Through an Attendee’s Lens: Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting Recap

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On February 23-24, 2017, I had the privilege of visiting the Windy City to attend the 152nd Chicago Dental Society (CDS) Midwinter Meeting. With the show theme of “leadership”, the bustling event attracted more than 28,000 attendees and the agenda was full of influential speakers, enticing exhibits, insightful lectures, and networking opportunities.

Opening Day

The conference kicked off with a bang on Thursday to a packed exhibit hall featuring more than 6,000 exhibitors comprised of 500+ booths. The opening session that evening was led by John F. McDonough, President and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks. Through his speech he discussed leadership and its direct correlation to success. Something that really resonated with me was when he said, “In sports it’s hard to win, really hard to win. So much more goes in to it than just talent.” In retrospect, I think this thought applies to much more than sports, but also in industry. It takes a lot more than just talent, or a great product, or great service to be a leader in your industry, be that in dental practice management solutions, running a dental practice, or in e-Prescribing.

Awards

A number of prestigious awards were presented throughout the weekend to individuals who best portray the key values of not only the Chicago Dental Society, but also the dental industry as a whole. The winners were as follows:

• Dr. K. William ‘Buddy’ Mopper was presented the Gordon J. Christensen Lecturer Recognition Award as an acknowledgement of his contributions to the dental profession in the area of conservation dentistry which places a value on conserving teeth opposed to extraction and implants.
• Dr. Thomas Sullivan, past President of the Illinois State Dental Society and former Vice President of the American Dental Association (ADA), was awarded the George H. Cushing Award for his contribution to public awareness and importance of oral health.
• Dr. Flava Lamberghini was awarded the CDS Foundation Vision Award in recognition of philanthropy by providing preventive dental care to students in more than 60 Chicago public schools.
• An award was also provided to third-year dental student, John Tran, who wrote an interesting essay titled, “Thinking about Another Sweet Gulp? Think Again”, that reviewed the risk that sugar and sweetened drinks have on your teeth. You can read the full essay here.

Continuing Education

Continuing education drew large crowds with over 200 courses offered on a wide variety of topics ranging from clinical topics like 3D imaging, prosthodontics, implants and CPR, to business development topics such as communication and technology. Again, an overall theme of leadership could be seen throughout many of the courses with topics covering Practical Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Visionary Leadership, Business Decision-Making and Leadership, and of course the Leadership 101 course.

Networking and Special Events

A number of networking events were held as a means to gather individuals from similar locations and experience. Some well attended events included the New Dentist Reception held for dentists who have practiced for ten or fewer years and a special breakfast reception for the Wisconsin residents. There was also a special buffet luncheon provided for dental students and dentists alike to learn about the Chicago Dental Society’s Mentor Program and there was even a Country Night which offered the musical tunes of a country cover band. In staying with the yearly theme of ‘leadership’, fashion leaders were highlighted at the Fashion Show and Luncheon. The show wrapped up on Saturday with the ever-special President’s Dinner Dance which featured the Chicago Dental Society President Phillip Fijal and the music of the High Society Orchestra.

Reflection

Overall, I found the Chicago Midwinter Meeting to be impressive and inspiring. Throughout my time on the exhibit room floor, I was able to witness dentists old and new, dental students, hygienists, office staff, and even supportive family members taking in all the show had to offer. New skills were learned, new equipment was tested, and new business relationships were made. I look forward to seeing how this show will continue to grow at the 153rd Midwinter Meeting next year which will focus on “A Dental Triad: Pride, Passion, and Professionalism.”

Author: Lindsey W.

Sources: Chicago Dental Society; Chicago Dental Society Facebook; Chicago Dental Society Honorees

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit www.DoseSpot.com.

The Relationship Between Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) and the Evolving Healthcare Delivery Model

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The significant role of oral health and its contribution to an individual’s well-being has come under scrutiny as of late. In 2014, it was estimated that more than 181 million Americans would not visit a dentist because of several barriers to care, or a self-diagnosis of “my mouth is healthy – I do not need to visit the dentist.” Other reasons noted by individuals not seeing their dentist on a consistent basis were: cost or no insurance, limited dental access in their area or lack of transportation, or they simply did not have the time.

With this data in tow, a more efficient and readily available business model has become increasingly popular within dentistry: Dental Support Organizations.

What is a DSO?

According to the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO), Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) contract with dental practices to provide critical business management and support, including non-clinical operations, and range from small to large size organizations serving dental practices throughout the country.

The business models of DSOs do differ and while the neighborhood family dentist typically treats the general patient population, dental practices supported by DSOs often focus on specific populations. For example, some DSOs are entirely focused on meeting the needs of pediatric patients, while others are focused on more rural populations. This is not to say that DSOs do not serve the general population, as many still do.

The Patient Experience

The true patient benefit of a DSO model lies in the integrated technologies and streamlined processes. DSOs offer patients many time saving benefits including:

• Online appointment booking systems
• Online bill pay
• Flat rate appointments
• Flexibility to visit dentists between multiple offices
• Electronic prescription routing

Dental Infographic by Dental Care Alliance

The Role of Technology Within DSOs

DSOs are at the forefront of technology, both from a clinical and administrative standpoint. They pride themselves on remaining innovative, not only to better treat their patients, but to also have a competitive advantage and to attract and maintain new dentists. From billing software to detailed patient charting to specific treatment mechanisms, technology is embedded in nearly every workflow.

While many DSOs have thrown out their dentists’ paper prescription pads and have adopted electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) software, there is still plenty of room to grow. e-Prescribing software provides dentists with the ability to send non-controlled and controlled prescriptions electronically directly to the patient’s pharmacy which adds convenience to the patient’s experience.

In addition to the prescription writing feature, e-Prescribing includes high value functionality for the dentist, patient and management teams such as:

• Insight into a patient’s current medication regimen.
• Ability to check for drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions at the point of care to help improve treatment decisions.
• Reporting capabilities that share what is prescribed and in what quantities to assess for in regards to compliance. This is especially crucial with the current opioid epidemic and having the ability to track prescriptions for controlled substances.
• Documentation for both the dentist and the patient including dental specific dosing information, as well as medication monographs.

What’s Ahead for DSOs

DSOs are continuing to shake up the dental industry. New DSOs continue to emerge, while existing ones are frequently acquiring new dental practices, therefore expanding and continuing to growing throughout the country. As previously discussed, cost and limited access to care were the most popular barriers, but DSOs offer streamlined solutions for both barriers as they are committed to the improvement of oral health in the United States through the accessibility of high-quality dental care. It is only a matter of time before more and more dentists hop on board.

Sources: American Dental Association; Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO); ADSO Whitepaper; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dental Care Alliance

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit www.DoseSpot.com.

Dental Associates Realizes Clinical Efficiencies and Increased Patient Satisfaction with DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances Solution

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Dental Associates, a leading family group dental practice managing 14 dental clinics and over 100 dentists in Wisconsin, has realized clinical efficiencies and increased patient satisfaction since their launch of DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) solution in March of 2015.

Prior to the launch of DoseSpot’s e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances solutions, Dental Associates had deployed e-Prescribing software, but their dentists could only transmit non-controlled prescriptions electronically. As such, dentists wasted time electronically prescribing antibiotics and subsequently printing controlled substance prescriptions. DoseSpot now marries the two and gives Dental Associates’ dentists the ability to streamline care, spend more time with patients and discontinue the use of costly prescription printers and the associated tamper proof prescription paper.

Click here to learn how your company can simplify clinical workflows with e-Prescribing!

“We understand that healthcare technology is shifting and remaining innovative is in Dental Associates’ best interest. Our dentists find DoseSpot to be top-notch and they’re now able to spend more time with their patients rather than running back and forth between the patient’s chair and the prescription printer,” commented Donald Whamond, Chief Technology Officer, Dental Associates. “Printing prescriptions was not only wasting time and money, but also taking valuable time away from the provider-patient relationship.”

Dental Associates chose DoseSpot as its e-Prescribing partner due to DoseSpot’s unique boutique-style approach to customer service, the ease of e-Prescribing controlled and non-controlled prescriptions, and to enhance the overall security measures surrounding the prescription writing process within Dental Associates’ clinics.

“DoseSpot has made writing prescriptions easier and less time consuming. With the development of my prescription favorites list, it is easy for my staff and I to build a prescription and even change it if need be. Once the prescription is built, it is simple to select and send the prescription to the pharmacy. Life is good with DoseSpot!” said Dr. John Zweig, Chief Dental Officer, Dental Associates.

Register today for our free webinar addressing dentistry and the opioid epidemic on 9/22!

Dental Associates also wanted to stay ahead of the IT curve which in turn has allowed the company to better recruit and attract new dentists.

“Dental Associates prides itself on the patient-centric care model, therefore our patients’ well-being is of utmost priority and DoseSpot simply aligns with our company values,” Whamond added. “We can call any DoseSpot team member at any time and know they will answer right away. That includes Greg Waldstreicher, CEO, DoseSpot.”

“Like Dental Associates, DoseSpot is committed to offering innovative solutions to the dental market and we put our partners first in everything we do,” said Greg Waldstreicher. “To have the opportunity to deliver a comprehensive, personalized, and integrated platform for Dental Associates is a homerun for both parties.”

Simplify clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes with DoseSpot e-Prescribing integration for both controlled and non-controlled prescriptions. Schedule your free demo today at www.DoseSpot.com or contact Shauna Leighton, Shauna@DoseSpot.com.

About Dental Associates

Founded in 1973, Dental Associates is Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dental group practice with multiple clinics throughout the state and nearly 800 staff members. Dental Associates provides complete family dental services, both general and specialty dentistry, under one roof, from pediatric dentistry to specialized dental services for older adults with a focus on excellent care that is affordable, accessible and personalized. For additional information please visit www.DentalAssociates.com.

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts™ certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit www.DoseSpot.com.

How Costly Are Prescription Pain Meds? CVS Can Tell You.

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If only money grew on trees—I’m sure the revolving door of CVS’ bank accounts hope so. In the hot seat once again, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Thursday, June 30, that CVS is to pay $3.5 Million to resolve allegations that pharmacists have been filling forged prescriptions for controlled substances more than 500 times between 2011 and 2014. They failed to recognize the red flags for fake prescriptions and computer system bans on individuals receiving addictive drugs and did not alert the authorities. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time CVS has had to shell out a large sum of money as a result of negligence when filling controlled substances.

May 2015 – $22 Million; Florida

August 2015 – $450,000; Rhode Island

February 2016 – $8 Million; Maryland

June 2016 – $3.5 Million; Massachusetts

“DEA registrants like CVS have a corresponding responsibility to dispense controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substance Act.  When pharmacies fail to adhere to these responsibilities, it allows for the diversion of prescription pain medication, which contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  

Furthermore, dentists were victimized once again. A woman identified as “P.R.” signed a dentist’s name on 56 of 59 oxycodone prescriptions that were filled at five CVS locations, even though CVS had banned her back in 2011. Creating a new patient profile with a different last name was her way in. Another forger had used a Massachusetts address for a dentist who had moved to Maine.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

The settlement money is going to the Department of Justice for now, but there are hopes that this money will be used toward prevention—specifically addressing the need for a way forged prescriptions will never even be able to happen. This is where e-prescribing comes into play. e-Prescribing eliminates paper prescriptions, thus eliminating the risk of forged prescriptions, altered quantities, and stolen prescription pads.

Contact us today to learn how seamless the e-Prescribing transition can be with DoseSpot on your side and let’s combat this opioid epidemic together.

Sources: Boston Globe; U.S. Attorney’s Office, RI; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MA; U.S. Attorney’s Office, MD; U.S. Attorney’s Office, FL

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

It’s a Revolution! Trending with Teledentistry

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Independence Day is right around the corner and while the holiday serves as the best BBQ day of the year and the turning point of the American Revolution, DoseSpot is looking at another type of revolution: teledentistry. Some may have heard of it, read about it, maybe even adopted it, but what is it exactly? Simply put, teledentristy is an expansion of the traditional dental practice, where patients can have a virtual visit vs. a physical visit to exchange clinical information and images with their dentist. Of course face-to-face visits will never expire in the dental industry (it’s a bit difficult to receive a cleaning through a smartphone), but teledentistry also allows hygienists and dental assistants to perform procedures across the country while being supervised by a virtual dentist. It seems like a win-win.

In this digital age, everyone wants a faster means of communicating with one another. Taking the time out of work or driving to a dentist’s office for a quick appointment? No, thank you. It’s not only time spent, but more money spent as well. Teledentistry is a sophisticated means to provide affordable preventative care to the public, which in turn helps serve the low-income population and takes an easier hit on the country’s bottom line. Prevent vs. treat is a mantra that should be in everyone’s mind nowadays, especially in this ever-evolving and costly healthcare landscape. It costs a lot less to prevent a problem than to pay for a procedure down the line because of patient neglect or lack of financial means.

Some may argue that true dentistry is a direct encounter between a dentist and patient and they are absolutely right. Teledentistry is not meant to replace the dental chair, but simply serve as an extension. It holds enormous promise and will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of this tele-revolution. Stay tuned!

Sources: Workforce; Wall Street Journal

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

The Opioid Epidemic—Are Dentists the Black Sheep?

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Once again, the dental industry is in the hot seat regarding their perceived contribution to the opioid epidemic that the United States is currently facing. As part of their “Hooked” series, NBC News recently reported on this deadly triangle: the relationship between dentists, drugs, and dependence and how dentists are at the forefront of this crisis, even citing that they’re taking the easy way out when treating patients.

“We see it across medical and dental practices that physicians and dentists are giving patients extra medication just in case to avoid seeing the patient again or writing for refills. This is an obvious problem that leaves a lot of left over medication and patients hold on to it.” -Dr. Brian Bateman, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoenocomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The article highlights a young woman’s journey from substance abuse to recovery, stating that her addiction to opioids started at her dentist’s office. She was having her wisdom teeth removed, a very common procedure among adolescents that typically warrants pain medication, but she was prescribed a 30-day supply and was not properly educated on the effects an opioid can produce. Having only experienced pain for a few days, she continued to take the medication because it made her feel invincible, powerful even, and the extra pills were just laying around. Unfortunately, this is how opioid addiction usually starts: with a prescription. Patients these days are also going to extreme lengths to obtain these substances such as doctor shopping to receive more medication, buying or selling on the black market, and sharing prescriptions with friends and family.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

Of course this isn’t the first time dentists are being victimized as the gatekeepers for these controlled substances. There has been a dramatic rate of response from organizations across the country in regards to this increasing epidemic. Senator Dick Durbin of IL recently wrote a letter to the American Dental Association (ADA), among other associations, which ultimately bashed the industry and claimed that dentists fail to take responsibility for its role contributing to the crisis and that they’re taking advantage of perceived financial incentives to over-treat pain. Likewise, articles published by JAMA and Harvard have made notion that the dental industry is a crucial piece of this epidemic puzzle.

Let’s play devil’s advocate and take a step back to evaluate what is most likely going on in dental offices. What are the pain points, exactly?

Paper prescriptions are not their friend.

Prescription pads or print-out prescriptions leave an immense amount of risk. Who’s to say a patient won’t alter the pill quantity, claim they lost their prescription, or worse, steal a prescription pad? It’s very easy to swipe a small piece of paper without anyone noticing.

They don’t know the unknown.

If a dentist doesn’t know a patient’s medication history, current medications, allergies, or any history of substance abuse, they cannot make an educated decision when it comes to what they prescribe.

They’re simply trying to do their job.

When a patient goes in for a procedure, a dentist naturally wants to make them as comfortable as possible—before, during, and post-surgery. However, prescribing opioids and at high amounts have become the norm nowadays and other alternatives, such as higher doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, aren’t even considered.

Luckily, e-Prescribing can mend all of these pain points, while also creating greater clinical efficiency and relieving a dentist’s anxiety for potential risk. It’s completely acceptable to not know all the answers or available resources that are out there as we combat this opioid crisis, but it’s not okay to turn a blind eye. Bottom line is: education is crucial during a time like this. Don’t remain a victim; take action and spearhead the change.

Sources: NBC News; JAMA; Harvard; Boston Globe

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic health record, electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions to healthcare IT companies since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

National Safety Month; The Danger of a Prescription

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The National Safety Council, in an effort to create awareness and reduce the leading causes of injury and death, has established June as National Safety Month. When one thinks of safety, perhaps the following comes to mind: wearing a seatbelt, keeping a close watch on little ones, or having emergency numbers on hand at all times. However, many fail to remember the importance of safety for prescribed medications—specifically prescriptions of controlled substances.

In 2012 alone, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids, which is more than enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills. In comparison to ten, even five years ago, this number is dramatically increasing as time goes on and more and more opioid overdoses are being reported on a daily basis. Prince? Elvis? Sigmund Freud? Bueller…? While their stories may have been reported nationwide, people from all over the country and from all different backgrounds are unfortunately experiencing this crisis right in their backyard.

Click here to learn more about e-Prescribing and start saving time and money today!

The dental industry is often victimized as the gate keeper of such prescriptions, but luckily there are efforts in place to monitor how, when, and to whom these controlled substances are prescribed. That is, so long as the dental community, both prescribers and Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), are ready to step up and take action. Fortunately, electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) has the power to assist in alleviating the opioid epidemic that is upon us, but how exactly?

• e-Prescribing diminishes the possibilities of duplicate or lost prescriptions since the prescription is sent directly to the patient’s pharmacy
• A patient will no longer have a paper prescription where the dispense quantity can be altered
• Prescribers will have access to a patient’s medication history, therefore they can determine if a patient is “doctor shopping” or has a history of substance abuse

Be an innovator and stay ahead of the curve, all while enhancing patient safety and quality of care. A patient’s wellbeing and the ever increasing amount of lost lives depends on it.

Sources: World Health Organization (WHO); American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.

3 Reasons to Brush up on Men’s Oral Health

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Maintaining proper oral hygiene is an integral part of one’s overall health and well-being, but there’s a lot more to it than simply having white teeth and a nice smile. Infrequent dental visits and not having two X chromosomes unfortunately contribute to the lack of oral hygiene across the country. However, as we celebrate the men in our lives this June in recognition of Men’s Health Month, it’s imperative to create awareness of preventable health issues and encourage early detection and treatment.

While visiting the dentist may not exactly be an appealing way to spend one’s free time, here are three reasons why men should focus on their oral health:

Prevent vs. Treat

Did you know that lack of proper oral hygiene could lead to tooth loss, cancer, heart disease, and in some cases, death? Numbers show that men are more likely than women to develop oral and throat cancer and gum disease. Men typically shy away from visiting their dentists and only schedule an appointment when a problem arises, but catching any complications early on can relieve a lot of stress and associated high costs in the long run. This is especially important if they’re tobacco users as well.

Men Will Be Men

Men who participate in sports, specifically high contact sports such as football and hockey, have greater potential for trauma to their mouths and teeth, but wearing a mouth guard can prevent a lot of potential damage. Likewise for men who ride bicycles or motorcycles—a helmet should always be worn. They don’t need to limit their level of activity, but it helps to be smart about it.

Getting Noticed for the Right Reasons

In a dog-eat-dog world, first impressions are everything and getting noticed in a positive way can make or break opportunities. Men in the business world, family world, dating world—well, any kind of world, really— should make their oral health a top priority. Although a great first impression is important, leading by example for their families and children is equally, if not more, important.

Make men’s oral health a priority this month and encourage them to schedule an appointment with their dentist at least once per year. In the meantime—brush, floss, rinse, and repeat!

Sources: Colgate; Delta Dental

About DoseSpot

DoseSpot is a Surescripts certified e-Prescribing platform specifically designed to integrate with electronic dental record, practice management and telehealth software. DoseSpot is certified to e-Prescribe controlled substances and has provided simple, affordable and integratable e-Prescribing solutions since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.DoseSpot.com.