How to stay organized and HIPAA-compliant in clinic

Starting clinic in dental school is a refreshing change of pace for students. The excitement and anticipation of treating patients also comes with the responsibility of keeping track of everything you do. For many students who are in charge of contacting their own patients to schedule appointments, it is critical to have a system in place so no one is forgotten. A missed appointment here or a rescheduled visit there can easily cause a patient to slip through the cracks if we aren’t aware of all the care we provide.

Data breaches and your patient’s information

In 2013, California-based dentist Robert Meaglia was preparing for the holidays when he had unwelcome visitors in his dental practice. Burglars broke in through the back door and stole numerous items, including a Gameboy and toothbrushes. Worst of all, they took his computer containing unencrypted patient information.