inadequate emergency planning and protocols can cause negative outcomes.

Nov 09, 2016
Challenges for Pediatric Dentistry
Kim Hathaway, MSN, CPHRM, CPHQ, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Identifying legal guardianship and the rights of parents can reduce risk prior to treating a minor.

Oct 19, 2016
Case Study: Over-Sedation and Failure to Resuscitate
Donald Wood, CRNA, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Prompt administration of reversal agents and respiratory support are critical for over-sedation emergencies.

Sep 15, 2016
Case Study: Poor Response to Patient Concerns Contributes to Dental Claim
Amy Wasdin, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Effective communication skills to satisfy the patient-provider relationship can increase positive outcomes.

Aug 09, 2016
Case Study: Unethical Treatment Leads to Lawsuit and Dental Board Action
Kim Hathaway, MSN, CPHRM, CPHQ, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
A celebrity dentist performed excessive treatment and committed ethical violations.

Jun 27, 2016
Case Study: Inappropriate Delivery of Care and Delegation Lead to Patient Death
Sandra Strickland, MSN, CPHRM, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Adequate preparation for medical emergencies may prevent harm.

May 04, 2016
Case Study: Failure to Diagnose and Refer Results in Court and Dental Board Action
Donald Wood, CRNA, CPHRM
Legal and licensure penalties are incurred in a dental practice as a result of inadequate patient safety procedures.

Apr 18, 2016
Case Study: Documentation and Scope of Practice Issues
David O. Hester, FASHRM, CPHRM, Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Obtaining written and verbal informed consent and patient response to follow-up care are crucial steps to improve patient safety and mitigate risk in your dental practice.

Mar 22, 2016
Case Study: Failure to Provide Medical Records
Susan L. Marr, MSA, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management.
A request for medical records is not uncommon, and understanding the requirements of a request is essential to maintain sound patient relationships and prevent legal action.

Feb 29, 2016
Case Study: Process Failures Lead to Patient Harm
Susan L. Marr, MSA, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
When choosing an alternative treatment plan that deviates from the prevailing standard of care, a dentist should thoroughly document the clinical justification in the dental record.

Jan 14, 2016
Patient Safety Challenges in General Dentistry
David O. Hester, FASHRM, CPHRM, Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Guidelines suggested here address patient safety issues in general dentistry practices.

Feb 10, 2015
Conscious Sedation in the Dental Office
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, Director, Patient Safety Education; and Don Wood, CRNA, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager I.
Follow patient safety guidelines to enhance safety for patients receiving conscious sedation in the dental office.

Feb 02, 2015
Telephone Communication for Doctors
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, Director, Patient Safety Education.
When carelessly conducted, telephone communications can lead to diagnostic errors and misunderstandings that culminate in medical malpractice claims and lawsuits.

Dec 01, 2010
Interactive Guide to Patient Safety for Dentists and Dental Specialists
This interactive guide is designed to help you uncover areas of potential malpractice exposure in your dental practice.

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