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You may recall the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is required by the HITECH Act of 2009 to conduct random audits of covered entities and business associates. Since that time the audits have been hit or miss—mostly miss. In 2011 and 2012, the OCR conducted Phase I pilot audits. The goal of these audits was…

The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015 requires OSHA to adjust its civil penalties annually for inflation. The adjustments are made by January 15th every year. In 2014, OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations were $7,000 per violation. Ten years later, in 2024, OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations increased…

Disclaimer: Facts are based upon an actual OSHA investigation.  This case is presented for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. Case Study: Court orders dentist to pay $85K to employee fired for safety complaint Areas of Impact: Regulatory Compliance; Employee Safety; Whistleblower Case Summary: In order to save…

Filed under: Guest Contributor, Jennifer Venturini, RDH, BASDH, CDSO, Graduate According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Instructions for Use (IFU) are required written directions which detail how to prepare, use, handle, store, and dispose of a medical device. Basically, the goal of an IFU is to ensure that the operator has clear guidelines on…

Happy patients contribute to a thriving practice by referring other patients. Yet, despite the best efforts to provide outstanding customer service and patient care, occasionally something goes awry: patients complain about fees, excessive wait times, unexpected changes in treatment or perceived staff rudeness.

How complaints are initially, and subsequently, handled is critical.

You’re having one of your most hectic days when someone who’s not on the schedule walks in. Rather than presenting an insurance card, you are presented with a government identification badge. Your office is about to undergo an unannounced OSHA inspection! What could you expect if OSHA showed up at your front desk? Here are…

Several years ago, the news of the Tulsa, Oklahoma oral surgeon treating patients under unsanitary and unsafe conditions struck horror into the hearts of dental practitioners and patients across the country.  Can you imagine having to send letters to 7,000 patients warning them of a health hazard that was discovered in your practice and advising them…

OSHA requires that certain covered employers maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses using the OSHA Form 300 log. These logs permit employers and workers as well as OSHA to evaluate workplace safety, then implement protections to minimize and/or eliminate hazards.  OSHA partially exempts two classes of employers from routinely keeping injury and illness records:  First,…

Amidst all the recent Supreme Court, OSHA, and CDC updates last week, the 2022 annual adjustments to OSHA civil penalties went into effect January 15th. It’s important to note that serious fines went from $13,653 per violation to $14,502 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations increased from $136,532 per violation to…

Having a Manual Alone is Not Enough Want to discuss? Do you have thoughts or questions about this topic? Visit the Members Forum and post your questions, thoughts, etc. and we can discuss and help. Members Forum