The Expiration of the COVID-19 Rule: How Does it Impact Dentists?
Release Date: 06/29/2021
Maximizing Dental Practice Success
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Introduction: Join Duane Tinker as he welcomes Leah Roling, an acclaimed life coach and celebrated author of "Shift" and "Nobody's Coming to Save You." Specializing in dental professionals' growth and success, Leah shares transformative insights aimed at enhancing both personal and professional realms. Embracing the Platinum Rule with Leah Roling: Discover the transition from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule with Leah Roling. Understand the pivotal shift towards treating individuals based on their personal preferences and needs, a cornerstone for effective communication and...
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Waterline Safety – Amanda Hill, RDH, BSDH
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Without question, the Covid pandemic had a large impact on the healthcare field. It highlighted monstrous changes that needed to occur in the infection control space. MCS put its resources into investigating standards of care in infection control. MCS came out with some new technologies that will transform the world of infection control. Paul Saueressig outlines the solutions they’ve created and how they can benefit your dental practice in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop. Do NOT miss this one! Outline of This Episode [2:12] Learn more about MCS Infection Control Solutions...
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When you’re in the midst of a busy day in your dental office, the details are the things that you typically let slide, right? But in the dental business, it’s the details that keep you on track and it’s the details that protect your office from huge fines and your Doctor from losing her licenses. This episode highlights some of the things I’ve seen recently that I think all dental office workers need to have top-of-mind. If you don’t take these things seriously, you’re going to have issues eventually. Online training or in-person training? Which do you need? Every dental office is...
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Instrument Processing Part I: The Proper Cleaning Process
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info_outlineThe Texas dental board let the COVID-19 rule expire (rule 108.7 subsection 16). How does that impact dentists moving forward? What rules do some providers still need to follow? What procedures are still recommended by the CDC? We cover it all in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop!
Outline of This Episode
- [3:20] The impact of the expiration of the COVID-19 rule
- [4:41] The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard
- [9:25] 1910.504: The Mini Respiratory Protection Program
- [16:35] Subscribe to the podcast and sign up for our newsletter!
The impact of the expiration of the COVID-19 rule
How does this impact you? Maybe very little. There is no longer a Texas State Board rule that says you have to follow these specific rules. You don’t have to wear N95 masks. You don’t have to do twice daily temperature checks. You don’t have to screen patients and check their temperature. But many of you have gotten used to the process and feel like it’s best to continue. You absolutely can! You get to decide how to care for and keep your patients and staff safe—whatever that looks like for your practice.
The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard
There is an OSHA standard—the “Emergency Temporary Standard”—that was released a few weeks ago and was effective immediately upon release. That means it is an enforceable federal law. Who is impacted by this law? Those who work with people who are suspected of having or confirmed to have/had had COVID-19. This can include employees at:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Assisted living facilities
- Emergency responders
- Home healthcare workers
- Employees in ambulatory care facilities
It does not apply to non-hospital care centers where non-employees are screened before entry and those with COVID-19 are not allowed to enter. So if you screen everyone that walks in the door, this rule doesn't apply to you.
If it does apply, you must have a written safety plan, patient screening management, transmission-based precautions, PPE, physical distancing, and more. What qualifies as screening? Listen to find out!
OSHA Standard 1910.504: The Mini Respiratory Protection Program
When respirator use is required, the respiratory protection standard applies. This requires medical evaluations, fit testing, a written safety program, user seal checks, and training. What does the “mini” version require? User seal checks and proper training. 90% of dental offices are already here.
CDC COVID-19 guidelines are still recommended
The state board still recommends finding the CDC guidelines:
- Postpone procedures if they aren't medically necessary
- Implement Teledentistry and Triage Protocols (doesn’t apply yet)
- Screen and triage everyone entering for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Monitor and Manage Dental Healthcare Professionals (if you’re sick, stay home)
- Create a process to respond to COVID-19 exposures among DHCP and others
- Implement universal source control measures
- Encourage physical distancing
- Consider COVID-19 testing for patients and staff who don’t exhibit symptoms (we recommend you don’t do that)
- Do things to minimize exposure
- Implement universal use of PPE
Familiarize yourself with this stuff!
Resources & People Mentioned
- Learn more about protectIt dental at https://dentalcompliance.com/drugkit or call them at 888-878-8916 and tell them that the Toothcop sent you!
- The expiration of the COVID-19 Rule
- Texas Dental Board Rule 108.7 Subsection 16
- COVID-19 Healthcare ETS
- The Mini Respiratory Protection Program
- CDC Guidance for Dental Settings
- Save the date for bootcamp: Nov. 19th and 20th
Connect With Duane
- https://www.dentalcompliance.com/
- toothcop(at)dentalcompliance.com
- On Facebook
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- On LinkedIn
- On Youtube