rules & regulations
The
Compliance
Question
D
ental healthcare providers are being held to a higher
standard than ever before. Over the past two decades,
we have seen the requirements for education and
implementation of safety standards and infection control procedures become more stringent and complex. Many offices are
not fully aware of all the compliance specifications they are
mandated to put into effect and it can be quite overwhelming,
especially when learning of all the required documentation,
training and systems that are crucial to obtain compliance. The
question is, where should an office go to find the necessary
information needed?
Just in the past two years alone, we have seen many changes in
safety education. There is more urgency to update the training
20 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
by Kayce Hollingsworth
and carry out those changes. It is a requirement that each dental
office and each person working in the office attend a yearly
course on OSHA and Infection Control practices. Many offices
already comply with this condition, but what about the State
Board mandates? Much of the time, this facet is overlooked.
OSHA is the Federal Agency that is responsible for the health
and safety of employees at their place of employment and covers
every work place in the country. The Texas State Board of
Dental Examiners, the entity that has the highest authority over
dentistry in the State of Texas, is the agency responsible for
ensuring that all dental offices and personnel are complying
with standards which will protect the health and safety of their
patients. Often, the requirements of these two agencies overlap