Course Description:
This online course qualifies for 1.5 hours of CE credit that is automatically issued with a digital certificate upon completion.
Your state dental board serves a variety of functions, including drafting regulations that govern the practice of dentistry in your state and enforcing those regulations. It is also the body that issues permits required to use sedation in your practice, supervises office inspections, and investigates complaints.
So, what do you do if your state dental board comes knocking?
Presented by J. Kathleen Marcus, Esq., this invaluable program discusses items critical to your understanding of the dental board’s capacity and authority. Through lecture and live questions from the original presentation, you’ll learn how to respond to a notice from your state dental board and how to limit your liability risk.
Course Objectives:
- Understand that a dental board’s role is to protect the public, not to protect dentists
- Learn if board staff is able to give you legal advice including the requirements for sedation permits
- Can a dental board visit your office without notice and review patient files?
- Learn if you can be sanctioned for recordkeeping deficiencies, regardless of why the dental board is investigating
- Determine at what point you should notify your malpractice carrier
- Review regulatory matters including PMP red flags and DEA compliance
J. Kathleen Marcus, Esq. is a graduate of Temple University School of Law, and admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, Kate has been an advisor, litigator, and writer on healthcare law since 1988. Kate is working toward her Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Public International Law from Queen Mary, University of London.
Purchase of this course grants access for one year and requires an internet connection, a computer with video and audio capabilities, and in some cases, Adobe Reader to view handouts and articles.
You can download this course and watch it anywhere using the DOCS APP. Get it on Google Play or the Apple Store.
Watch the video and complete the quiz to earn 1.5 CE credit.

565 Documentation and Risk Management – 1
Kathleen Marcus
J. Kathleen “Kate” Marcus, J.D.
Kate’s Professional Background
Kate is uniquely qualified to advise and advocate for sedation dentistry, drawing on a healthcare law background that started from her first big court case right out of law school, over three decades ago. A 1988 graduate of Temple University School of Law, she was Research Editor of the Temple Law Review; she previously attended Bennington College, and has a B.A. in Philosophy.
Kate is Pennsylvania licensed, with extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation at the state and federal levels. Her specialties include compliance, healthcare law, contract negotiation, contract drafting, commercial litigation, small business, health insurance and regulation, and URAC; she has demonstrated excellence in persuasive writing and editing, public speaking, and compliance (EEOC, HIPAA, HITECH, Title IX).
Kate’s Values
Kate is fascinated by the nexus of science and civil rights, including helping people experiencing trauma and hardship get access to compassionate healthcare. She understands that sedation dentists must approach each patient with the awareness of underlying trauma or fear and treat them with insight and humanity. She would love to talk with board members about ways to develop effective relationships with practitioners and patients.
Kate has a long history of representing distressed populations, including people in abusive relationships, children in foster care, people with HIV, and others—inside the courtroom and out. She has a passion to help find funding for kids in foster care who don’t have sedation coverage, and working with dentists willing to treat autistic kids, with skill and compassion. She would love to see pro-bono dental service to survival shelters. Kate truly has a heart to advocate for the those with special needs.
DOCS online courses are available to the purchaser for one year from date of purchase.
No refund of course tuition is available.