Dear SCDA Member:

 

Two weeks ago sports were taken away, and I started wondering if I really needed to worry about this virus. Today, I'm living in a different world. I have a lot more information but even more questions. Can anybody else relate to this? I see a lot of hands. I hope the rest of this letter gives you some of the information you're looking for.

 

Where can I go for the best information for SC dentists? The Coronavirus threat continues to bring uncertainty to each and every one of us. Your South Carolina Dental Association (SCDA)has worked tirelessly over the last weeks to stay on top of the issues and bring you the most up to date and accurate information. We continue to post new resources daily. Take the time to

visit our website to locate numerous resources.

 

When can I go back to work? The SCDA Board of Governors met on Thursday, March 26, 2020. We have continued to monitor the COVID-19 crisis from all angles relevant to dentistry. Based on what we know today, the data and events indicate that the March 30th date to return to practice is unrealistic. Our country has caught up with the state dental associations who led the way with caution when this all started. Now we need to let the scientists and public health experts do their jobs.

 

Please note that the SCDA Executive Board meets daily and the full Board is meeting regularly to discuss all issues during these difficult times. We will look for information regarding innovations that will mitigate the risk of exposure to us, our employees and patients . We will inform you when the national experts determine it is safe to return to our practices. At this time, the SCDA continues to urge dentists to only treat emergency patients.

 

We need to know what you need. To ensure that the SCDA is meeting your needs and addressing your concerns at this point in the crisis, we have teamed up with the Medical University of South Carolina - College of Dental Medicine to create an anonymous survey. This survey will help us find out information about your practices, dental team members and concerns you are dealing with at the present time. Please take the time now or very soon to complete the short survey.

 

Our first Webinar specifically for SC dentists is scheduled. Hopefully you saw the email sent out yesterday about the Labor and Employment Webinar that has been scheduled for next Tuesday, March 31st at 12:00 pm with Kris Cato to learn about the most recent employment laws and changes that have been enacted. Registration for this webinar was emailed yesterday and is posted on the SCDA website. Ms. Cato has been assisting SCDA members for the last two weeks. She understands what we're dealing with. As an added benefit you can pre submit

questions before 5 pm tomorrow (Saturday). I encourage you to take the opportunity to get your questions answered by clicking here to submit them now.

 

A dental accountant has joined your support team. At the request of SCDA, Mr. Tim Alford, CPA, of the accounting firm, Coleman, Ureda, Alford & Kaucher, PA, has developed an FAQ's resource for the SCDA based on his knowledge of the dental industry. Tim and his partner BJ Kaucher have been serving the accounting needs of their dental clients for more than 20 years and are members of the Academy of Dental CPAs (ADCPA).

 

Do you believe teledentistry would be a useful tool? The SCDA has been working with the State Board of Dentistry this week to seek an emergency regulation that would allow dentists in South Carolina to practice teledentistry for nondefinitive treatment. The SCDA believes teledentistry, in this environment, would be a safe and valuable tool to be used to provide a limited evaluation in certain situations without having an in-person contact. Please look for an

update on this issue soon.

 

In closing, the SCDA Board of Governors and the staff are eager to continue to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SCDA will continue to seek out the best ways to help the dentists of South Carolina. Our goal is to help you weather this storm and get back to your business with your employees and your patients safely as soon as possible.

 

Sincerely

 

Julia Mikell

SCDA President