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. 

Associate dentists who are independent contractors or sole proprietors can apply online now for weekly financial benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Recent dental school graduates and others who lack sufficient work history, may also qualify for the COVID-19-related emergency unemployment assistance.

Tell employees the "new normal" before returning to practice.

Step-by-step guide to help you prepare for and facilitate a formal training session with your team to get ready for safely welcoming patients back to your practice.

Useful checklist to teach, discuss and practice important staff and office procedures.

California and federal government assistance for small businesses and employers, including information on tax relief, loan programs, employer policies and resources as well as financial assistance.

In July, California-licensed dental professionals whose licenses expire in July and August were given through Dec. 1 to complete their required C.E. according to a waiver issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The DCA on Aug. 27 issued a new waiver giving licensed dentists, RDHs and RDAs through Feb. 27, 2021, to complete the required C.E. and testing for license renewal.

Recorded webinar on the use of this type of respirator in healthcare. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommends that dental care personnel “wait 15 minutes after completion of clinical care and exit of each patient without suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to begin to clean and disinfect room surfaces.”

How to clean & disinfect facilities.

Although dental practices in California have suspended routine care to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in accordance with the state directive and CDC recommendation, dentists must either remain available to patients of record who require emergency dental treatment or have arranged coverage for emergencies with another dentist.

Hygienists are considered employees of the practice and should be eligible for any of the above leaves of absence if they meet the eligibility requirements of the policy.

Customize this plan to demonstrate compliance with Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention regulations

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

Guidance on employment concerns related to rehiring laid off or terminated employees, wages.

Additional COVID-19 resources on employment and paid sick leave.

Answers to common questions about unemployment insurance benefits.

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. 

Information about what constitutes an “emergency procedure” that would require treating a patient.

The planned fee reductions affect approximately 2200 endodontists, oral surgeons and periodontists in the Delta Dental Premier network.

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.

Guidance on employee pay in accordance with wage and hour laws, including wages owed if an employee has an elevated temperature per practice policy.

How to support employees who must miss work to take care of their children due to school or daycare closures, including options for paid and unpaid leave.

How to handle employees who are reluctant or unwilling to return to work.

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

Aids employers in managing requirements of the FFCRA.

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.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted individuals and businesses globally and has affected each market individually. Workers’ compensation is no exception, and Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed executive orders that may affect the dental practice. Additionally, the California Legislature has introduced several bills that could redefine how employees access workers’ compensation benefits for COVID-19.

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 Officals announced June 18th guidance for the use of facemask, and that mask or face coverings will be mandatory statewide in most public settings. 

Online tool to help workers determine eligibility for paid sick leave due to COVID-19. Employer’s may use to determine their obligations.

Helpful diagram of the four zones of clinical infection control.

How HIPAA applies during the COVID-19 emergency.

A flowchart to help employers determine their obligations to provide paid leave benefits to employees who may have been exposed or contracted COVID-19 in the dental office.

Guidance for emergency treatment related to COVID-19.

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

Locate county-specific information on Social Distance Protocols for businesses and commercial eviction protections.

Tips and considerations for preparing your team to return to practice.

Tips for marketing and communicating to patients before opening.

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.

Checklist to help successfully open your practice after an emergency closure.

Bundled resources to guide operatory disinfection in the dental practice.

Given this uncharted territory, Thomas Doll, a CPA firm committed to meeting the financial needs of dental professionals, offers the following recommendations to dentists.

Tools for communicating with patients before and during appointments.

COVID-19 communication resources.

Flowchart to help assess the risks of treating a patient.

Checklist for screening patients for new appts or reminders.

Valuable PPE protocol guidance for dentists and their staff.

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

Quick reference chart to understand PPE recommendations

Excel tool for tracking Paycheck Protection Program expenses. 

A practice management resource that answers frequently asked questions about unemployment laws, sick leave polices and managing employee wages.

Guidelines to bring practice equipment on line after closure.

Steps to transition, improve claim submission & payments.

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.

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

California employers are legally required to notify employees of potential exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite. Follow these instructions for providing the notice and complying with reporting requirements if an outbreak occurs. Included is a “notice of exposure” template.

A practical guide for small-business employers

This program is a required part of N95 fit testing. Customize now. 

Customize this policy, distribute and obtain a signature of acknowledgement of receipt and understanding from your employees.

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

Checklist and diagram for staging the dental practice for physical distancing and safe patient flow.

Helpful strategies and guidance for PPE supply management.

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.