Home Study Continuing Dental Education

Thank you for your interest in the CNA HealthPro Dental Professional Liability Risk Management Home Study Course , designed and produced by dentists for dentists.

Dentists often state a variety of reasons for not attending live continuing education courses, such as:

“I don't have the time to attend live CE courses.”
“I really can't afford to close the office — do you know how much production I'd lose?”
“I don't like driving so far to get there and back.”
“I hate the crowds at CE courses.”
“I can never stay awake at live courses.”
“I'd much rather study on my own.”

We've heard those concerns and have responded by making our risk management course available to insured dentists in a home study format. You can keep the office open and still get the risk management information you need!

Who should take this course?

One of the most comprehensive programs available, the CNA HealthPro Dental Professional Liability Risk Management Home Study Course is designed for dentists and staff who wish to enhance patient care and reduce the chance of having a malpractice claim.

The course workbook contains 238 pages of risk management what, why, and how, along with 14 malpractice claim examples and discussion of their risk management issues. Its comprehensive yet easy to use text is organized to promote a thorough understanding of each subject.

The topics addressed in the course include:

• Pre-treatment issues, such as the medical history, examinations, and radiography
• Best practices for managing the clinical risks of specific dental procedures
• Managing adverse events
• Creating patient records that pass the Amnesia Test and support your care
• Communicating in a litigious world
• Informed consent and informed refusal
• Patient management risks
• Updated claim statistics
• Emerging risk issues, and much more

The course also includes an adjunct video, The Malpractice Claim: Dentists' Perspectives. It is a compilation of excerpted interviews with four dentists, each of whom has experienced a professional liability claim. The doctors share their opinions on various topics related to dental risk management and comment on their experiences. The video can also be used to train new staff members, or as a refresher for those who have previously taken a risk management course.

Upon completion of the CNA HealthPro Dental Professional Liability Risk Management Home Study Course, participants should be able to:

• Assess and update risk management practices they currently employ
• Understand that the ultimate result of improved risk management is improved patient care
• Make the informed consent process a critical success factor in patient management
• Understand risk management implications of the doctor-patient relationship
• Implement record keeping practices that both enhance patient care and reduce malpractice risks
• Engage in effective communication with patients, co-workers, and colleagues
• Understand how the concepts of the standard of care and professional negligence apply to dental practice
• Develop and implement effective office, staff, patient care, and practice management policies.

This informative program will stimulate you to assess your practice, apply critical thinking based on the information presented, and make prudent choices that enhance patient care and reduce your chance of having a malpractice claim.

Continuing education information

• CNA HealthPro (ID #209717) is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing education programs of this program provider are accepted by AGD for Fellowship, Mastership and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry. The current term of approval extends from 01/01/2006 to 12/31/2010.
  
  
• Participants who complete the course and score 75% or greater on the accompanying 44 question multiple choice examination will be awarded 8 hours of dental continuing education credit.

Additionally, all dentists insured through the Professional Protector Plan for Dentists who score 75% or greater on the home study examination will receive a credit on their professional liability premium upon renewal, just as if they had attended the CNA HealthPro Dental Professional Liability Risk Management Seminar.

Course fees

• Dentists insured for professional liability through the Professional Protector Plan:
  • Course fee: $95.00
  • Additional examinations for multi-dentist practices: $30 each.
  
  
• Dentists NOT insured for professional liability through the Professional Protector Plan:
  • Course fee: $145.00
  • Additional examinations for multi-dentist practices: $50 each.
  
  

Getting the course

This course is sponsored by CNA HealthPro and can be purchased by contacting the Professional Protector Plan® for Dentists State Administrator Agent in your area. To obtain the name and phone number of the agent in your area, call 1-800-922-5694, or click on the link above.

Don't miss this opportunity to get comprehensive dental risk management information and continuing education credit in a convenient home study format.

Reduce the risk of a patient injury, increase patient satisfaction, and take control of your liability exposure. Order today!

If you have questions about the course content or need further assistance, please contact Dr. John Vaselaney at 1-312-822-7386 or via e-mail at: john.vaselaney@cna.com. Dr. Vaselaney is Assistant Vice President, CNA HealthPro, and is the national director of dental risk management for the Professional Protector Plan® for Dentists.