Dental Hygienists Joining Together

 The purpose of this website is to have an interactive website for ADHA members and NCHDA members.  It will give members a way to become more up-to-date with all the latest news, along with becoming more involved.  We encourage every dental hygienist to become an active member. If you aren't an ADHA member yet, now is the time to join!

Once you are an ADHA member, make sure you join this site too.  It's easy, just click JOIN at the top of the page.   

 

---

 HELP WANTED:  Need dental hygienists with a passion for their profession, a desire to help NCDHA/ADHA grow, and the time to devote to improving the practice of dental hygiene in North Carolina.  This is a fabulous opportunity to "give back" to your profession as well as to your community and your state!  See the abbreviated job descriptions below and contact Betsy Hardin (Immediate Past President) or Jonathan Owens (President) for more information.  All candidates for state office must be an active NCDHA member with previous component or constituent experience. 

NCDHA President-elect: This is a one year term of office that is considered "training" for succession to the position of NCDHA President.  The President-elect assists the President as needed, attends quarterly Board of Trustee and called Executive Committee meetings, attends the Fall Scientific Meeting and House of Delegates meetings, serves as first ADHA alternate delegate funded to the ADHA House of Delegates when funds are available, and serves as chair of Council on Professional Relations.  Candidates should have good organizational skills and good "people" skills.

NCDHA Vice President:  This is a one year term of office.  In addition to attending the quarterly Board of Trustee meetings and Fall and Spring Scientific Meetings, the vice-president serves as chair of the Council on Annual Meetings.  The vice-president is instrumental in coordinating all NCDHA continuing education sessions as well as the House of Delegates meeting.  Candidates should have good organizational skills, and enjoy meeting planning.

NCDHA Recording Secretary:  This is a one year term  and mainly encompasses the recording, organization, and distribution of all official NCDHA meeting minutes to members of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.  This candidate should have good writing skills and access to a computer and internet service.

NCDHA Treasurer:  This is a 2 year term of office.  The Treasurer works with the management company to oversee the finances of NCDHA.  The Treasurer oversees the development of the yearly budget for the NCDHA House of Delegates meeting.  The Treasurer attends all Board of Trustee meetings and any called executive committee meetings, as well as the NCDHA House of Delegates meeting.  Candidate should possess the ability to understand and interpret budgetary reports.  

Speaker of the House:  This is a 2 year term of office.  The Speaker's duties include preparing for and conduction of the annual NCDHA House of Delegates in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.  Candidates should have rudimentary knowledge of parliamentary procedure and the ability to ensure that the House is run in an efficient manner.

Component Trustee:  This is a 2 year term of office.  Trustees attend all component and NCDHA Board of Trustee meetings, as well as annual House of Delegates at Fall Scientific Meeting. Trustees listen and learn about NCDHA matters and then vote responsibly.  Trustees serve as the official liaison between NCDHA and component members, and communication is facilitated in both directions.  Trustees also assist in securing component delegates to the HOD, training them, and in submitting delegate paperwork.  Candidates should have previously served as a delegate at the component level.

 

According to the Employment Security Commission website, the NC Occupational Projection 2006-2016 for dental hygienists is 270 annually (growth plus replacement) for a median annual wage of $60,625.  With these statistics in mind, the median (half over, half under) salary-equivalent) of dental hygienists in NC is $38.00 per hour.  ($60,625 divided by 50 workweeks per year divided by 32 hours per week)  If you receive benefits, they would be included as a portion of this salary.

---

 

 

 

When:  February 9 – 11, 2009 in Washington DC

 

Attended By:  NCDHA  Members  Connie Preiser, Debbie Lefevers, and Ruth Glisson

 

To View the Program Schedule and to select power point slides to view from specific presenters, please go to www.iom.edu/oralhealthworkforce then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the highlighted workshop with the Feb 9-11 date.  This will bring you to the program.  You can now scroll down and you have the option to click on view slides for any presenter who has posted them.

 

There were approximately 44 speakers and a LOT of information was covered. 

 

Contributors were from:  academia, public health, policy makers, dental associations and visitors from Australia and England.  ADHA Executive Director Ann Battrell presented ADHP information. 

 

This workshop was sponsored as forum for discussion rather than to make recommendations to any particular group.

 

After listening to ALL of the speakers, some of my own insights are:

 

·         States are approaching the access to care, education of dental personnel (other than traditional assistants, and hygienists), changes in dental practice acts, and building of physical plants or utilization of current structures very differently.

 

·         This seems to be part of the problem –

 

o   no general consensus as to what to call “new” providers

o   how to educate them

o   where they will work

o   how will they get paid

 

·         Some general frustration that there is no “portability” of providers from state to state because of the differences of “titles”, education, and limitations of state dental practice acts.

o   Some states legislators are intervening and “trumping” the state dental practice acts to seek alternatives in training dental providers, ex:  Alaska

 

·         A variety of ideas to identify, train, and keep dental health providers in rural settings was discussed.

·         A general sense of “frustration” from those who have been working on this problem for over 20 years and still seeing no positive movement forward.

 

 

·         At least a moderate amount of frustration with the ADA and its reluctance to let hygienists and assistants “practice to the extent of their training” was espoused.

 

Submitted by Connie Preiser, RDH, MS of Foothills Dental Hygiene Society