Health Care Regulation in the 21st Century

Transcription

1 college of dental hygienists of british columbia access The latest news from cdhbc Winter 2010 Health Care Regulation in the 21st Century Quality health care, accountability and best practice are the hot topics an assessment component. Therefore all 21 health professions in regulation and are regularly discussed by both Colleges, whose are at various stages in the exploration, evaluation, creation and mandate it is to protect the public, and by the B.C. Ministry of Health, implementation of a QAP model that is right for their profession. who sets the legislative framework that governs the Colleges. Shortly after the HPA was changed, the CDHBC Quality Assurance Over the last five years research has been steadily growing that Committee, which is made up of four dental hygienists and two shows that as humans we have trouble accurately self-assessing public members, began to evaluate the various models of QAP. our strengths and weaknesses; even when accurate self-assessment In 2007, a survey was sent to all registrants asking for your feedback has occurred, we are unlikely to take steps to address identified on the various styles of QAPs. The survey showed that registrants weaknesses when there is no formalized requirement to do so. like the current Continuing Competency program, which presented Research also demonstrates that even if we take steps to address the the Committee with a challenge since, as mentioned above, the QAP weakness, it s unlikely we implement what we learn. Dr. Glenn Regehr, must have an assessment component and registrants were mixed the Associate Director of the Centre for Health Education Scholarship when asked what type of assessment they would prefer. at UBC, is a leading researcher in this area and has published a The Committee, like all B.C. health regulators, is facing and multitude of papers in this area. addressing the challenge of balancing a QAP that is ideal with The B.C. Ministry of Health has taken notice of this research and what is actually manageable and affordable for the College and its in 2005 the Health Professions Act, which governs 21 B.C. health registrants. The intent of the CDHBC Quality Assurance Program professions including dental hygiene, was amended to require that is to balance public protection with feasibility and, at the same time, health professions develop a Quality Assurance Program (QAP). provide a useful tool to registrants to assist them in developing their The message was clear that the government was embracing the own plan for continued competence and professional development. 21st century of health regulation and a purely elective, quantitative The Quality Assurance Committee has been working hard to develop continuing education program was no longer considered sufficient a program that will meet these needs and welcomes you to review to ensure that professionals remained safe and current. The the plan contained in this edition of Access and provide your feedback government has specified that an acceptable program must include to the College. visit us at

2 Message from the Registrar jennifer lawrence, registrar Since the last edition of Access, the CDHBC Board, Committees and staff have been working on a number of projects that have been our focus for a while. Topics like the 365-Day Rule and the Quality Assurance Program are not new. In fact, the 365-Day Rule has been mentioned in almost every edition of Access since the College was created in 1995; the QAP was first mentioned in the May 2005 edition, and numerous times afterward. As they say, change is the one constant in life and it is no different for the College, the profession and the public that seeks and receives dental hygiene care. After much debate, consultation, research and discussion, we are now in a place that offers a clear framework and vision on both topics. After considering results of the registrant survey in 2007 as well as researching and considering all the different models, the Quality Assurance Committee has embraced the task of setting a clear vision, guiding principles and a framework for the development and implementation of the new Quality Assurance Program. We understand that the prospect of changing how we address continuing education and the inclusion of an assessment mechanism is a daunting one. I can assure you that your Quality Assurance Committee and your Board, which are made up of dental hygienists, do not make these decisions In This Issue Health Care Regulation in the 21st Century... 1 Message from the Registrar... 2 Message from the Chair... 3 Darlene Thomas Award Recipient... 3 Update: 365-Day Rule Exemption Quality Assurance Program Update Committee Reports Root of the Matter... 9 Announcements International Conferences: Scotland & Nashville lightly or without considering all options and information before making them. Even though they are difficult decisions to make, they must be made. We have a statutory requirement to implement a new Quality Assurance Program that must include a model of assessment. I also want to emphasize that both the Committee and the Board welcome and in fact, are eager to hear feedback from registrants. Board meetings are open to the public, which includes registrants, and information is regularly published on our website and in Access. As you may have heard by now, proposed changes to the College Bylaws will create a new registration class that exempts registrants in that class from the 365-Day Rule, no matter what the practice setting. This proposal was developed after a meeting with the Minister of Health and BCDHA in 2008; the Minister requested that the College sit down with officials from the Ministry of Health and the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. to see if a framework could be developed to address public safety concerns as well as access-to-care issues. Discussions between the three groups, as well as consulting both BCDHA and BCDA, occurred over the next two years. During that time, the concept of developing a 365-exempt class of registration was conceived. While a regular dental exam will be recommended, it would now be entirely up to the client whether they choose to see a dentist, which would mean that a dental hygienist may be the only provider of oral care to that client for extended periods of time. All parties agreed we must ensure that if the hygienist is to be the sole provider of oral care, s/he needs to have the experience and education to provide safe, quality care. However, at the same time we had to balance that goal with ensuring that there was a greater degree of access to dental hygiene care, especially for vulnerable populations. I encourage you to consider the proposed changes and ask yourself if they strike the right balance between ensuring public safety and allowing public access. Detailed information on both topics is included in this edition of Access. I encourage you to have a close read and reflect thoughtfully on where we have been, where we are and where we are headed as a self-regulated profession and as a College that must always act in the public s best interest. cover photo

3 College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia ACCESS Winter Message from the Chair marilynne fine, acting chair In the year of our 15th anniversary, I hope that everyone has feedback on the Government s required reflected on the significance of belonging to a self-regulating changes to the existing program. The profession. I also hope that the many new registrants we have QAC Committee has been working on welcomed to our profession this year will consider becoming our this project since that time, taking your new generation of leaders. feedback into consideration to develop a program which fits all the requirements. As a College, we have a history of being pro-active and ambitious, which ultimately means we must take action rather Your Board, made up of 6 dental than just talk about our ideas. Conversation is the first step, hygienists from across the province but implementation is essential for change to happen. As we as well as 3 public members, works sit and discuss our new horizons, it is important to see a clear diligently to consider all the different path to where we need to go. Whether you decide to become issues within the mandate of public protection, which is our part of a Committee or the Board, or whether you simply send an primary responsibility. There is no perfect program but we with feedback about a current topic, every registrant has an must consider what is in the best interest of the general public, equal opportunity to become part of the process. what is most fair to the greater majority of registrants and what is reasonable for the College staff to implement. We hope that This is especially important as we work to update our Bylaws you will keep an open mind, get all of the facts and remain an (which are now at the Public Consultation Phase!) and develop active participant in the conversations that will arise as new a brand-new Quality Assurance Program as mandated by the projects develop and evolve. We rely on your expertise to assist revised Health Professions Act. You may recall the last survey in guiding our vision of the College s future, just as you laid the that the College sent to you in December 2007 (participation groundwork to us becoming a self-regulating profession and gave you 2 cc credits) included a large section requesting your for that, we thank you Darlene Thomas Award Recipient: Diane Eade The Darlene Thomas Award for Vision BCDHA President and a CDHA Board and Leadership in Dental Hygiene is member. From 1992 to 1995, Diane was the presented annually to a dental hygienist CDSBC Deputy Registrar of Dental Hygiene who demonstrates the highest level and helped to establish several committees of professional commitment and that were transferred to the newly legislated leadership. Darlene Thomas was elected CDHBC, for which she was Acting Deputy as first Chair of the CDHBC Board Registrar and, subsequently, Registration in 1995 and practiced dental hygiene Manager until Despite her busy for 34 years before succumbing to schedule, Diane also helped establish the breast cancer at age 54, in She is National Dental Hygiene Certification Board remembered as a leader in the dental hygiene profession at the in 1994 and represented CDHBC on the Board and committees local, provincial and national levels. for 14 years, including a 3-year term as President. In addition, she has been a part-time clinical instructor at UBC and VCC, an This year s award was presented to Diane Eade (left, with examiner for the CDHBC Clinical Examination and host of many Marilynne Fine). She graduated from UBC s dental hygiene sessions at the Pacific Dental Conference. program in 1971 and entered clinical practice while volunteering at the Woodlands School for the Disabled. By 1981 she was Those who know Diane appreciate her dedication and integrity.

4 Update: 365-Day Rule Exemption Over the past year, CDHBC entered into negotiations with the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia and the B.C. Ministry of Health to arrive at a mutually agreeable framework that addresses the 365-Day Rule and the barriers it creates. The three parties agreed upon a framework that will allow more hygienists to be exempt from the 365-Day Rule in more practice settings, which, in turn, results in greater access to care for British Columbians. Subsequently, the CDHBC Board has approved draft changes to CDHBC s Bylaws. The College is requesting that a new registration category be created which will allow registrants in that category to be exempt from Section 6(1) of the Dental Hygienists Regulation (365-Day Rule); this category will replace the current Residential Care Category. In addition, substantial equivalency clauses will be added to the Full and 365-exempt categories. Notice of these changes is hereby provided to the Minister of Health Services, the public and other interested stakeholders as required by section 19 (6.2) of the Health Professions Act. Feedback is sought on the proposed changes by January 14th, 2011, and should be submitted in writing to both the Minister of Health and CDHBC. A copy of the proposed regulations is included on page 7 or can be viewed at: Q&A on the Proposed Bylaw Changes Q: Who can make a submission during the public consultation period? A: A registrant, stakeholder group or any member of the public can make a submission during the public consultation period. or residential care settings. last dental examination. The exemption from the 365-Day Rule will also apply to any practice setting, including but not exclusive to dental hygiene practices, dental offices, and community care Q: How do I make a submission? A: Submissions must be written and sent to both CDHBC (see for contact information) and the Ministry of Health Services by or by fax/regular mail to the attention of: Daryl Beckett Director, Professional Regulation Ministry of Health Services 5th floor, 1515 Blanshard St. Victoria, BC V8W 3C8 Fax: HLTH.LPRAdmin@gov.bc.ca Q: Do these changes mean that the 365-Day Rule will no longer exist? A: No, the 365-Day Rule will still apply to all registrants in the Full and Conditional registration classes. The proposed Bylaws will create a new registration class that, under the proposed Regulation changes, provides exemption from the 365-Day Rule. Q: What does registration in the new 365-exempt class mean? A: Registrants in the 365-exempt class will be able to provide dental hygiene care to any clients regardless of the date of their Q: If these Bylaws come into force, do I have to apply to the new class if I want to be 365-exempt? A: Yes, registrants will be required to apply to this new class. There are additional education requirements over and above a Full license that an applicant must meet, as well as a practice hour requirement that must be satisfied. (Note: Current registration in the residential care class will automatically be switched over to the new 365-exempt class without an application being required.) Q: What are the additional educational requirements? A: A registrant must demonstrate that they have the knowledge, to a Bachelor s level of education, of the four competencies listed from 40(1)(c)(iii)(A-D) of the draft Bylaws. In order to obtain and demonstrate that knowledge, registrants have a choice of three options: 1. A Bachelor s degree in dental hygiene from a program approved by the Board; 2. A course or courses approved by the Board (in order for a course or series of courses to be approved by the Board, they will be required to cover all four competencies to a Bachelor s degree level); (cont.) visit us at

5 College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia ACCESS Winter Completing a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) conducted by an institution approved by the Board. A PLAR is an avenue for dental hygienists who believe they have obtained the Bachelor s level of knowledge and skill through experience and other informal educational opportunities and wish to have that knowledge and skill evaluated. Q: How do I find the courses required to satisfy the educational requirement? A: CDHBC is currently working with B.C. educational institutions and other educational providers to determine programs and/or courses that will meet the requirement. Q: Why is there a clinical practice hour requirement? A: While it will be mandatory for registrants in the 365-exempt class to recommend a regular dental exam, it will now be entirely up to the clients of those registrants to decide whether they choose to have an exam by a dentist. It is possible that the hygienist may be the client s primary or only provider of oral health care for extended periods of time. Furthermore, this class will allow registrants to practice in non-traditional settings. Therefore, in order to fulfill the College s mandate of public safety, it is important to establish a high degree of confidence that registrants in this class have the knowledge, currency and experience to make appropriate referrals, practice safely in alternative practice settings, work safely and effectively with vulnerable populations, etc. To ensure experience, the 3500-hour clinical requirement that was in the residential care class was carried over to the new class and to ensure currency; those hours need to be completed within the previous 5 years. It is important to note that 3500 hours is roughly equivalent to 2 years of full time clinical-related practice or 5 years of 2 days a week of clinical-related practice. It also should be noted that the 3500 hours are within 5 years; if the hours are achieved in less time, that will be acceptable for admission into the class. Q: I currently hold a residential care license. What happens to my license when these changes come into effect? A: Your license will automatically be reassigned to the new 365-exempt class. Q: What does the substantial equivalency clause mean? A: The Registration Committee will be able to receive applications from registrants who do not meet the 3500 hours in 5 years requirement but believe that they have sufficient experience and currency to be substantially equivalent to that requirement. For example, a registrant may have been away on maternity leave for a year within the past 5 years so therefore only has 3000 hours in the previous 5 years, however has 3800 hours in the previous 6 years; in addition, this registrant has recently taken Continuing Competency courses focused on treating vulnerable populations. This may be a strong case for concluding the registrant has demonstrated the necessary experience and currency, therefore an application based on substantial equivalency would be considered. The Registration Committee and the Board will be developing guidelines to aid in the assessment of substantial equivalency and will evaluate whether an applicant is a candidate to have their experience and currency assessed. Q: Does this change affect the administration of local anesthetic? A: No. Under these changes a dentist must still be present in order to administer local anesthetic unless a 365-exempt license holder is practicing in a facility and the local anesthetic has been authorized by a medical practitioner or dentist, and a person qualified to act in a medical emergency is immediately available. Q: When will the proposed Bylaws come into effect? A: After the public consultation period ends, all submissions and feedback will be considered by both CDHBC and the B.C. government. At that time, it will be determined if it would be prudent to make any changes. Once that determination has been made, and assuming the Minister of Health enacts the proposed Regulation changes, the Bylaws will then be filed with the Minister of Health. Once filed, the College will provide notice to all registrants that the Bylaws have been changed and then we will begin to accept applications for the new class (and will begin to automatically switch current residential care licenses over to the new class). A copy of the proposed Bylaws can be found on page 7 of this edition of Access or can be viewed at under the heading News & Events.

6 Quality Assurance Program Update In accordance with the Health Professions Act, all B.C. health professions must establish a Quality Assurance Program (QAP). The CDHBC Quality Assurance Committee has been working to develop a QAP and has recently finalized the Vision Statement, Guiding Principles and Framework. Vision Statement A Quality Assurance Program should be fair, transparent, defensible and, above all, ensure protection of the public. A successful Quality Assurance Program will ensure that all registrants are practicing dental hygiene at a safe and acceptable level of competence by incorporating reliable methods of practice assessment and professional development. The Quality Assurance Program will be reasonable to administer and participation should be manageable. Guiding Principles Guiding principles are statements that reflect the fundamental values and beliefs that guide development of all aspects of the Quality Assurance Program. The Quality Assurance Program will be evaluated regularly. The goal of the Quality Assurance Program is public protection. The Quality Assurance Program will be evidence-based and cost effective. Participation in the Quality Assurance Program is intended to be reasonable and manageable for registrants. The materials that inform registrants about the QAP will be clear, concise and accessible. Maintaining and enhancing competence is the responsibility of the registrant. All dental hygienists registered in practicing categories will be required to participate in the QAP. Framework Registrants will be assigned a 5-year QAP Cycle (replaces the 3-year CC Cycle). At the start of the QAP Cycle, registrants will complete an online Assessment Tool (foundational dental hygiene competencies). Registrants will use the results from their assessment to develop individualized learning goals and a learning plan. Registrants must complete their learning goals by the end of their 5-year QAP Cycle by completing a minimum of 75 hours of CC Credits. Assessment Tool Development The QAP Assessment Tool is being developed in collaboration with the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB). Assessment items will be drawn from an extensive item bank developed and maintained by NDHCB experts, including dental hygienists who write the questions. Registrants who would like to sample the assessment tool are advised to take the NDHCE Practice Test at the following link: which contains similar content and format. Focus Groups will be conducted with registrants during 2011 to obtain feedback. visit us at

7 College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia ACCESS Winter The Bylaws made by the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia under the authority of the Health Professions Act are proposed to be amended as follows: 1. Section 38 (b) is repealed and replaced with the following: (c) full registrant (365 day rule exempt), for the purposes of section 6 (2) of the regulation; 2. Section 39 is amended by adding the following: (4) Despite section 39(1) to (3), the Registration Committee has discretion, in satisfying itself under section 20 of the Act that the applicant meets the conditions or requirements for registration as a member of the college, to consider whether the applicant s knowledge, skills and abilities are substantially equivalent to the standards of academic or technical achievement and the competencies or other qualifications established in section 39 (1) (a), (c) and (d), (2) and (3), as applicable, and to grant registration on that basis, if the applicant also meets the requirements established in section 39 (1) (e) to (i). 3. Section 40 is repealed and replaced with the following: 40. (1) An applicant may be granted registration in the full registration (365 day rule exempt) class if the applicant : (a) is a full registrant, or meets the requirements for full registration in section 39, (b) submits the applicable fees set out in Schedule D, and (c) provides evidence satisfactory to the registration committee that the applicant (i) has current cardiopulmonary resuscitation qualifications consistent with those required of continuing care staff, (ii) has at least 3500 hours of clinical dental hygiene practice experience in the 5 year period prior to the date of application under this section, and (iii) holds a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene degree, or has demonstrated the following abilities at a level equivalent to that ordinarily expected of a holder of a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene degree, as assessed by an agency approved by the Board: (A) ability to safely and effectively assess, diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate dental hygiene care for clients with complex needs or disabling conditions; (B) ability to work effectively as a member of an interprofessional health care team; (C) ability to apply the standards of infection control and safe practice in alternative practice settings; (D) ability to make appropriate and timely referrals through the identification of abnormalities, conditions and circumstances which are outside the scope of dental hygiene practice or limit the registrant s ability to provide safe dental hygiene care. (2) An applicant for the full registration (365 day rule exempt) class who meets the requirements in subsection (1), with the exception of the requirement in section 39 (1) (c) may be granted full registration (365 day rule exempt) for a maximum period of two years. (3) Full registration (365 day rule exempt) registrants who do not meet the requirement in section 39 (1) (c) must not administer local anaesthesia. (4) Despite section 40 (1) to (3), the Registration Committee has discretion, in satisfying itself under section 20 of the Act that the applicant meets the conditions or requirements for registration as a member of the college, to consider whether the applicant s knowledge, skills and abilities are substantially equivalent to the standards of academic or technical achievement and the competencies or other qualifications established in section 40 (1) (a) and (c), and to grant registration on that basis, if the applicant also meets the requirements established in section 39 (1) (e) to (i) and section 40 (1) (b). The QAP Assessment Tool will: be conducted online using on the fly computer-based technology; be a 2-hour open-book didactic evaluation; include 75 items based on the competencies from the NDHCB exam blueprint; provide competency-based feedback to each registrant; be delivered to approximately 500 registrants per year (each registrant completes the assessment once per 5-year cycle). The QAP Learning Plan will: be developed by each registrant based on the feedback provided from the assessment tool; guide registrant choices for continuing education in order to meet learning goals; be monitored by CDHBC through an audit process. Ongoing information sessions will be held to communicate the details of the QAP to registrants and stakeholders.

8 Registration Committee Report jacqueline guyader, chair Over the last six months the Committee has met twice, once via teleconference and once in person at a meeting held in Richmond. As per the Committee mandate, we continued to review current and new local anesthetic courses to ensure that the content meets the required B.C. provincial standards. The Committee is in the process of reviewing the information provided by the consultants for the next generation of the clinical examination. There has been one clinical examination since the last publication. It took place on November 6-7 at the Vancouver Community College campus in downtown Vancouver. The summer months of June through August were a busy time as applications for new registrations were received and reviewed. I would like to congratulate the new graduates from 2010 who have now become registered dental hygienists in B.C. The numbers of those who are requesting registration continues to rise. Since the last publication our numbers have risen to over 3200 dental hygienists registered in British Columbia. At press time our total number of registrants was The following is a breakdown by category: Full: 2860 Full (residential care): 65 Conditional: 127 Non-Practicing: 197 The next scheduled Registration Committee meeting will be held in person on January 28, 2011, in Victoria. Bylaw Violations Each year, the Registrar learns of individuals who have not complied with Bylaw 49 (see below) and, as a result, may not receive important information sent by mail. When registrants do not notify the College office of address changes and therefore do not receive notices regarding registration renewal, they may fail to renew registration as required under Bylaw 47(1). If the individual has practiced dental hygiene after the last day of February without renewal, a violation of the Bylaws occurs and the matter must be forwarded to the College s Inquiry Committee. It is then the Committee s responsibility to investigate the matter. Registration Renewal 47.(1) Registration in any class must be renewed annually, not later than the last day of February... (5) Where a registrant fails to pay a registration renewal fee on or before the last day of February, he or she ceases to be registered. Notification of Change of Registration Information 49. A registrant must immediately notify the Registrar of any changes of his or her address, name or any other registration information previously provided to the Registrar. It is the responsibility of each CDHBC registrant to know and adhere to the Bylaws. Inquiry Committee Report kerry simmons, chair The Inquiry Committee has held four meetings via phone since its last in-person meeting in Vancouver in April where we met our new committee member, Lim Law, who practices dental hygiene in Vancouver. Also at our annual in-person meeting, we received a presentation from Tom English, the chair of the Health Professions Review Board, the body which monitors the complaints, inquiry and disciplinary proceedings of all Health Professions, and which reviews decisions upon application of a complainant. visit us at

9 College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia ACCESS Winter Root of the Matter heather biggar, deputy registrar A Novel, Needle-Free Anesthetic: Oraqix As more and more dental hygienists seek to offer client treatment in alternative practice settings, the need for pain control options that can be offered without the presence of a dentist is increasing. Conventional topical anesthetic has very limited use in terms of reducing discomfort related to scaling and root planing and so the introduction of a relatively new pain management product to the market has been well-received by hygienists. Oraqix is a non-injectable local anesthetic indicated for topical application in periodontal pockets for localized control of moderate pain during scaling and/or root planing. Using a thermosetting system, the anesthetic mixture of 25mg of lidocaine and 25mg of prilocaine is applied subgingivally using a blunt-tipped applicator. As a liquid at room temperature, the product is applied into periodontal pockets targeted for treatment. Once administered, Oraqix thickens at body temperature into an elastic gel and remains in place while the anesthetic takes effect, then is removed once scaling is initiated. The onset of action is approximately 30 seconds. The anesthetizing effects are not washed away with water, which allows the duration of the anesthesia to last approximately 20 minutes (range: minutes). Reminder re. Promotional Activities All registrants should consult the Registrant s Handbook before undertaking any advertising or promotional activities. Promotional activities, or marketing, may include any publication or communication with clients, prospective clients or the general public; this may include a listing in a directory, a public appearance, an advertisement or any other means by which a registrant s professional services are promoted. As outlined in Part VII of the College Bylaws, it is inappropriate to create false or misleading expectations for results from treatment or to imply that a registrant s ability is superior or exceptional to that of other registrants. Comparison to the quality of service provided by another registrant or another health profession is not acceptable. While communicating with others either formally or informally, a registrant is not authorized to speak on behalf of the College unless he or she has been expressly authorized by the Board. Since this product is not classified as an injectable local anesthetic, it falls within the DH Scope of Practice and may be administered without supervision by a dental hygienist registered in B.C. The Inquiry Committee endeavours to resolve all complaints fairly and efficiently. At present, the Committee has before it six complaints at various stages of investigation and resolution. As Records of Decision are made with respect to each complaint, the Committee recommends that each registrant review those decisions to be aware of typical concerns of the public and the College. Failure to renew registration with the College continues to be a frequent area of investigation, and is one category of complaint that each registrant can avoid by keeping their mailing address with the College current and remembering that renewing membership with a professional association does not trigger renewal of registration with the College, which is required in order to practice dental hygiene. Any person wishing to know more about the complaints process should review Tab 10 of the Registrant s Handbook, visit the College website or contact the Registrar. A complaint must be in writing to proceed to the Inquiry Committee, but the College may also investigate a registrant through its own motion.

10 Announcements Clinical Examination Information The B.C. Dental Hygiene Clinical Examination is an important function of the CDHBC. The Examination is designed to determine if an individual s clinical skills are at an entry-level competency, which is required to safely practice dental hygiene in British Columbia. Canadian graduates of unaccredited programs and foreign graduates of dental hygiene programs that are not listed on Schedule I in the CDHBC Bylaws are required to successfully complete the B.C. Clinical Examination to be eligible for dental hygiene registration in B.C. Those Canadians who are licensed outside of B.C. may refer to the Registration Information section of our website ( for more information on applying to practice in B.C. Exam application information and forms are located on the CDHBC website under the Registration & Renewal section. Please contact the Examination Manager, Popi Bowman (pbowman@cdhbc.com), or call the office directly for more information or to put your name on the waitlist. Call for Examiners The College would like to continue expanding its pool of qualified examiners. In particular, we are looking for dental hygienists who have had experience teaching in a clinical setting and evaluating students to an entry-level competency. Those registrants who qualify will be invited to observe an examination prior to being approved as an examiner. Examiners receive a per diem (two full days at $275 per day), paid expenses and 10 Continuing Competency Credits per examination (up to 30 CC Credits per cycle). If you are interested in joining the examiner pool, please contact Popi Bowman, Examination Manager, by (pbowman@ cdhbc.com) or call the office directly. Renewal Reminder Online renewal will begin on January 10 and must be completed on or before February 28. Please remember the following points: Renew your insurance at least 2 weeks prior to the renewal deadline; otherwise, there may not be enough time to verify your coverage. Renewing your insurance does not automatically renew your registration. Remember to update your address and all other contact information. Continuing Competency Credits should be submitted to the College by the end of December in order to be processed in time for renewal. Using the online system will ensure shorter processing times. Those registrants who wait until the final hours may be subject to reinstatement if their materials are incomplete. Notice of Board Meeting February 25, Richmond B.C. All registrants are invited to observe CDHBC Board meetings. Please contact the College office or check the website early in February for meeting time and location. Pacific Dental Conference 2011 More than 12,000 participants attended the 2010 PDC conference, making it one of the largest dental conferences in North America. Next year s conference will be held on March at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The conference is currently seeking event hosts to ensure that every speaker has a positive experience; the host accompanies their designated speaker to meals and presentations. For more information, visit and see p.7 of the Preliminary Program for details on how to become a host. CDHBC will offer a Dental Hygiene Forum in the afternoon of Friday, March 11, at 1:30 4:00 pm. The Registrar and other representatives of the College will present an update on current issues including the Dental Hygienists Regulation, CDHBC Bylaw revisions and further developments in the Quality Assurance Program. visit us at

11 College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia ACCESS Winter 2010 International Conferences 2010: Scotland and Nashville This year, CDHBC staff attended two important international events: the 18th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. In July, while attending the Scotland conference entitled Oral Health: New Concepts for the New Millennium, Deputy Registrar Heather Biggar (left) presented a poster which was selected as one of the top 20, outlining developments in the CDHBC Quality Assurance Program; the top 20 posters are being published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. The conference also included the presentation of the Second Sunstar World Dental Hygienists Award to recognize excellence in three categories of papers (research, project and student) that were submitted to the International Journal of Dental Hygiene; Sherry L. Priebe, a dental hygienist from B.C., won the research category. For more information about this and future conferences, go to: Registrar Jennifer Lawrence, Deputy Registrar Heather Biggar and Quality Assurance Program Coordinator Sarah Malerby (below, left to right) attended numerous informational sessions at the CLEAR conference in September and were given the opportunity to present a poster which further explained the next steps in the College s Quality Assurance Program. This was an excellent venue for learning about the various developments in self-regulation within Canada and abroad, with members attending from across North America, Europe and Australasia. For more information about CLEAR, you may view the organization s website at: 11

12 Moving? Contact Us It is a Bylaw requirement that registrants of the College ensure that their mailing address is always current on the CDHBC register. Incorrect or out-of-date addresses can lead to missed mailings that may include important notices and documents. Address changes can be submitted online at or via to cdhbc@cdhbc.com and should include the following information. Name Registration Number Old Address New Address Telephone Effective Date mail College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia Suite 219 Yarrow Building 645 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 1G2 phone Toll Free within B.C Fax cdhbc@cdhbc.com website Postmaster Please Send Undeliverable Copies to College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia Suite 219, Yarrow Building 645 Fort Street Victoria, BC Canada V8W 1G2