Drilling Down on the Law – A Moderated Discussion on Common Legal Issues in the Practice of Dentistry

AGD Course Code: 550 (Practice Management and Human Relations)

Course Description: A moderated discussion with two Pennsylvania Barred Attorneys focusing on common legal and regulatory issues that face dental offices. The speakers will use their experience of representing dental and other healthcare practices to educate participants on the legal challenges that dental practices face on a regular basis. The course will address a broad variety of topics, such as patient privacy, federal and state employment laws, ethical challenges and payor reimbursement issues. The discussion will also focus on best practices that can be implemented at any dental practice to mitigate the common legal risks discussed during the course.

Course Objectives: Upon the completion of this course, the dental professional should be able to:

1. Understand key concepts associated with informed consent and patient confidentiality.
2. Appreciate legal issues that emerge in on-boarding associate dentists, such as the enforceability of restrictive covenants and the distinction between employees and independent contractors.
3. Implement best practices for employee onboarding, discipline, and termination.
4. Understand risk areas underlying billing and marketing efforts.
5. Implement risk mitigation efforts, such as appropriate insurance policies and effective compliance programs.