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June 6, 2007 Annual Session & Exhibits XXVI Registration—ADVANCED REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 10! Stay clear of long lines onsite and make sure to register in advance for ADHA's 84th Annual Session & EXHIBITS XXVI, taking place June 20-27 at the Sheraton New Orleans. Advance registration ends on June 10. Visit http://www.adha.org/annualsession/ for complete information on: Registration, Networking Events, Student Activities, Special Events and CE sessions. Members - take advantage of the NEW online discount! Earn up to 15% off your CE registration fees by registering online! Checkout just some of the highlights you won’t want to miss! ADHA Community Outreach
Day! ADHA is thrilled to announce two opportunities available during this year’s Annual Session in New Orleans that will allow dental hygienists to give back to our host community. Plan now to donate your time and talents for a day spent in service to the citizens of this great American city! Habitat for Humanity: Children of Katrina Oral Health Outreach
Day Educators’ and
Clinicians’ Workshop Advancing Yourself
within the Profession: Alternative Careers in Dental Hygiene Are you considering a new career challenge within the dental hygiene field? Would you like to know more about the career possibilities and how to prepare for a new career path in dental hygiene? This panel discussion will highlight a range of career options and educational opportunities in dental hygiene. Panelists will share their stories, insights and experiences in a range of roles, including: • Community Health Sponsored by P&G Professional
Oral Health – Crest Oral-B New in 2007! Lunch with the Author Join President-elect, Jean Connor and Dr. Esther Wilkins, RDH, BS, DMD for lunch and conversation as President-elect Connor interviews with one of the most influential and recognized lecturers in dental hygiene! Esther Wilkins, Clinical Professor, Department of Periodontology, Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, is the author of the textbook Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, now in its ninth edition. Dr. Wilkins has received the Warner Lambert/ ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene (Education), the Forsyth Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Honorary Life Membership in the International Federation of Dental Hygienists. She is an internationally recognized lecturer in dental hygiene. President’s Reception ~ Mardi
Gras Masquerade…Unveiling the New Face of ADHA Masks, Beads, New Orleans inspired food and music ~ Experience Mardi gras in June! The not to be missed reception to honor outgoing President Marge Green, RDH, MS, is sure to be one of the many highlights of the 2007 event! Take this opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new ones, or just relax from a busy day. Be sure to include this event in your schedule! This year’s President’s Reception is made possible through the generous funding of ADHA’s Gold Level Sponsor, Discus Dental; and Silver Level Sponsors, P&G Professional Oral Health-Crest Oral-B, Premier Dental Products, and Sunstar Americas Inc.
ADHA is offering great new deals on many of the professional merchandise products for sale in the 2006-2007 Professional Products catalog. Until June, 2007 special deals will be available on a number of pre-packaged products which will help you display your professional pride in any situation. The following packages are available: Professional: $22 Purchase the ADHA Saddle Bag at regular price and receive 6 items free! • ADHA Saddle Bag—$22 Sports: $8.50 For one low price receive a 5 item sports-related package. • Tooth-shaped Stress Ball On the go: $7.25 Purchase the Ambu Key Ring with ADHA Logo at regular price and receive 3 free items! • Ambu Key Ring with ADHA Logo--$7.25 Purchase your packages while supplies last! Quantities are limited. If a specific item is out of stock at time of purchase an item of equal value will be substituted. See a specific item from the Professional Merchandise section of the catalog that you are interested in? Not interested in a purchasing complete package? No worries, individual items are available at a 50% discount from the listed price! Need one more reason to buy? Any orders over $50 receive free shipping! Items not available at a discount include Professional Certificate Plaque and Tooth-shaped Post-it notes. For more information, to check the availability of items, or to place an order, please contact Mina Collins at 312/440-8949 or at minac@adha.net.
Congratulations 2007 Graduates! Graduating and starting any new job is a stressful experience - it is filled with questions, uncertainties and new routines. In school, you had the experience of your faculty to guide and mentor for the last two years. Now that you are out on your own, who do you turn to? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone! While the transition from academia to practice may seem daunting, the ADHA community is here to help, support and guide you through this exciting time! Simply by staying connected to ADHA you will have access to a network of dental hygienists across the country that you can turn to for advice, mentoring and fun, yes even fun! All it takes is a few simple steps. Simply visit www.adha.org and login to your membership record and click the “Convert Now” link. By completing the information and providing your dental hygiene license number, you will change your membership from Student to Active and secure your place in the ADHA community! If you have any questions, contact the Division of Member Services at member.services@adha.net or 1/800-243-2342, press 1. Congratulations!
ADEA/AAL Institute for Allied Health Educators Application Deadline: June 11, 2007 The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) recently announced a new initiative in collaboration with the Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL) to recruit and develop new allied dental faculty. The ADEA/AAL Institute for Allied Health Educators (IAHE) provides allied dental and other allied health educators with intensive training in teaching methods and course planning, as well as guidance in how to succeed in the academic environment. The IAHE is a 2.5 day program, with 17 hours of ADA CERP continuing education credits, held over a long weekend at the dental school of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. We are seeking your help in informing your faculty members about this program. We hope that you will post and distribute the attached flyer to faculty who could benefit from the IAHE. For further information, including the 2007 curriculum and how to apply, please visit our website at http://www.academicleaders.org/iahe.htm. Download the Call for Applications.
Federal Authorization Paves the Way for Hygienists in Minnesota to Fulfill Head Start Dental Exam Performance Standard Federal approval in December paved the way for Minnesota’s collaborative practice dental hygienists to provide oral health services that fulfill the dental exam performance standard for children entering Head Start programs. Despite the existence of a federal mandate stating that a dental exam be obtained within 90 days of enrollment, access to care issues have made it difficult for Head Start children to obtain the necessary exam. Head Start programs can be cited for non-fulfillment of the exam mandate and failing to facilitate follow-up care for children in need of restorative services Statistics obtained from Gayle Kelly, Minnesota Head Start Association Executive Director indicate that Minnesota’s Head Start exam rate had fallen to 71 percent. In an effort to increase the number of enrolled children who received dental exams, Ms. Kelly and a group of oral health professionals in the state sought a solution utilizing Minnesota’s expanded practice statute to meet Head Start standards. Leaders from the Minnesota Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Minnesota Dental Association, and a number of oral health professionals worked cooperatively over a period of six months last year to address the issue. In July 2006, the group sent a letter outlining a “Minnesota Model” to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Region V Office of Head Start. The letter proposed that the agency accept services performed by collaborative practice dental hygienists calibrated in an adaptation of the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Basic Screening Survey. In October, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (the state’s Medicaid Agency) confirmed that “this assessment and triage approach through collaborative practice meets DHS’s dental examination standard”. On December 7, 2006, the Office of Head Start officially recognized the proposal. The decision is a great win for the state—Minnesota has moved to the forefront of the nation as a result of the Head Start effort. Clare Larkin, RDH and MDHA member, Normandale Community College, was part of the group that authored the letter to Head Start and has noted, “We have been told by federal officials that the nation will be keeping an eye on, not only how effectively collaborative practice dental hygienists provide the assessments and triage, but on our success in facilitating the referral for follow-up care.” Dr. Colleen Brickle, RDH and MDHA member, Normandale Community College, coordinated the first calibration session in January 2007. The number of calibrated dental hygienists who are currently providing or soon to be providing the ASTDD survey method has grown to twenty eight, with ongoing plans for additional calibration sessions. Clare Larkin states “The process has been extremely effective resulting in many more Head Start children receiving preventive services and being triaged for additional diagnosis and/or treatment as needed.” The change also serves as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships among dental hygienists and dentists in the state. Oral health providers will need to work in concert to ensure that children in need are able to access follow-up care. Deborah Jacobi, RDH and MDHA member, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Apple Tree Dental, says “In Minnesota, we are creating an integrated system in which hygienists and dentists partner to extend the reach of dentistry to those least able to access the traditional delivery system.” On average 30 percent of Minnesota Head Start students require restorative treatment. Conversely, 70 percent of the children need only those services that a collaborative practice hygienist can currently provide in the Head Start Center. This community-based care provides a supportive, familiar environment for early dental experiences in which the peer support of classmates and the classroom teachers who remain in close proximity increases cooperation of even the most timid child and those with special needs. Connie Bye, West Central Minnesota Communities Action Head Start Health Coordinator expresses why their collaborative practice with Mary Lou Olsen, RDH and MDHA member is invaluable for many children and families: “We saw autistic, developmentally delayed, ADHD, and fearful children who previously had unsuccessful office visits who were now able to receive a thorough assessment, tooth brush prophy, fluoride varnish and education in their natural setting - our Head Start center.” According to Ms. Bye, parents, who are encouraged to participate, reported great appreciation of the excellent services provided and for some, the elimination of a 4 hour drive. In addition to improving the experiences of low-income families seeking dental care, collaborative practice has the potential to support dental professionals seeking to overcome the challenges of public program participation. By the time a child is referred from Head Start for restorative treatment, all care coordination issues such as transportation or interpretation and an appointment with a willing dentist can be identified and addressed. Ms. Bye says, “Now that the system is in place, children are triaged earlier, and we can focus on helping families make and keep non-emergency dental appointments.” New partnerships between dental hygienists, dentists and Head Start are being established. MDHA members participated in the first of planned regional meetings, which was hosted by the MDA and local dental society in South Central Minnesota on April 17th. Planners’ goals are to provide information on collaborative practice and to engage local people and resources in the Head Start effort. Looking ahead, partners would like all interested Head Start programs to have a collaborative practice hygienist in place for fall - less than one year after authorization. For more information about collaborative practice in Minnesota visit: www.normandale.edu/dental or about Minnesota Head Start: http://www.mnheadstart.org/.The ASTDD’s Basic Screening Survey can be obtained at: http://www.astdd.org/.
On Thursday, May 24, Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD) introduced legislation entitled “The Essential Oral Health Care Act of 2007”. The Wynn legislation seeks to: 1) pilot community dental health coordinator (CDHC) training programs and to support volunteer dental projects; 2) provide states the option to accept increased Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program funding if states take specified steps to increase access to dental care, including increasing dental Medicaid reimbursement levels consistent with market rates; and 3) provide for tax credits for donated dental services. The bill has simply been introduced at this point and no committee hearings have been scheduled. Along with Congressman Wynn’s efforts, Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) introduced a bill, H.R. 2371, on May 17th entitled “Deamonte’s Law.” The bill is designed to increase the amount of dental services provided in community health centers and would potentially fund additional pediatric training programs. Senators Cardin and Mikulski are reportedly working on additional dental legislation. This flurry of dental legislative activity is directly attributable to the tragic death of young Marylander Deamonte Driver (http://www.adha.org/media/releases/03012007_post.htm) which has prompted members of the Maryland congressional delegation to take concrete steps in order to improve access to dental care for underserved populations. Given the intense interest of Maryland legislators, ADHA leaders, members, and staff are working with the offices of additional Maryland legislators. ADHA has been quite active with advocacy efforts with respect to the ADHP, most notably being President Green’s recent testimony last March (http://www.adha.org/media/releases/04022007_subcommittee.htm) and our efforts with many other legislators both by our members at the local level and in Washington, DC, by staff and leadership. Please know that ADHA is actively involved in advocacy issues and will be monitoring this activity very closely. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Division of Governmental Affairs at gov.affairs@adha.net. In other federal advocacy news: Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced legislation last month to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that would establish a federal guarantee for an SCHIP dental benefit. The legislation would also provide new resources for children enrolled in the program and aims to stabilize funding for states. While all states currently provide dental coverage in their SCHIP programs, the benefit has been threatened by legislators looking to cut costs in tight budget years. In the House of Representatives, Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) have introduced the House version of the Children’s Dental Health Improvement Act. The bill establishes federal grants for state Medicaid and SCHIP programs to enhance the delivery of dental care to low-income children as well as other incentives. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) is handling the Senate version of this bill which was introduced earlier this year. Co-sponsors include Maryland senators Cardin and Mikulski.
Register for the Annual Session Research Mentor Forum Thursday, June 21, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Christine A. Hovliaras-Delozier, RDH, BS, MBA Publications are the gold standard of academic and professional life. In every stage of the process the publications of the candidate play an important role in assessing his or her career path. This year’s Research Mentor Forum will provide you with tips on:
http://www.adha.org/annualsession
Revised National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda In March 2007, the ADHA Board of Trustees approved for use the updated National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda (NDHRA). The content of the revised NDHRA is reflective of current national health issues and is well aligned with research agendas from other dental and health care professionals. The revised agenda focuses on the following five categories of research:
Since its inception in 1994, the agenda has served to focus dental hygienists' research efforts. The ADHA National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda was created to address five primary objectives:
Both inside and outside of the research arena, it is important for practitioners, who provide the greatest representation of the profession to the public, to make decisions that are firmly grounded in knowledge that is obtained from research and clinical experiences. The National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda provides directions to hygienists on priority research areas that can help advance the profession. Promoting and utilizing the NDHRA helps to position the profession in alignment with other major health professional organizations and contributes to the credibility of the profession, by providing visibility and support to dental hygienists engaged in research. Achieving national health objectives should be an inherent part of the professional activities of dental hygienists. The professional community must commit to using the NDHRA to guide research, enhance patient-centered care, improve the quality of services and foster other professional efforts. The dental hygiene community’s emerging research infrastructure must be purposefully advanced and supported. To expedite the development of this infrastructure, the initial focus and funding of research efforts should be on the priorities identified in the ADHA National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda. For more information please visit http://www.adha.org/research/nra.htm.
The ADHA is seeking applications from health professionals with expertise in education, research, data analysis, and the translating of science into practice who are interested in joining its Resource Persons Network (RPN). The Resource Persons Network (RPN) is a group of professionals willing to volunteer their services in support of ADHA’s mission to improve the overall oral health status of the United States. What are the qualifications to become a RPN and where can I sign up? Applicants should have proven experience in working with community-based organizations/institutions, public health, program development, organizational development, and grant management. An applicant’s expertise should be related to a specific and/or multiple groups. And finally, all applicants must have a minimum of five years’ experience working with oral health issues. Interested applicants who meet the criteria should complete the online application located at: http://www.adha.org/downloads/RPN_applicaton.pdf In connection with the Resource Persons Network, ADHA is looking for hygienists with experience/specialty to serve as consultants to students and/or hygienists interested in pursuing a career in one of the following areas of dental hygiene (http://www.adha.org/enews/01312007.htm#rpn): Anesthesiology
E-NEWSLETTER DISCLAIMER
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