What is GDPR?
First of all, let’s get a bit of understanding about what GDPR actually is…
GDPR means the General Data Protection Regulation that came in to force on 25 May 2018. In common with all businesses and organisations, dental practices must ensure they comply with the new legislation.
GDPR makes organisations more accountable for collecting, storing, and disposing of personal information and gives more control to individuals over how their personal data is used. All organisations should review and enhance their data protection risk management procedures to help them prepare for the new legislation.
Online, verifiable GDPR courses for dental professionals
We offer two online GDPR courses for dental professionals. The differences between these two courses are explained below so that you can decide which is the most suitable training course for you to undertake.
GDPR for Dental Practices
This course is aimed at the data controller (the business owner) who has ultimate responsibility for data protection compliance within the practice.
The course is also suitable for anyone with a responsibility for achieving compliance such as:
- Practice Manager
- Principal Dentist
- Lead Nurse
- Data Protection Lead
The aims of this course are to help you understand:
- Your legal obligations under the GDPR
- How to implement the changes you need to make to become compliant
- What this means for your day to day work.
It will take 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. You do not have to complete the course in one go, you can save your course progress and return to it when you wish.
The course gives you access to download compliance paperwork. The downloads include:
- Data Inventory for Team Members
- Data Inventory for Patients
You will need the inventories as part of your GDPR compliance system because practices need to be able to demonstrate the ways in which they comply with data protection principles when transacting business and this needs to be documented.
You will also receive:
- A certificate which meets GDC requirements
- Reflective learning questions
- The opportunity to give your feedback
GDPR for Dental Care Professionals
This course is aimed at those with a responsibility for processing personal data within the dental practice and is ideal for team members employed by the practice, such as:
- Dental nurses
- Receptionists
- Dental hygienists
- Therapists
The key difference with this course is that it doesn’t contain the management aspect of achieving compliance. The course only focuses on what the data processor needs to achieve in their job.
The aims of this course are to help you understand:
- Your legal obligations under the GDPR
- How to implement the changes you need to make to become compliant
- What this means for your day to day work.
It will take 1 hours and 45 minutes to complete. You do not have to complete the course in one go, you can save your course progress and return to it when you wish.
The course gives you access to the following downloads.
- ‘12 steps of compliance’ poster download
- Data Breach Notification Poster
- Data Breach Recording Spreadsheet
You will also receive:
- A certificate which meets GDC requirements
- Reflective learning questions
- The opportunity to give your feedback
Our Opinion
It is important to keep the GDPR changes in perspective. The intention is not to paralyse businesses in general and dental practices in particular, so our message is stay grounded, make some changes, take the actions outlined in the courses and be vigilant with respect to privacy and data protection.
It is clear that this is an evolving situation and no one, not even the Data Protection Authorities have all the answers to GDPR and its’ implications.
We will continue to evolve our thinking as new information becomes available and will keep you informed of any changes as they become apparent.
