Back to Practice

From boosting the practice’s online presence to sending e-newsletters, here are the top five strategies McNickle recommends to stay virtually connected to patients and maintain their trust and confidence, which will be beneficial once business returns to normal.

As California and some counties in the state begin to loosen stay-at-home orders and dentists begin the process of returning to practice, dentists may still wish to consider using telehealth to reduce in-office patient volume. From processing insurance claims to Medi-Cal coverage, here are seven things you need to know about utilizing telehealth services during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Customize this sample plan to demonstrate compliance with Cal/OSHA regulations. It is an addendum to the dental Practice’s injury and Illness protection program. Updated Jun 2021.

Employers may use this form to request an employee document recovery from COVID-19 and their ability to return to work. 

With various forms of COVID-19 tests available, it is important to understand how each type works, what results can tell (or not tell) a provider and how reliable test results can be. It is important to note that testing can be a valuable tool to assist dentists to determine the COVID-19 status of patients, but due to current availability and reliability rates, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends that test results be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation and screening protocols to assess patient health.

IRS provided FAQ on COVID-19-related tax credits for required paid leave provided by small and midsize businesses.

Employers may choose to recommend or require employees obtain the flu vaccine based on policy or mandate. An employer may need to grant an employee a reasonable accommodation and permit an employee to be exempt from a mandatory (Influenza) flu vaccination. This form may be customized according to your practice need and used to document accommodations provided for employees who decline to be vaccinated.

Interim guidance on dental aerosol management.

Use these measures provided by Cal/OSHA & the CA Dept of Public Health.

Employers should continue to evaluate employee health regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

I have asked my employees to return to work, but they have indicated that they are unable to obtain childcare. What do I do?

The EEOC has prohibited employers from requiring employees to take a COVID-19 antibody test before returning to work. 

Disinfectants for use against novel coronavirus SARS.

Employers should develop a policy to accommodate any worker who meets one of the exemptions from wearing a face mask. If a worker is unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, they should be provided with a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape attached to the bottom edge, for example. Employers may provide this form to an employee to obtain medical certification from their health care provider supporting their request for an accommodation.

In an effort to help halt the spread of COVID-19, California Public Health Officials announced June 18th guidance for the use of facemask, and that mask or face coverings will be mandatory statewide in most public settings. 

Form to request leave under FFCRA for qualified reasons related to COVID-19.

Helpful diagram of the four zones of clinical infection control.

How HIPAA applies during the COVID-19 emergency.

Covers how dentist employers must pay staff during a COVID-related illness, exposure or quarantine, time off to receive the vaccine or recover from complications of the COVID-19 vaccine, or to seek a diagnosis.

Intro to Hand Hygiene to help protect you and your patients.

A visual resource that provides information on various masks and respirators, including agency approval, size and fit, testing requirements and decontamination guidance.

FAQ on face masks for children during COVID-19.

Compilation of resources for N95 respirator/mask requirements.

How-to for office closure, reopening; product-specific use.

Bundled resources to guide operatory disinfection in the dental practice.

Tools for communicating with patients before and during appointments.

COVID-19 communication resources.

Checklist for screening patients for new appts or reminders.

This document is intended to address frequently asked questions about personal protective equipment (PPE).

Guidelines to bring practice equipment on line after closure.

CDC videos and guidance for using PPE in a healthcare setting.

This eLearning module will educate dental practice staff on what steps to take when a patient or employee reports COVID-19 symptoms, exposure and test results.

Use this form when a patient reports within 2 days of being in your practice that they have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Use this form when an employee reports symptoms, exposure or positive test for COVID-19 to help track the incident.

Updated flowchart to guide through process of reporting symptoms/positive test for COVID-19.

California employers must notify employees of potential exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite. This resource details the legal requirements and provides a template for the notice.

A practical guide for small-business employers

A written respiratory protection program is required when an employer requires an employee to wear a respirator, such as an N95, for their safety. 

Lists of precautions needed when scheduling patients during COVID-19.

Checklist to ensure you have the supplies necessary to practice safely.

Tips on what to do if an employee reports suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.

Remember you must accurately code for the treatment rendered. The following codes could be viable options for teledentistry coding during this crisis:

Telehealth/teledentistry coding options, consent, and resources.

State laws restrict employers from regulating where employees can go on vacation, but practice owners can develop a travel policy that includes a pre-travel inquiry and post-travel quarantine that could help protect patients and staff from potential exposure. Once developed, employers should distribute the policy to each employee and retain a signature acknowledgement from each employee. As a best practice, the policy should be universally applied to all employees of the practice.  

Effective workplace ventilation can limit exposures to SARS-CoV-2 by reducing concentrations of the virus. Review this list of recommended interventions.