Leveraging a PEO for Dental Practice Compliance and Risk Management

Managing compliance in a dental practice can be overwhelming. From ensuring workplace safety to adhering to labor laws, staying compliant with various regulations is both crucial and complex.

Partnering with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) can alleviate much of this burden by offering expert guidance and support in compliance and risk management.

Here’s how a PEO can be your trusted compliance partner, especially in the context of dental practice management.

Understanding Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation involves identifying potential hazards and creating plans to manage or eliminate them. This includes physical risks like workplace accidents and non-physical risks such as data breaches or financial losses.

Effective risk management prepares your practice for disruptions, helps you make better decisions, and ensures that your team knows how to respond to various situations. It also provides leadership with a clear strategy for handling incidents, enhancing overall safety and efficiency.

Why Partner with a PEO?

A PEO provides comprehensive administrative support through a co-employment model. This means that while the PEO handles employee-related administrative tasks, you retain control over your daily operations. PEOs specialize in areas crucial to compliance and risk management:

• Payroll and Benefits: Ensuring accurate payroll and comprehensive employee benefits.
• Safety and Workers’ Compensation: Implementing safety protocols and managing workers’ compensation claims.
• Regulatory Compliance: Staying updated with local, state, and federal regulations.

How PEOs Manage Risks in Dental Practices

1. Workers’ Compensation

PEOs offer workers’ compensation insurance, which covers your employees in case of work-related injuries. Dental practices can face specific risks, such as injuries from dental equipment or slips and falls. A PEO’s workers’ compensation plan can reduce the financial impact of these incidents and manage claims efficiently, allowing you to focus on patient care rather than administrative headaches.

2. Workplace Safety

In a dental practice, safety issues might include proper handling of dental tools, maintaining a clean and hazard-free environment, and ensuring that all staff are trained in infection control protocols. PEOs help by:

• Providing up-to-date training on safety standards.
• Ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, such as proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Developing customized safety plans to address specific risks associated with dental procedures.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Dental practices must adhere to various labor laws and regulations, which can vary by state and frequently change. A PEO assists by:

• Keeping track of evolving employment laws at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Managing tax reporting and other regulatory requirements.
• Helping with compliance in multiple states if your practice operates across state lines.

4. Employee Relations

Managing HR tasks such as performance reviews, hiring, and firing can be complex, especially when adhering to laws enforced by entities like the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). A PEO provides:

• Expertise in employment practices and legal requirements.
• Support with documentation and management of paid leave, sick pay, and other employee benefits.
• Guidance on handling employee relations issues, reducing the risk of potential claims.

Benefits of Partnering with a PEO

1. Cost Savings

Partnering with a PEO can be cost-effective. While you’ll pay a service fee, the savings from reduced fines, penalties, and insurance costs often outweigh this expense. PEOs leverage their buying power to negotiate better workers’ compensation rates, which can result in lower premiums for your practice.

2. Reduced Administrative Burden

A PEO takes on various administrative tasks, including managing payroll, benefits, and HR duties. This allows you to focus more on patient care and less on compliance and administrative challenges.

3. Access to Expertise

PEOs bring specialized knowledge in compliance, safety, and HR management. By partnering with a PEO, you gain access to professionals who understand the specific needs and regulations of dental practices, helping you navigate the complexities of compliance more effectively.

Moving Forward with a PEO

To leverage a PEO for your dental practice, start by evaluating your current compliance and risk management strategies. Look for a PEO with experience in the healthcare sector and a strong track record in managing compliance and risk for similar practices.

Consider reaching out to Worklogic HR, a PEO specializing in HR, risk compliance, payroll, and more. Their team of experts can help streamline your compliance processes, enhance workplace safety, and manage employee relations efficiently.

By partnering with a PEO, your dental practice can stay compliant, reduce risks, and focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Schedule a call with Worklogic HR to explore how they can support your practice’s compliance and risk management needs.

About the Author

For over 9 years, Greg Cowan has empowered small and medium businesses with strategic HR solutions. As a Senior Business Consultant at Worklogic HR, he specializes in customizing solutions for payroll, HR consulting, employee benefits, and risk management. Greg’s diverse experience across industries, including dental, retail, and tech, enables him to offer valuable insights and effective HR outsourcing strategies tailored to each client’s needs.