Practice Management

Dentists who received Provider Relief Fund payments during period 3 are required to use those funds on eligible pandemic-related expenses by June 30 and report the use of those funds July 1-Sept. 30 if the payments exceeded $10,000. 

Questions arise regarding if and when dentists should consider dismissing patients. Recent calls to TDIC’s Advice Line showcase the unique complexities of dismissing patients prior to completion of treatment.

The 2022-23 state budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom includes all of CDA’s priority asks, making significant gains for dentistry and oral health with major investments in health care workforce development.

CDA members benefit from a new online training program designed to help California dental practices achieve full compliance with Cal/OSHA’s requirements for bloodborne pathogen safety training and exposure control.

Dental assistant training programs are successfully placing graduates in California dental practices. One recent graduate, Liz Martinez, changed her career as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and is now employed by a dental practice in San Francisco.

Dental staffing shortages may make it tempting to offer a position to the first person who turns in an application, but a measured approach to hiring is recommended. Time and planning invested in your practice’s hiring process will save you money, maintain consistency and reduce risks of bad hires.

Along with the benefit of compliance with state regulations to prevent controlled-substance abuse, ePrescribing can improve clinical care and efficiency.

Reduce practice costs with effective inventory control. Best practices for inventory control include creating a shopping list, reducing redundancy, setting a supply budget and assigning specific inventory roles and responsibilities.

CDA encourages dentists to take steps to determine if a patient portal is right for their practice. Consider the needs of your staff and patients before investing in portal software.

CDA’s pilot dental assisting training programs continue to be successful ― placing most of their participants in open dental positions in California. Now, the training programs, which teach participants the basic skills for a dental assisting career, are coming to two additional regions in the state.

Prioritizing job duty training over educating new employees about crucial office policies can lead to miscommunication and increased risk of misconduct. Minimize risk by documenting your practice’s employment policies, with resources from CDA and TDIC.

CDA’s Practice Support and The Dentists Insurance Company have experienced and increase in calls from dental offices that are unsure of how or if they are required to notify patients after a dentist or staff member tests positive for COVID-19.