ADHA Access March 2012 : Page 13

CODA Accepts Recommendation to Require Needs Assessment to Determine the Feasibility of Proposed Dental Hygiene Programs n February 3, 2012, the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) ruled to accept the recommendation to require a formal needs assessment to determine the feasibility of proposed dental hygiene programs. Based in part on a recommendation submitted to CODA by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and further re ¿ ned by CODA’s Dental Hygiene Review Committee, the new language included on the initial program application for CODA accreditation reads: It is required that the sponsoring institution include within their application for accreditation documentation demonstrat-ing the conduct of a formal needs assessment. The needs assessment must include the evaluation and veri ¿ cation of current and local/regional data indicating an adequate patient population, quali ¿ ed faculty and administration, and present employment opportunities for graduates. O practice, clinic, hospital or university. The alliance supports screening sites by providing free materials, including posters, T-shirts and media kits, to help set up and promote the activ-ity. For more details and to register to organize a free screen-ing in your area, visit www.OHANCAW.com. Source: Head and Neck Cancer Alliance  ■ Fones School of Dental Hygiene Celebrates 100 Years of Dental Hygiene The Fones Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association announced during the Connecti-cut Dental Hygienists’ Association Nutmeg Conference in November 2011 their efforts to purchase a new headstone for Irene Newman, the ¿ rst dental hygienist in the world. Plans for the new stone have been approved through the Mountain Grove Cemetery Association. The idea of honor-ing Irene Marshall Newman with a new headstone was suggested by Carol Ondeck, RDH, (AS, 1960) during the Fones School October 2011 annual pilgrimage to Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport. Ondeck leads the students and faculty on the historic tour to visit the gravesites of, and pay homage to, dental hygiene founders/supporters: Irene Newman, Alfred C. Fones and Paul P. Liscio. Donations speci ¿ ed for the “Head Stone Fund” are be-ing accepted by the UB Fones Student Chapter of ADHA. Checks should be made payable to UB SADHA and sent to the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, Dr. Marcia H. Lorentzen, 60 Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. It is expected that at least  3,000 will be needed to purchase a new stone and put it in place during National Dental Hygiene Month, October 2012. Source: Fones School of Dental Hygiene Additional new language in the initial application for CODA program accreditation reads: Describe the results of the institutional needs assessment that provided the basis for initiating a new program. Provide evidenced-based documentation of current and local/ regional data which veri ¿ es an adequate patient population, quali ¿ ed faculty and administration, and present employment opportunities for graduates. These new revisions will be implemented on January 1, 2013. ADHA anticipates that applications submitted for the April 1, 2012 deadline will be required to provide the formal needs assessment as supplemental information, as they will be reviewed by the Dental Hygiene Review Committee in January 2013, after the effective date. The proliferation of new dental hygiene programs has been a key issue for ADHA and dental hygienists in recent years, prompting ADHA to establish a letter-writing campaign for dental hygienists nationwide to share their concern with CODA. The campaign produced more than 700 letters from concerned hygienists from 45 different states. CODA also hosted an open hearing at ADHA’s recent annual session in Nashville, Tenn., where more than 150 hygienists attended, many of whom provided testimony on this issue. ADHA strongly believes that requiring a formal needs assess-ment as part of the initial accreditation process for new dental hygiene programs will help to alleviate the À ooding of the dental hygiene market in areas where there are too few jobs to sup-port the existing workforce as well as new graduates. “This is a great step that CODA has taken that ADHA believes will help reduce the saturation of certain job markets through-out the country,” said Pam Quinones, RDH, BS, ADHA president. “Educational advocacy has been a point of emphasis for ADHA, and this shows that when we have the support of hygienists na-tionwide, we can affect positive outcomes in this arena.” Take Part in Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week ® he 15th Annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week ® (OHANCAW ® ) is scheduled for April 22–28, 2012. Sponsored by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, OHANCAW is a week-long series of events promoting awareness of this life-threatening but treatable (if caught early) disease, highlighted by a day of free oral cancer screenings held at medical of ¿ ces, centers and institutions throughout the country. All members can participate by conducting a free screening at their medical T Pictured left to right: Megan LaChance, SDH, class of 2012; Carol Ondeck, RDH, Fones student chapter historian; Marcia Lorentzen, RDH, MSEd, EdD, director of clinical affairs, Fones School of Dental Hygiene. access MAR 2012 13

Extra

CODA Accepts Recommendation to Require Needs Assessment to Determine the Feasibility of Proposed Dental Hygiene Programs On February 3, 2012, the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) ruled to accept the recommendation to require a formal needs assessment to determine the feasibility of proposed dental hygiene programs. Based in part on a recommendation submitted to CODA by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and further refined by CODA’s Dental Hygiene Review Committee, the new language included on the initial program application for CODA accreditation reads: It is required that the sponsoring institution include within their application for accreditation documentation demonstrating the conduct of a formal needs assessment. The needs assessment must include the evaluation and verification of current and local/regional data indicating an adequate patient population, qualified faculty and administration, and present employment opportunities for graduates. Additional new language in the initial application for CODA program accreditation reads: Describe the results of the institutional needs assessment that provided the basis for initiating a new program. Provide evidenced-based documentation of current and local/ regional data which verifies an adequate patient population, quali..ed faculty and administration, and present employment opportunities for graduates. These new revisions will be implemented on January 1,2013. ADHA anticipates that applications submitted for the April 1, 2012 deadline will be required to provide the formal needs assessment as supplemental information, as they will be reviewed by the Dental Hygiene Review Committee in January 2013, after the effective date. The proliferation of new dental hygiene programs has been a key issue for ADHA and dental hygienists in recent years, prompting ADHA to establish a letter-writing campaign for dental hygienists nationwide to share their concern with CODA.The campaign produced more than 700 letters from concerned hygienists from 45 different states. CODA also hosted an open hearing at ADHA’s recent annual session in Nashville, Tenn., where more than 150 hygienists attended, many of whom provided testimony on this issue. ADHA strongly believes that requiring a formal needs assessment as part of the initial accreditation process for new dental hygiene programs will help to alleviate the ..ooding of the dental hygiene market in areas where there are too few jobs to support the existing workforce as well as new graduates. “This is a great step that CODA has taken that ADHA believes will help reduce the saturation of certain job markets throughout the country,” said Pam Quinones, RDH, BS, ADHA president.“Educational advocacy has been a point of emphasis for ADHA, and this shows that when we have the support of hygienists nationwide, we can affect positive outcomes in this arena.” Take Part in Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® The 15th Annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® (OHANCAW®) is scheduled for April 22–28, 2012.Sponsored by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, OHANCAW is a week-long series of events promoting awareness of this lifethreatening but treatable (if caught early) disease, highlighted by a day of free oral cancer screenings held at medical offices, centers and institutions throughout the country. All members can participate by conducting a free screening at their medical practice, clinic, hospital or university. The alliance supports screening sites by providing free materials, including posters, T-shirts and media kits, to help set up and promote the activity. For more details and to register to organize a free screening in your area, visit www.OHANCAW.com. Source: Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Fones School of Dental Hygiene Celebrates 100 Years of Dental Hygiene The Fones Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists Association announced during the Connecticut Dental Hygienists Association Nutmeg Conference in November 2011 their efforts to purchase a new headstone for Irene Newman, the first dental hygienist in the world.Plans for the new stone have been approved through the Mountain Grove Cemetery Association. The idea of honoring Irene Marshall Newman with a new headstone was suggested by Carol Ondeck, RDH, (AS, 1960) during the Fones School October 2011 annual pilgrimage to Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport. Ondeck leads the students and faculty on the historic tour to visit the gravesites of, and pay homage to, dental hygiene founders/supporters: Irene Newman, Alfred C. Fones and Paul P. Liscio. Donations specified for the Head Stone Fund are being accepted by the UB Fones Student Chapter of ADHA.Checks should be made payable to UB SADHA and sent to the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, Dr. Marcia H. Lorentzen, 60 Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. It is expected that at least ..3,000 will be needed to purchase a new stone and put it in place during National Dental Hygiene Month, October 2012. Source: Fones School of Dental Hygiene

Previous Page Next Page

Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here