Cybersecurity Essentials for Dental Practices, with Katie Fox and Teresa Pichay, California Dental Association (Dental Business Radio, Episode 55)
In this episode of Dental Business Radio, host Patrick O’Rourke discusses the critical topic of cybersecurity for dental practices with guests Katie Fox, cybersecurity engineer, and Teresa Pichay, senior regulatory compliance analyst for the California Dental Association (CDA). The conversation covers the importance of conducting a HIPAA-required risk analysis, employee training to prevent phishing attacks, and practical tips like using encryption and multi-factor authentication. They also explore the potential consequences of data breaches, the importance of proactive IT measures, and resources available for dental practitioners to enhance cybersecurity. The episode underscores the need for dental practitioners to balance patient care with robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient information and business integrity.
Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient: PPO Negotiations & Analysis and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Katie Fox
Katie Fox is a cybersecurity professional with nearly 20 years of experience helping organizations of all shapes and sizes protect both their computer systems and the people who rely on them. As a security engineer at the California Dental Association, she works to keep sensitive data secure, minimize risks and ensure compliance with industry standards. Katie loves breaking down complex cybersecurity concepts into easy, actionable steps, helping organizations feel confident in their defenses. She’s excited to share her expertise on cybercrime trends and practical ways to keep your business secure and your people protected.
Teresa Pichay
Teresa Pichay, CHPC, is a senior regulatory compliance analyst for the California Dental Association. She specializes in regulatory compliance, including information verification, documentation strategies and referral to legal references. She has worked with CDA members for more than 26 years in the areas of occupational and environmental safety and health, HIPAA, the California Dental Practice Act and other business regulations.
California Dental Association
The California Dental Association represents organized dentistry in the state of California.
Founded in 1870, CDA is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy.
CDA’s membership consists of more than 27,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association.
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Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgment
01:20 Meet the Cybersecurity Experts
02:03 The Importance of Cybersecurity for Dental Practices
04:49 Risk Analysis and HIPAA Compliance
09:28 Encryption and Multi-Factor Authentication
16:22 Handling Data Breaches and Patient Notifications
27:21 Exploring Password Management
27:30 Understanding the Dark Web
29:07 Dark Web and Its Implications
31:14 HIPAA Compliance Essentials
34:49 Choosing the Right IT Support
39:59 Employee Training and Cybersecurity
44:12 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
About Dental Business Radio
Dental Business Radio covers the business side of dentistry. Host Patrick O’Rourke and his guests cover industry trends, insights, success stories, and more in this wide-ranging show. The show’s guests include successful doctors across the spectrum of dental practice providers, as well as trusted advisors and noted industry participants.
Dental Business Radio is underwritten and presented by Practice Quotient and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps and a complete show archive is here.
Practice Quotient
Practice Quotient is the sponsor of Dental Business Radio. Practice Quotient, Inc. serves as a bridge between the payor and provider communities. Their clients include general dentists and dental specialty practices across the nation of all sizes, from completely fee-for-service-only to active network participation with every dental plan possible. They work with independent practices, emerging multi-practice entities, and various large ownership entities in the dental space. Their PPO negotiations and analysis projects evaluate the merits of the various in-network participation contract options specific to your practice’s patient acquisition strategy. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
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