Posts by Lena Shore
OSHA Violation: Workplace safety and sharps disposal
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…
Increased OSHA Fines for 2022
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…
Do Your Clinical Notes Measure Up?
Guest: Dilaine Gloege, CMC Speaker and Consultant.
Single-Use Items
Filed under: Member Articles 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…
HIPAA Audits: Mid-year 2017 update
In previous blogs, we reported that the Phase II random HIPAA audits were underway. If you weren’t one of those chosen so far, you may be wondering what’s been happening. The Phase II audits began in 2016 and included covered entities as well as business associates. They were intended to start with desk audits and…
The Most Important Thing You Should Do for 2017
“I don’t have time!” “Where can I get reliable, accurate information?” If you’ve ever uttered those words in a moment of frustration, you are not alone. Marketing, practice and insurance management, coding/billing, HR and compliance are just a few of the things that demand your time — not to mention the normal demands of your…
Three Common Social Media HIPAA Questions
Time and again, certain questions arise when it comes to posting what could be considered protected health information (PHI) on social media. Question #1: Is it okay to post pictures of just someone’s smile, tooth or gums? This is an important question, and the answer isn’t always an easy one. When it comes to posting…
HIPAA Audits: What to Expect in 2017
In February 2014 the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced its plans for the Phase II mandatory HIPAA compliance audits. But details surrounding the HIPAA audits, including the timeline, were moving targets—until 2016. You may recall the Phase I pilot audits were conducted in 2012. In March 2016, the OCR launched the Phase II HIPAA…
OSHA Compliance: Would your office pass inspection?
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? Five key…
Grievances or Complaints: What’s the difference?
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. Among other things,…