Is your dental hygiene school prepared for accreditation?
Update on Commission on Dental Education Summer 2012 Meeting
The Commission on Dental Accreditation’s (CODA) summer meeting was hosted on Aug. 10, 2012, in Chicago.
Topics of importance for dental assistants (DA) and dental hygienists (DH):
• Report of the Review Committee on DA Education
• Report of the Review Committee on DH Education
• Consideration of a Common Standard for Education Methodology
• Alternative Site Visit Methods (Technology)
• Increase in Accreditation Fees
This article was originally published in the September issue of "Dental Health Educators' Newsletter." and provides a succinct report on current information along with links to the full public documents that are located on the ADA website. The quick facts are in this article and the details can be found in the links. Finding documents on the ADA website requires considerable searching. This will save you some time.
Report of the Review Committee on DA Education to CODA
The DA Review Committee held its last meeting at ADA headquarters on July 17-18, 2012. They reported the following information to CODA at summer 2012 meeting:
• Frequency of Citings of DA Accreditation Standards from 125 Site Visits conducted since January 1, 2009.
• Proposed additions to Standard 4-3
• Varied interpretations of Standards
Frequency of Citings of 125 DA Site Visits An analysis of the number of citing per standard revealed a need for revision in the language used in the standards so that those preparing the self-study document can more easily understand what is expected of them to demonstrate compliance with the standards. The following number of citations occurred:
Standard 1 citations = 59
Standard 2 citations = 390
Standard 3 citations = 122
Standard 4 citations = 42
Standard 5 citations = 82
Standard 6 citations = 2
DA Standard 1 Institution Effectiveness (52 citations)
Most frequent citations in Standard 1-1
Program planning with goals, outcomes assessments that measure student achievements and changes made to the program based on the findings.
DA Standard 2 Educational Programs (390 citations)
Most frequent citations in 2-6
Written documentation of each course to include course description, content outlines, objectives, learning experiences and specifics in grade calculation.
Other citations throughout Standard 2 relate to students demonstrating competency in all dental assisting skills and faculty, office or clinical personnel utilizing objective student evaluation methods in preclinic, clinic and laboratory learning experiences.
DA Standard 3 Administration, Faculty & Staff (122 citations)
Most frequent citations in Standards 3-7 (25 citations) of faculty not having general educational methodologyand educational methodology in specific subjectsthey are teaching. Standard 3-8 (24 citations) in faculty not having at least a baccalaureate degree and Standard 3-9 (22 citations) in faculty not having DANB certification.
DA Standard 4 Educational Support Services (42 citations)
Citations dispersed among the standard that indicates the facilities must support all aspects of academic and clinical learning opportunities with respect to space, equipment, instruments and also due process for students with academic and disciplinary problems.
DA Standard 5 Health and Safety Provisions (82 citations)
Most frequent citations in compliance with regulations and protocols in prevention of infection from blood borne pathogens, injury from hazardous materials and radiation; preparedness for medical emergencies and CPR certification.
DA Standard 6 Patient Care Services (2 citations)
Varied interpretations of Standards
The DA Review Committee on Education reported to CODA that their analysis showed that site visitors had varied interpretations of “examples of evidence” to demonstrate compliance with:
DA Standard 4-6 Types of specialty instruments in general dentistry that must be provided to students.
DA Standard 4-3 Each treatment area must contain functional equipment
The DA Review Committee proposed that these two “examples of evidence” that were in Standard 4-6 should be relocated to this standard and reworded as follows:
• One treatment area per five students enrolled in the programis considered minimal
• Floor plan
Report of the Review Committee on DH Education to CODA
The DH Review Committee held its last meeting at ADA headquarters on January 17-18, 2012. They reported the following information to CODA at the summer 2012 meeting:
• Frequency of Citings of DH Accreditation Standards from 111 Site Visits conducted from January 1, 2009 to October 2011.
• Standard 3-7 Educational methodology must be current and documented
• Number of DH programs has increased to 334 and DH Review Committee requests 2 additional members
Frequency of Citings of 111 DH Site Visits
An analysis of the number of citings per standard revealed a need for revision in the language used in the standards so that those preparing the self-study document can more easily understand what is expected of them to demonstrate compliance with the standards. The following number of citations occurred:
Standard 1 citations = 44
Standard 2 citations = 305
Standard 3 citations = 125
Standard 4 citations = 80
Standard 5 citations = 32
Standard 6 citations = 75
There were 93 “must” statements in 178 required areas of compliance.
DH Standard 1 Institutional Effectiveness (44 citations)
Most frequent citations in 1-1
Program must demonstrate formal and ongoing planning and assessment addressing teaching, patient care, research and service consistent with goals; implement the plan, assess outcomes and use for program improvement.
8 citations in Standard 1-7: Must be active liaison between program and dental professionals of the community.
DH Standard 2 Educational Program (305 citations)
Most frequent citations in 2-7, 2-16, and 2-26
Standard 2-7 (50 citations) for a combination of the following: written documentation of curriculum at initiation of course: descriptions, content outlines of topics, specific objectives, learning experiences, evaluation procedures.
Standard 2-16 (82 citations) graduates must demonstrate competency in treating all age groups and those with special needs.
DH Standard 2-26 (38 citations) Curriculum management plan including ongoing curriculum review and evaluation process from faculty, students, administration; evaluation of effectiveness of courses in supporting goals and competencies. A defined mechanism for coordinating instruction among DH faculty.
DH Standard 3 Administration, Faculty & Staff (125 citations)
Most frequent citations in Standard 3-7
Faculty members must have minimum of BS degree, documented background in general educational methodology and also in specific course they are teaching
DH Standard 4 Educational Support Services (80 citations)
Citations dispersed among the standard indicating the facilities must support all aspects of academic, laboratory, radiology, preclinical, clinical learning opportunities with respect to space, equipment, instruments, and library services as well as office space for faculty and administrators.
DH Standard 5 Health and Safety Provisions (32 citations)
Most frequent citations in compliance with regulations and protocols in prevention of infection from blood borne pathogens, injury from hazardous materials and radiation; preparedness for medical emergencies.
DH Standard 6 Patient Care Services (75 citations)
Most frequent citations (67) in Standard 6-2
Quality assurance in patient care must include a plan in written format that includes an on-going review of patient samples to assure patients receive quality care that it is patient-centered and comprehensive; and to determine the cause of treatment deficiencies through the utilization of policies, procedures, and outcomes assessments; and demonstrate that corrective measures were taken to correct deficiencies.
Standard 6-5 (8 citations) for faculty, students, staff in patient care not having current CPR certification that includes AED training.
The DH Review Committee’s Additional Concerns
Standard 3-7 Educational methodology
The DH Review Committee reported the following,
“Since educational delivery methods continue to evolve, it is important that faculty stay current in educational methodologies. The Dental Hygiene Review Committee therefore recommends the existing standard 3-7 requiring faculty to have a documented background in educational methodology, be modified to include the word current.”
Changes proposed to “examples of evidence to demonstrate compliance” with Standard 3-7 noted:
• faculty curriculum vitae with recent professional development activities listed
• evidence of participation in workshops, in-service training, self-study courses, on-line and credited courses
• attendance at regional and national meetings that address education
• mentored experience for new faculty
• scholarly productivity
• maintenance of existing and development of new and/or emerging clinical skills
Standard 3-8 Opportunities must be provided for the program administrator and full-time faculty to continue their professional development
Proposed addition to list of “Examples of evidence to demonstrate compliance:
• Demonstration of funded support for professional development
Need for two more members on the DH Review Committee on Education.
9 members serve on the committee:
1 dentist
1 dentist educator
1 higher administration administrator
1 public member
1 DH Commissioner appointed by ADHA
1 DH practitioner
3 DH educators
Since there are now 334 DH programs, each reviewer must review 14 (approx. 844 pages each) reports.The committee is requesting one additional DH educator, and 1 additional DH practitioner be added to the committee for equal time to review and understand each program document.
Consideration of a Common Accreditation Standard for Faculty Training in Educational Methodology
Quoted from CODA Summer 2012
“Summary: The education review committees are requested to consider the development of an accreditation standard on faculty training in educational methodology, to include pedagogical methods, assessment techniques, working with adult learners, and teaching with technology. Further, in doing so, existing accreditation standards (or inclusion in an intent statement or examples of evidence) on the topic (Appendices 1 and 2) should be reviewed. Disciplines that already have such a standard may review their standard for possible modification.”
Link to Common Educational Methodology Standard
Alternative Site Visits: Not at this time
In summer 2011, CODA formed an ad hoc committee to develop an alternative site visit pilot study. Minutes from the July 9, 2012 ad hoc committee meeting included numerous concerns with alternative site visit process using technology in place of on-site visits. Privacy, HIPAA, IT support, consistency of the accreditation process was big concerns that led to the ad hoc committee’s recommendation to not move forward with a pilot study at this time. They agreed that surveys should still be sent to program administrators for privacy requirements that may be needed and limited usage of technology during site visits when distance externships cannot be visited. These interviews would take place from the home campus of the program. Link to CODA Alternative Site Visit
Accreditation Fees to Increase 4%
Link to ADA Request on Annual Fees
Cynthia Biron Leiseca, RDH, EMT, MA, is president of DH Methods of Education, Inc.
Author’s Note: If you missed the April Issue on CODA update, please visit our website to view the newsletter archives www.DHmethEd.com. If you plan to register for Fall Camp 2012 held November 9-11, 2012 at Tennessee State U. in Nashville, please register through this link: http://www.dhmethed.com/category/EC5.html
