According to the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is a rapidly evolving situation, and information is constantly updating as it becomes available. What is 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? COVID-19 is a new virus identified as the cause…
With influenza activity peaking nationwide this season and with the emergence of a novel strain of coronavirus wreaking havoc in China, control of aerosol transmissible diseases (ATDs) is very important in the healthcare industry to minimize transmission to healthcare personnel.…
In December, many news sources were abuzz with reports about a Tennessee dentist who failed to properly process and sterilize equipment between patients. Patients who were treated at the Knoxville, Tennessee dental practice between September 2016 and September 2019 received letters advising…
A massive ransomware attack against dental offices strikes again, for the second time in five months. In late November, a ransomware attack of a third party technology company infected and locked the software systems of approximately 100 dental offices that use…
Lately, we have been hearing more and more reports about cyberattacks affecting businesses of all sizes nationwide. This past summer, over 400 dental practices were affected by a ransomware cyberattack from a third party data company. Then, most recently, the American Dental Association…
On October 30, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology posted a blog about how to effectively use its free online security risk assessment tool for security of…
The American Dental Association (ADA) published an updated clinical practice guideline on antibiotic use for the urgent management of dental pain and intra-oral swelling. According to the guideline, “evidence suggests that antibiotics for the target conditions may provide negligible benefits and probably contribute to…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all healthcare professionals (HCP) get vaccinated annually against influenza (flu). Each year in the US, on average, 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from flu-related complications. Anyone can get…
Last week, on August 30, Senate Bill (SB) 778 was signed into law in California, to take effect immediately, which delays the sexual harassment prevention training deadline to January 1, 2021. We have received many inquiries from concerned clients over the…
In late August, over 400 dental practices were affected in a ransomware cyberattack against DDS Safe, a service from The Digital Dental Record that facilitates secure data backups for dental practice computer systems. Unfortunately, scenarios like this are becoming all too…
