Ep 72: Protect Your Practice with Trey Lawrence, CEO of the AAO (aka @TheOrthAttorney) – HIPAA, Contracts, and the Rise of AI

The Golden Age of Orthodontics

Are you ready to elevate your orthodontic practice while sidestepping legal pitfalls? Curious about harnessing AI ethically or managing patient challenges with confidence? Dive into this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics with hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein, joined by Trey Lawrence, CEO of the AAO. We explore essential strategies for today’s orthodontists: navigating the complexities of social media to avoid HIPAA violations, crafting airtight informed consent processes to shield against malpractice, and responding to negative reviews without escalating risks. Trey shares critical advice for new grads on spotting contract red flags, like misleading non-compete clauses, and offers best practices for dismissing disruptive patients while protecting your staff and practice. Plus, we tackle the ethical and legal questions surrounding AI’s growing role in diagnosis, treatment planning, and marketing. There’s never been a better time to be an orthodontist—tune in to stay informed and thrive!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Protecting your practice isn't optional, it's essential
• (07:27) Discussion of being an introvert and the impact that has on professionals
• (12:35) Common legal blind spots for orthodontists are HIPAA violations and Social Media Litigation
• (17:38) Trey Lawrence advises new grads or young associates on interviewing and job offers
• (20:39) HIPAA laws on negative reviews, malpractice and informed consent
• (30:38) Should you dismiss a patient, and if so, what is the best practice
• (35:52) What legal and ethical questions should orthodontists consider regarding AI

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Orthodontists often overlook HIPAA violations on social media, such as disclosing patient information without consent, like naming patients or showing them in posts without proper authorization.
• Young orthodontists should avoid mislabeled independent contractor agreements and unclear non-compete clauses, especially in multi-location practices, and seek affordable legal review before signing.
• Avoid defending yourself online to prevent HIPAA violations; instead, use a curated response like, "There's been a misunderstanding, please contact our office," to begin an offline conversation.
• Ensure informed consent involves direct doctor-patient interaction or at least an offer to discuss with the doctor, and document this process to strengthen legal defense against malpractice claims.

RESOURCE LINKS

People + Practice - Website

Leon - Email

Amy - Email

People + Practice - Email

AAO - Website

Trey Lawrence - The Orthattorney - Instagram

GUEST BIO:

The AAO is thrilled to announce Trey Lawrence's appointment as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2024. Mr. Lawrence, a proven executive at the AAO, has successfully led the association’s advocacy and legal efforts and is poised to lead the organization to its next chapter of growth and innovation.

“Trey Lawrence was a clear choice, and we are thrilled to have him take on the role as CEO,” said Myron Guymon, DDS, MS, AAO President. “We are confident that he is the perfect leader to guide the AAO into the future,” continued Dr. Guymon. “His strategic vision, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to collaboration will play an instrumental role in advancing our strategic plan and ensuring the continued success of the orthodontic specialty.”

Mr. Lawrence has a distinguished career spanning nearly 25 years in law practice and advocacy. Most recently, he served as vice president and general counsel for the AAO, where he led the AAO’s advocacy program to unprecedented successes in the AAO’s history, in addition to leading the AAO’s legal team. For the past five years, Mr. Lawrence has represented the AAO before members of Congress, federal regulatory agencies, state legislatures, state dental boards, state attorneys general, and other organizations throughout dentistry and healthcare. Throughout his career, Mr. Lawrence has demonstrated a strong commitment to zealous advocacy for clients and, for the last five years, on behalf of AAO members and their patients, making him a perfect fit for the AAO’s mission.

“I am honored to be appointed as the new CEO of the AAO,” said Mr. Lawrence. “I am passionate about the field of orthodontics and firmly believe in the AAO’s mission to advance the art and science of orthodontics through education, advocacy, and research. The last five years have been the highlight of my career working closely with the AAO community, including our dedicated members, Board of Trustees, and staff, and I look forward to continuing this work to further strengthen the association and ensure its continued success in the role of CEO.”

KEYWORDS: Golden Age of Orthodontics, Orthodontics, Orthodontic Practice, elevate your orthodontic practice, AI in Orthodontics, American Association of Orthodontics, AAO, Trey Lawrence, TheOrthAttorney, Legal Pitfalls, patient challenges, Dr. Leon Klempner, Amy Epstein, Practice Strategies, HIPAA, HIPAA Violations, consent processes, harnessing AI ethically, AI Diagnostics, AI treatment planning, AI Marketing, stay informed, Introverts, proper authorization, legal review, young associates, contract red flags, non-compete clauses, legal pitfalls, HIPAA laws, independent contractor agreements, best practice, offline conversation, document this process, prevent HIPAA violations, strengthen legal defense, malpractice claims, patient information, legal and ethical questions, patient challenges, Social Media Litigation, Malpractice, Patient Information, Consent Issues, Non-Compete Clauses, Independent Contractor, Contract Review, Legal Blind Spots, Online Reviews, Negative Reviews, Curated Response, Offline Communication, Informed Consent, Malpractice Defense, Doctor-Patient Interaction, Documentation, Patient Dismissal, Disruptive Behavior, Staff Protection, Ai Ethics