In this episode the Compliance Divas discuss the most recent outbreak of Measles in TX. The cases continue to grow in numbers, and dental teams could be at risk of infection. Learn about the signs and symptoms of this highly contagious respiratory illness, the serious complications from measles infections, especially to pregnant women and what we can do to stay informed about outbreaks, keep our patients and team members safe.

Resources:

• Texas Dept. of State Health Services - Measles Outbreak Feb. 18, 2025 https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-feb-18-2025
• CDC - Measles Cases and Outbreaks - https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
• CDC - Measles (Rubeola) https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html
• CDC - About Measles https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html
• CDC MMWR Feb. 15, 2020 - Measles Outbreak - California 2014-2015 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6406a5.htm

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Patient safety is the cornerstone of excellence in dentistry. Ensuring that every procedure is conducted with the utmost care to prevent patient is our #1 goal during each patient visit. Today the Divas will share some patient safety hacks that we hope you'll find useful for your practice.

Resources:

• The Oklahoman Sept. 18, 2013 - OK says hepatitis C was spread at dental clinic https://bit.ly/4hsbCY9
• Law & Crime - Dec. 12, 2024, Multi-tasking for profit: Family sues oral surgeon after teen son dies during routing wisdom tooth procedure https://bit.ly/3QgRaNT
• KIRO News 7 Nov. 3, 2023 - Piercy County dentist suspended after patient dies allegedly from procedure https://bit.ly/43dIVdp
• MedPro Group June 4, 2024 - Patient Sues Dentist After Refusing X-Rays - Case study https://bit.ly/3WVIOPB
• Safco Dental Supply Blog - 5 Common Dental Equipment Mistakes & How to Prevent Them https://bit.ly/41oTNnr

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

In this episode, the Compliance Divas discuss the ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City, KS and why dental professionals should evaluate their patient screening protocols to prevent potential exposures during dental treatment. Learn the difference between active tb disease and latent tb, risks of transmission for the public vs. dental health care workers, and identify resources for additional information regarding tuberculosis.

Resources:

• US News and World Report – Kansas: TB Outbreak is Largest in History. CDC: No It’s Not https://bit.ly/4hoGEQB
• Time Magazine - The Tuberculosis Outbreak in KS is Alarming. Here's What the CDC Has to Say https://bit.ly/3CERNxF
• CDC Tuberculosis - https://www.cdc.gov/tb/index.html
• CDC MMWR Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis 2021-2022 https://bit.ly/4aMUOZx
• CDC Signs and Symptoms of Tuberculosis https://bit.ly/4gqXwov
• City of Long Beach, CA Press Release May 2024 - Localized TB Outbreak https://bit.ly/3wF5Os1
• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings - 2003 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5217.pdf

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

This year promises to bring many changes related to HIPAA compliance. In this episode, the Divas present three must have's for every HIPAA compliance program. Ensure that you have the basics in place in order to be prepared for the coming changes.

• HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/hipaa-security-rule-nprm/factsheet/index.html
• Guidance on Risk Analysis: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/guidance/guidance-risk-analysis/index.html

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

What's on your 2025 compliance radar? This episode will help you "dial in" important compliance topics that have captured the Divas' attention and should be on your radar. Don't miss this episode, start your year off on a great start!

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

Are you aware that dental professionals may be the first to identify victims of sex trafficking? Victims may come into the dental office as a patient due to oral injuries. A sex trafficker may also bring the individual in for cosmetic care to make them more desirable and marketable to their clientele. The Divas will discuss what dental professionals should look for and what dental professionals required to report if sex trafficking is suspected.

Resources:

• U.S. Dept. of State - National Human Trafficking Prevention Month Fact Sheet https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/
• Decisions in Dentistry - Human Trafficking: Red Flags for Dental Professionals https://decisionsindentistry.com/article/human-trafficking-red-flags-dental-professionals/
• Human Trafficking: Oral Health Can Tell a Story That Victims Cannot https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/14279251/human-trafficking-oral-health-can-tell-a-story-that-victims-cannot
• National Human Trafficking Hotline https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en
• Mandatory Reporting of Oral Injuries Indicating Possible Child Abuse https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)61169-7/abstract

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

This episode brings to light how you can prevent pain, boost productivity and extend your dental career with evidenced-based ergonomics. We interviewed Dr. Bethany Valachi of Posturedontics, an international speaker and author. Be sure to tune in and learn how you can make your job less painful.

Resources:

• Posturedontics: https://posturedontics.com/
• FDI - World Dental Federation - Posture Guidelines for Oral Health Professionals https://www.fdiworlddental.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/FDI_HSDW_ergonomics_and_posture_guidelines_eng_2021.pdf

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

The CDC states that noroviruses, which can cause severe, but short-term illness are spreading throughout the country. The Divas discuss signs, symptoms, and methods of lessening the incidence of this very contagious virus.

Resources:

• CDC Norovirus https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
• CDC Norovirus Outbreaks https://bit.ly/4gA55tP
• NBC News - Why norovirus is so hard to kill: Here's how to protect yourself from the "perfect pathogen" https://bit.ly/4gZF7A4

https://www.thecompliancedivas.com