Sunday, December 23, 2007
Frustrated RDA
Q: I am an RDA and my employer has placed me in charge of OSHA compliance for the office. However I do not feel I have the knowledge or expertise and the time to spend on compliance duties in addition to my RDA duties. I talked with my employer about this but he doesn’t seem to understand my frustration, is there anything I can do?
A: Your dilemma is command among most Dental Offices. Your employer is taking the “cheap” way and not the “smart” way to patient and staff safety.
OSHA regulations are complex, add in the requirements of the Dental Board, Department of Health Services, City, County, and Federal, like HIPAA and the complexity multiplies.
Staying compliant is NOT a part time responsibility therefore you can’t be doing it part time. Since the main “hat” you wear is that of a RDA, you can’t expect or be expected to, be on top of regulatory requirements.
Your employer like most Dentists needs to get serious about patient and staff safety by stop looking at it as a “cost” rather than a “critical” part of business. After all, without patient safety you have nothing to offer your patients or set your office apart from the others.
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