Dental Protection Australia

When an adverse outcome occurs or treatment does not go to plan, our patients are often recognised as the only victim in these situations.  But are they? 

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston explores the concept of the second victim, and its correlation with the Buddhists parable of the second arrow.

Annalene goes on to explain how this teaching essentially encompasses everything that a dentolegal consultant strives to impart when assisting members with a complaint or adverse outcome.

Uber, Audits and dentistry and interesting concept. 

In this episode of RiskBites Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston quizzes Dr Colm Harney about the title of this podcast and asks the obvious question ‘what does a ride-hailing service have in common with third party payment audits in dentistry.’

Colm shares his thoughts and goes on to identify common reference points utilised by private Health Funds and Medicare to determine:

1. whether a claim is acceptable and
2. why an audit may occur in the first instance.   

Later providing helpful advice on how you can ensure your compliance in this space, leaving you free to focus on your patient and your practice.   

In recognition of International Women’s Day, Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston interviews our CEO of Medical Protection Society, Karen Miller. 

Karen has been and continues to be an inspirational leader to many women and men and in this episode of RiskMatters, Karen shares the highs, lows and lessons learnt in her illustrious career as well as what International Women’s Day means to her. 

It’s often incredibly challenging to know if you’re making the right decision when changing jobs or even starting in a new position for the very first time. Is this going to be the right choice for me? Am I doing the right thing if I have some doubts about the new role?

In this episode of RiskBites Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Simon Parsons, dentolegal consultants at Dental protection explore some of the issues faced by practitioners contemplating a new role or perhaps start their own practice.

In this episode of RiskMatters Dr Roger Dennet speaks with Dr Ralph Kelsey who has a long and storied career in dentistry.   
 
Ralph provides Dentolegal reports to support Dental Protection members and bespoke programs of education for those members who fall foul of Ahpra.   
 
Listen in as Roger and Ralph discuss a number of topics sent in by some of our young members, imparting some sage and salient advice.

As we know communication is key and when things don’t go to plan or as we  expected the consequences can be surprising, unkind and unfair. But regardless of this there is always two sides or more, to every story.

In this episode of CaseMatters, the practitioner, practice and patient all have their own account and interpretation of their appointments, their discussions, expectations and time together.  Listen in to hear the differing perspectives, that ended in a disgruntled patient and an emotive, negative and hurtful online review.

This year we’ve shared many podcasts that have identified areas of risk and shared information, moments and cases that we can all learn from. 

For our last podcast of 2024, we wanted to flip our focus and share a feel-good story, reminding us that not all complaints end badly.

Too often we can focus on the negative but prior to the year's end we hope that you can each take some time to reflect on, acknowledge and celebrate some of your triumphs and successes, be it professionally, personally or both. Happy holidays everyone.

In this episode of RiskMatters, Senior Dento-legal Dr Annalene Weston speaks with Emeritus Professor Laurie Walsh about the recent changes to the Infection control guidance, namely the replacement of the Standard 4815 with AS 5369 – Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities, as well as the subsequent updating of the ADA infection control guidance. 

Their discussion goes on to include additional topics about AI’s role in infection control and the environmental impact of disposable items in dentistry.  

2.23 - Why did the guidance change?
6.06 - Has covid had a big impact on the guidance?
8.00 - How regularly should we attend IC CPD?
10.50 - Current position regarding air removal and steam penetration tests?
14.05 - Where do people find consultations?
16.25 - 'Small office' sterilisers
18.37 - How often should we go into our steri rooms to check?
21.50 - Future IC assistance in IC?
26.28 - ABHR in lieu of handwashing?
29.04 - Laundering gowns
32.53 - Environmental impact of dentistry - sustainable alternatives? 

Is truth linked to fact? Is it a rigid and fixed construct or is it moveable, expanding and contracting like a rubber band.  
 
In many ways truth can be subjective and is often seated in an individual’s perception of the facts, what they have experienced, what they believe they have experienced and what they want to believe they have experienced.  Unfortunately, when perceptions of truth don’t align, it can it result in practitioners bearing the brunt of a very unhappy patient.   
 
In this episode of RiskBites, Dentolegal consultants Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara discuss the elasticity of truth, sharing helpful advice on how practitioners can avoid being stung or blamed, when the band of truth recoils or potentially snaps.