In Episode 15 of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, sponsored by Medidenta Digital Solutions, Dr. John Flucke interviews Dr. Lorne Lavine, known as “The Digital Dentist.” A former periodontist turned IT expert, Dr. Lavine shares his transition from clinical practice to founding The Digital Dentist, a company specializing in dental technology and HIPAA compliance.
Key discussion points include:
- Origin Story: Dr. Lavine’s journey from periodontics in Vermont to IT consulting in California was sparked by a 2001 American Academy of Periodontology tech event and a move to LA in 2002.
- Cybersecurity Focus: The rise of ransomware as a service and the critical need for robust cybersecurity in dental practices, where patient records are high-value targets on the black market.
- HIPAA Compliance: Aligning cybersecurity with HIPAA requirements, emphasizing comprehensive risk assessments (7-8 hours, not 10-minute quizzes) and encrypted data sharing with labs.
- AI in Dentistry: The transformative potential of AI in diagnostics and practice management, balanced by concerns over deepfakes and ethical issues in broader applications.
- Practical Advice: Top client concerns include ransomware protection, proper backups, and costs. Dr. Lavine offers free initial evaluations to assess practice vulnerabilities.
Contact Dr. Lavine at thedigitaldentist.com, via email at [email protected], or call 866-204-3398 (ext. 200). His upcoming webinar is with a New York dental society. Tune in for more tech insights on The Technology Evangelist Podcast!
