Can a dentist send an email to someone outside the practice?

Emails to persons outside the practice (other than the patient)— Emails to people outside the practice other than the patient should not include a patient’s PHI unless the email is encrypted or sent via a secure messaging system.

Can a dentist send a text message to a patient?

Emails and texts to patients— More patients want their dentists to communicate with them by email or text. Dentists who want to do so must do one of two things. Option one is to use an email or text messaging system that encrypts messages or requires patient login, such as a patient portal.

Can a dentist send PHI via unencrypted email?

Email confidentiality notices and disclaimers— There’s a myth that including a confidentiality notice or disclaimer in an email makes the email compliant with HIPAA and allows a dentist to send PHI via unencrypted or unsecure email. The myth is false. Even the best-worded notice or disclaimer will not make an unencrypted email comply with HIPAA.

Can a dentist send protected information over unsecured email?

Alternatively, dentists need to obtain consent from patients to send protected information via unsecured email or text. Sending protected information over unsecured emails or texts without a patient’s consent can violate HIPAA. Why should dentists care about this? Failing to comply with HIPAA can have severe consequences.

Do you have to show your work to the dentist?

The dentist may not hang before and after transformations around for all to see, but if you ask for photos of a cosmetic procedure you’re considering, they should be available. “Every dentist should be prepared to show their work, not only when asked, but they should proudly display it throughout the office,” Chokka says.

Are there any red flags at the dentist’s office?

We asked dentists to share the red flags that should have you scrambling out of the chair. 1. The office doesn’t request your old dental records. Before you even show up for an appointment at a new dentist’s office, the staff should be asking for these records as a baseline.

What happens if you get subpar service at the dentist?

As if going to the dentist wasn’t already nerve-racking enough, getting subpar service could leave you with more than just a sore set of chompers.

Can a dentist use unsecured emails and texts?

A good way to do this is by giving the patient a well-written consent form as part of his or her new patient paperwork, or to existing patients at their next visit. If a patient consents to the use of unsecured emails and texts after being properly warned, a dentist may communicate protected PHI to the patient in that way.

What are the duties of a dental office manager?

A Dental Office Manager is like an overall Administrator, also responsible for running the front offices of dental clinics and managing day-to-day operations fulfilled to assist the dental faculties to propagate a smooth work environment.

Do you know about HIPAA rules for dentists?

If you’re a dentist, you know about HIPAA. You know that HIPAA creates rules and restrictions on the way you keep, use, and disclose patient information. However, many dentists don’t realize that HIPAA also restricts the way they and their staff can use email and text messages to communicate with patients and other providers about patients.

What should I do if I have a disagreement with my dentist?

If further assistance is required, patients have other options: Contact your state dental society to ask if they have a process called peer review. Contact your state dental board. Some dental societies have established a dispute resolution system called peer review to help resolve the occasional disagreement about dental treatment.

What to do if your doctor refuses to release your records?

The Department of Health will contact your doctor’s office to find out why they have not yet released your medical records. At this point the Department of Health will inform your doctor’s office that he must comply with the law and release your records. There are penalties for refusing to release patient records.

Can a doctor text a patient without their consent?

Medical messages are completely okay, as they are exempt from the written consent rule. In other words, if you have a patient’s phone number, you can lawfully text them information without consent so long as the message pertains to their health.

Do you have to reply to patients text messages?

Whenever texting patients marketing or billing information, you must also give the ability to opt out from receiving any further messages. Normally this comes in some form of a note following your text that says, “Reply STOP to stop receiving messages.”