President's Message & More
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Greetings!
The current pandemic is impacting dental practices in many ways and we’ve had to make a lot of changes on how we provide care to our patients and manage our practices. Like many of you, I find many of these changes to be less than enjoyable. Yet, as weeks pass, patients are returning, and the new way of practicing dentistry is becoming more familiar and comfortable.
Every day you make important decisions about the value of services you pay for and how these services benefit you. I want to THANK YOU for your support and participation in SFDS. I want to emphasize how important it is to have a united voice during these difficult times, and it is also extremely important to have a source of timely and accurate information. It was this united voice that helped shape the directives that currently dictate our ability to practice.
SFDS has been working diligently this year in response to COVID-19 to make sure you continue to receive value, and that we continue to update you on new developments that impact your practice(s).
For example,
we quickly contracted with two Fit-Testing Firms to provide members and their teams with N95 fit-testing and we continue to work with the City on finalizing a written agreement to access a supply of PPE for each dentist, an assistant and a hygienist practicing in San Francisco.
Additionally, we have worked to ensure that the services we offer continue to enrich your professional development. SFDS appreciates you as a loyal member and hopes you are taking advantage of all of your membership benefits including the
Free Online CE
which offers
LIVE and Recorded Webinars (
for more information see below
).
SFDS leaders participated in a Virtual Advocacy Day with CDA and our state legislators to discuss Prop 56 /Medi-Cal Funding and promote CDA’s efforts to obtain Economic Relief from Dental Plans.
I also want to thank a number of individuals who continue to provide behind-the-scenes resources during these difficult times. First, a huge thank you to our Department of Public Health partners, Dr. Irene Hilton and Dr. Alicia Montell, the new SFDPH Dental Director, for their continued insights and support. Additionally, we thank the San Francisco Marin Medical Society and Dr. Dennis Song, and SF Small Business Commissioner Cynthia Huie. We are grateful that we have so many committed friends of dentistry and the Society. Thank you all.
We want you to know that we are here for you. As always, be safe and stay well.
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Carlos Nogueiro, DDS
President
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Upcoming Viva - Live Webinar Schedule:
Monday, June 29, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.
Medical Emergencies: Essentials for the Dental Professional
Presenter: Dr. Ellen Grimes
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.
When Composite Met Ceramic...
Presenter: Dr. Yao-Lin Tang
Thursday, July 26, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.
To Change or to Repair: How to Treat What’s Coming
Presenter: Dr. Rolando Nunez
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.
Simplifying Dental Hygiene Treatment with Hand Instruments During Covid-19
Presenter: Brenda Sharp McCarson, RDH, BS
Don’t miss the Dental Podcasts or the On-Demand CE featuring world-class speakers and clinicians. ADA CERP Approved Provider. Seats for live webinars are limited.
To access the valuable member benefit, log into
https://sanfran.dentalsocietyce.com/
using your ADA number. For password credentials, contact the SFDS at (415) 928-7337 or email
membership@sfds.org
.
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HOW TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY JUNE 30, 2020
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Extended Deadline to renew your membership – Tuesday, June 30, 2020
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As an added convenience, there is online membership renewal, dues payment, and/or enrollment in the EDP (automatic payment) program available 24/7 online at
www.cda.org/member
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If you have any questions or need help with your membership, call the SFDS office, 415-928-7337 as we are always here for you.
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Delta Dental of California temporarily offering supplemental reimbursement to network providers
Delta Dental of California announced it will temporarily offer its network providers a $10 supplemental reimbursement for each "qualifying evaluation or consultation code" to help dentists provide care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating network providers received a letter from Delta Dental explaining the new Return to Care Supplemental Reimbursement Program, which will apply to service dates between June 22 and Oct. 20. For more information, refer to the
full article on cda.org
or contact the Practice Support team.
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In Memory: Dr. Martin E. Frankel 1938-2020
Retired SFDS member, Dr. “Marty” Frankel, was one of the founding fathers in the field of TMD and Orofacial Pain. He attended Tufts College, Tufts Dental School, Tufts Orthodontic Program and simultaneously completed his master’s in dental science. He relocated to California where he completed a Prosthodontics residency at UCSF Medical Center. He opened up a private practice in San Francisco and Palo Alto limiting his practice to TMD and Orofacial Pain. He became an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University Medical Center and was a member of numerous societies including F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., ABOP, AAOP,AAO. He is survived by his wife Cheryl and sons Jonathan and Matthew. The family asks that contributions in Dr. Frankel’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital: www.fundraising.stjude.org/goto/martinfrankel
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HARASSMENT TRAINING - 1 Hour Employee Requirement
Employers in California have a new option for providing legally required anti-sexual harassment training to their employees by the Jan. 1, 2021, deadline.
The Department of Fair Employment and Housing launched their
free online training
in May. This satisfies the requirement under California law that employers with five or more employees provide at least one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to their non-managerial employees.
Part-time and temporary workers, as well as independent contractors, must be included toward the minimum count of five employees. However, employers are not required to train properly classified independent contractors.
The
required Managerial 2-hour training is not covered
under this free on-line program. Managerial/Supervising employees require at least two hours of training under the law and must also complete the training by Jan. 1, 2021, but they are not covered by the DFEH’s online training program.
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2-HOUR SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING
SFDS MEMBERS SAVE 20%
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SFDS has partnered with CalChamber to provide a discount on their 2-hour online course. To take advantage of this offer: Log into your account at
www.SFDS.org
.
(If you do not know your user ID and password, contact the SFDS office at (415) 928-7337). Once you have logged in, go to "Member Only Resources" under the Members Menu. There you will find the step-by-step directions to receive this discount.
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Rectangle Health: Easy, Convenient Healthcare Payment Processing
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The SFDS is excited to announce a new business relationship with
Rectangle Health
, a leader in payment processing for healthcare providers. Using Rectangle Health ensures you receive state-of-the-art credit card processing technology, merchant services and proprietary system integration capabilities.
Sign up with Rectangle Health today and take advantage of the following benefits:
- Payment technology that integrates with ANY dental software
- HIPAA and PCI DSS Compliance
- No start up costs (Includes setup, installation, and staff training)
- Secure "Card on File" options
- Online payment options for patients
- Rectangle Health may be able to pay your cancellation fee from your current processor
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BENTO - ADA's Newest Endorsed Program
Bento is an alternative to traditional dental insurance.
Bento enables employers, groups and individuals access to comprehensive dental coverage through an advanced AI-based digital platform.
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Quick-links from the SFDS COVID-19 News Page
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SFDS
CDA
ADA
San Francisco (City/County):
California:
National:
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