The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that heat-sensitive, reusable, patient–care items used during dental treatment be cleaned and undergo sterilization (critical items) or high-level disinfection (semi-critical instruments) between patients using a chemical sterilant/high-level disinfectant approved by…
HIPAA-covered dental offices must notify the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of any breaches of protected health information PHI affecting fewer than 500 patients within 60 days of the end of the calendar year…
For California dentists who’ve ever lost sleep worrying about compliance with state, federal and Dental Board regulations! When you order OSHA Review, you’ll understand why dentists in California have relied on their subscriptions for more than twenty years. You’ll receive…
In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued updated medical x-ray protection guidelines, replacing the 1976 version. Developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Federal OSHA, the guidelines are voluntary only, but can…
In 2013, OSHA revised its Hazard Communication (Hazcom) Standard to align with the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Affecting mostly chemical manufacturers, distributors, and importers, the major changes to the Hazcom Standard require…
In November 2014, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new extended-release, single-entity opioid analgesic with abuse-deterrent properties. The drug, Hysingla ER, comes in tablet form that is difficult to crush, break, or dissolve, or as a…
With the measles outbreak in California and the flu outbreaks nationwide, dental staff need to make sure they are screening patients for these diseases prior to treating patients. In California, Cal/OSHA's Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Standard requires healthcare providers to…
“In general, for patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection. The practitioner and patient should consider possible clinical circumstances that may suggest the presence of a significant medical…
“Documented occupational acquisition to HIV infection in healthcare workers has become rare in the United States,” states the January 9th edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Since 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been notified…
Employee safety is the sole focus of regulations mandated by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Hence, the intent of OSHA's training requirements is to ensure that all employees are trained on the hazards associated with the job,…
