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Mini InTouch July & August, 2020
Highlights of This Issue
* New: Continuing Competence Program (CCP) and Rules
* Thematic Analysis of CCP Registrant Feedback Survey Responses
* Rationale Document for Rules Amendments
* Addressing Registrant Profile Concerns
* Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Periodontitis
* Discussion Paper - Proposed Amendments to the Health Professions Act
* Reminders

NEW: Continuing Competence Program
and
Rules
The review and revision of the College's CCP began in 2018 and culminated in the approval of program and rule changes at the recent June CRDHA Council meeting. The just-released new program and rules are now posted on our website and can be downloaded. The new rules, such as credit for volunteering, will not be in effect until the required functionality is available in the new registrant database. We will keep you posted on progress.
In continuation of the article on pages 6 to 9 of the Summer 2020 issue of InTouch, below are the Thematic Analysis of the Registrant Feedback Responses from the spring CCP survey and the Rationale Document for the rules amendments:
All comments in the 968 registrant feedback surveys completed were analyzed by the Continuing Competence Committee. Common themes were identified and recommendations made as appropriate and/or permissible by regulation or legislation.

Following review of the survey results and thematic analysis, the Continuing Competence Committee presented Council with their proposed rule amendments and an 11-page rationale document, Continuing Competence Program Rules Proposed Amendments 2020.
Addressing Registrant Profile Concerns
NOTE: Uploading of CCP/CPR documentation and viewing/updating your registrant profile on the website is TEMPORARILY DISABLED to facilitate the College's migration to a new registrant database. We will keep you updated as the technical work progresses and database functionality is added in stages.

We understand that many registrants are experiencing anxiety since they cannot check their CE/CCP credits. We want to assure all of you that:
  1. The CE you entered prior to the cut-off on August 6 has been approved/accepted and transferred to the new database;
  2. We have identified those registrants whose 3-year reporting period ends this October 31, and who do not have the required 45 CE credits; and,
  3. We have been in contact with those individuals and are working with them individually to facilitate their renewal.

We, at the College, are very excited about this new database and truly believe you will find it easy to use. Our primary focus is to open renewal and have it running smoothly, and then add the other functions and capabilities in a controlled and timely fashion.
Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Periodontitis
Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of Stage I to III periodontitis were recently released by the European Federation of Periodontology. A summary was authored by Danielle Clark-Perry and Liran Levin.

The summary authors recommend practitioners also read the full text of the original published article.
Proposals to Amend the
Health Professions Act (HPA)
Many of you may have seen the proposed amendments to the Health Professions Act that are being considered by Alberta Health. The College worked closely with our legal team, the other 28 Alberta health colleges and the Alberta Federation of Regulated Health Professionals (AFRHP) to draft a response due August 18.

While some of these proposed changes are concerning, many of them also advance regulation in Alberta.

The CRDHA is committed to maintaining self-regulation and independence for Alberta dental hygienists in order to continue providing safe, high quality oral health care to the public.
Reminders
  • The mandatory e-Learning Course, Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct, must be completed by Dec 31, 2020. Visit our website for more information and the course link.

  • If you haven't already done so, set up your password for the vaulted (password protected) section of our new website. See your Aug 3 email for the link or select "I forgot my password" after using the Sign In button.

  • You have until Sept 17 to complete the Entry-to-Practice Canadian Competencies for Dental Hygienists (EPCCoDH) survey. Information and the survey link were emailed on July 17.

  • Elements of Prescribing: A Pharmacy Refresher will now be delivered online through Continuing Dental Education at the U of A. To be placed on the course waitlist, email a request to dentce@ualberta.ca