Our own Ellen Standley was installed as CDHA president. We have
a video and pictures of the event on the Sac valley web site as well as the Sac Valley
Facebook page.
Masters in Adult Education
Congrats to Diana Korp, she just received her Master's in Adult
Education, had an offer to do some faculty development training, but of
course is weighing lots of options. CONGRATS!
Upcoming CE
Conservative Management of....
Oct 21: "Office Medical Emergencies", Nov 18: "Oral Cancer" Jan 20: "Do you speak Gobledygook? Feb 27: "Lesions of the Head & Neck" Apr 14: "The Magic of Xylitol", May 19: "Infection Control" plus Sac City College Table Clinic
State News
As your trustee I attended the DHCC (Dental Hygiene Committee of California meeting held in Sacramento. Ellen Standley, Teri Emry, Toni Adams and Debra Horlick were also there. The meeting was for the board to create a mission statement a vision statement and to set up the strategic plan. Well, that's really too much to try to accomplish in one day.
The Mission Statement is: promote and ensure the highest quality of oral health care for all Californians.
The VisionStatement is: Optimal oral health for all Californians.
Please be aware that this has not been finalized, the info will be on the DHCC web site for public input/commentary.
The goals have been outlined and now need to be refined.
I'm very impressed with the hard work everyone has done and the meticulous manner in which they approach the task.
- There was discussion about implementing fingerprinting for the 14,000 RDH's who have not been fingerprinted.
- There is discussion of the licensing fees will have to go up. As of now there is a cap of $80 for licensing period. This cap has been in place for 20 years.
- The state no longer can afford to partially fund the fees for RDH's taking their boards.
- There were unexpected expenses incurred when the Ethics Written Exam was breached.
- The committee does not seem to have enough funding for anticipated training for the board members as 1/2 of them are politically inexperienced resulting in a higher level of training needed for task delegation.
Other issues include:
1- the fact that the DHCC ability to promote legislation is low
2- allowance of RDA's to probe intrudes on the RDH scope of practice
The above is just a small sketch of what was discussed. Stay tuned, I will keep you updated as often as I can. There seems to be an urgency to get all this done before the elections.
National News
ADA,
Other Groups Suggest Ways HHS Should Spend Prevention Money
Our Association, along with 11 other dental organizations, urged the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct at least $93 million of
the $1.2 billion in disease prevention funds allocated by health care
reform legislation to the CDC's Division of Oral Health. In a joint
letter, our organizations outlined funding needs for epidemiological
studies, community water fluoridation and school sealants programs.
To
qualify for the state and/or federal health care, free of charge you
must meet certain criteria, one being "poverty level"
For one person, it s $10,830, for 4 its $22.050. Health bill covers
people with 133% over the poverty level.
MN is taking action by creating a new category of dental care providers to deal with the impending shortage of dentists.
The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry offers two educational programs for dental therapists. The first classes began in fall 2009. Students in the Dental Therapy Program will be among the first in the nation to graduate in a newly created career. Each program offers students a rigorous didactic and clinical education alongside the dental and dental hygiene students with whom they will work after graduation. This collegial approach to education ensures a solid educational and clinical preparation, collaboration between professions, a single standard of care for patients, and a smooth transition from education into professional employment after graduation.
Students will enter the University of Minnesota Bachelor of Science in Dental Therapy Program after completing one year of prerequisite college coursework. For more information and application materials click here.
Students who have completed a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree may pursue a Master of Dental Therapy. For more information and application materials click here.
Did you know?
RELATIVELY SPEAKING - Five questions to improve communication skills
Q: What is the stealth bomb of communicating?
A: Not meeting the needs of your listener. You can be completely credible, know your subject, and command everyone with your presence; BUT, if you do not target your message to meet your listener's specific situation, you'll be walking out of the door empty-handed.If the ship misses the harbor, it's rarely the harbor's fault.
Q: What's the most important word to your listener?
A: Their name - spelled and pronounced correctly. Before you say, "I'm horrible at remembering names" here are some easy to implement ways to inbred names into your brain.
A) Ask them how to spell their name.
B) Repeat their name in the conversation, but not too often.
C) Write their name down, if your interaction is on the phone.
NOTE: This applies to everyone you talk to, especially your target's gatekeeper- the Administrative Assistant.
Q: How can you make yourself the most approachable?
A: Smile. Emotions are contagious.Think about those people in your world that look permanently miserable. It's as if they're constipated for life.These are not the people you want to sit next to at the next corporate picnic.I'm not suggesting that you grin like the village idiot.But, I am asking you to put an approachable and pleasant look on your face.Other positive people will want to connect with you.
Q: How do you maintain great eye contact?
A: Confident people look at people. Try to look at everyone for an entire thought or phrase.No need to count to four.It's already hard enough to remember what you want to say next. And don't play favorites.Sometimes the final decision-maker is the passive, silent one.
Q: What's the most valuable nonverbal indicator?
A: Touch - in the form of a firm handshake. Men to men, women to women, men to women, and women to men... please begin and end your conversation with a strong handshake.Nothing is worse than half a shake - your fingers meekly grab their fingers.The web on your hand, that area between your forefinger and thumb should touch your recipient's web.On the other hand, use common sense.No karate chops are necessary at any time! And lighten your grasp if the other person has arthritis or is in failing health.
Your Speak For Yourself Challenge: Use people's names, give a firm handshake, meet their needs, have good eye contact, and smile.
Mind Your Body is a book "devoted to seated professionals who understand that movement is critical to increased productivity, effectiveness and efficiency" (Kagan).
According to the author, Juli Kagan, RDH, the three main exercise sections demonstrate joint release, Pilates Mat work and seated stretches. The ease, clarity and functionality of the exercise photographs and layouts make the book easy to follow and even easier to execute.
Juli Kagan, RDH graduated from the University of Maryland in 1983 with a Bachelors degree in dental hygiene and a minor in kinesiology (study of body movement). She has taught periodontology, preventive dentistry and clinical instrumentation & ergonomics since 1993.
In 2000 she earned her Masters degree in Educational Psychology. As a Certified Pilates Instructor, Juli's focus is on posture and subsequent carriage throughout the day.
Diabetics Beware!
Splenda consists mostly of sugar. The sucralose is so sweet that sugar is used as a filler for the packet. The caloric value is less than 5; thus, the FDA allows them to say NO calories.
How manufacturers can claim NO TRANS FATS:
1. Have the trans fat content be less than .5mg per serving.
2. Reduce the size of the serving.
Sacramento Valley Dental Hygienist Association
Linda Belaus, CDA, RDH
Canyon Rim 112 Folsom Ca 95630
Trustee for Sacramento Valley Hygiene Association
RELATIVELY SPEAKING - Five questions to improve communication skills
How manufacturers can claim NO TRANS FATS:
