2008 report of the president: working together to drive progress.Over the past year, I've traveled across the country to meet all the best and brightest that our profession has to offer. I've not only met with dental hygienists from coast to coast but I've also had the distinct pleasure of meeting with hundreds of students, allied health professionals and policy makers as part of my ADHA ADHA American Dental Hygienists' Association ADHA Additional Duty Hour Allowance ADHA Australian Department of Health and Aging presidential experience. Last June when we launched the new ADHA brand, who could have foreseen all of the exciting changes and developments that would take place on the road to revitalizing ADHA as an organization that "creates a community for all dental hygienists and invests in their future." As I reflect upon our past year's achievements, I am proud to say that this has been a great year of firsts for our association. From the launch of the new brand, to the advancement of the ADHP ADHP Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner ADHP Alabama Department of Public Health ADHP Association for the Development of Human Potential , to the release of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene dental hygiene n. The practice of keeping the mouth, teeth, and gums clean and healthy to prevent disease. Also called oral hygiene. Practice, ADHA's promise is to advance the profession--to empower, develop and support you in all your career endeavors. Branding More than two years ago, ADHA began our re-branding effort by conducting a series of focus groups of our members, potential member dental hygienists, students, and dentists at four locations across the country. The results of these efforts have provided ADHA with a look at where we are and how we are perceived by our market. From the four national focus groups, we discovered that there are a few perceptions that ADHA needs to change in the near term in order to continue to grow and thrive. Some of these perceptions are: * ADHA needs to be more inclusive of inclusive of prep. Taking into consideration or account; including. all dental hygienists, regardless of where they are in their career path. * ADHA needs to embrace our student members (formerly SADHA) and make them feel part of the ADHA experience and community. * ADHA is perceived as anti-dentist, and this is a problem that prevents many potential members from joining the association. Though ADHA will always be an advocate for our profession, we still need to provide other tangible benefits that touch our members' lives, such as offering a welcoming network of local dental hygienists and a venue to learn how to be a better dental hygienist. Last June at our brand launch, we began to address these issues on a national stage. Throughout this year, ads have run, new brochures have been mailed and presentations have been made touting the new ADHA and reaching out to our members, students and potential members. But there was still more work to do. As I said in my installation speech last year in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , ADHA is more than paper and more than advertising. ADHA is people. ADHA is YOU. ADHA has integrated this branding promise in all of our membership materials and leadership programs. This started with changing the name of the Constituent Officers Workshop (COW) to The Unleashing Your Potential Leadership Workshop. The future leaders Future Leaders is a UK schools-led charitable organisation that aims to widen the pool of talented leaders especially for urban challenging secondary schools. It was founded in March 2006 by Nat Wei, a former founder of Teach First. of each state association came to Chicago for a weekend of leadership building. All were given material such as a prepared presentation, membership building analysis, legislative advocacy talking points and a Web site specifically dedicated to them so each has the ability to communicate as they progress in their states. ADHA's goal is to support state leaders as they reach out to the grassroots members. This spring, we started our national efforts to work with YOU in establishing the branding promise at the state and local levels. We reached out to five states to form a national/state marketing partnership in efforts to grow the association. These five test markets will allow us to determine how best to help state and local ADHA constituents and components recruit and retain members. What we learn will then be rolled out to other states so that we can all grow together. Our brand research also clearly showed that students are ADHA's future and hence one of the main targets of the branding campaign. Throughout my travels as president, I dedicated my time to visit as many student programs as I could. Throughout this year, I have visited students in 20 states. When I was not able to synchronize my schedule with a state meeting, I requested staff to arrange the opportunity to visit as many schools as time would allow in that that state. The response to these visits was overwhelming. Faculty, students, college administrators and the dental community were eager to hear the ADHA message. The main focus of all these trips was reaching out to our student member population to bring them a better understanding of the value of their membership and how the ADHA community can empower, develop and support them now and throughout the lifespan of their career. If the students I met are any indication, the future of dental hygiene looks bright indeed. In addition, we are reaching out to our young professional community to learn how we can support more of our student members and encourage them to make the transition to full membership. We will hold focus groups with new dental hygienists in their first 24 months of practice to gauge their needs and attitudes and then develop programs based on the results to support these dental hygienists at this crucial stage of their career. ADHP and Advocacy This year also brought one of the most historic developments that ADHA has seen in recent years, as the board of trustees board of trustees Politics The posse of thugs who oversee an institution's administration. See Board of directors. adopted the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) Competencies. The ADHP model was created by ADHA as an answer to the oral health crisis in America. ADHA's vision is that this new provider would safely provide quality diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic and restorative services directly to the unserved public. In 2004, the ADHA House of Delegates House of Delegates n. The lower house of the state legislature in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. recognized the need for ADHA to increase its efforts to address the public's unmet oral health needs and thereby approved the development of an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner. This is a significant advancement for the dental hygiene profession and demonstrates our strong commitment to the public's oral health. The approval of these competencies represents the culmination of nearly four years of work. I'd like to thank the members of the ADHP Task Force who worked so hard to make this a reality. This milestone is just another example of the way that ADHA is truly advancing the profession of dental hygiene and working hard to provide solutions to this nation's oral health crisis. Members of the ADHP Task Force include: Deborah Lyle, RDH RDH abbr. Registered Dental Hygienist RDH, n an abbreviation for registered dental hygienist. , MS, Chair Kristin Calley, RDH, MS Michele Darby, BSDH BSDH British Society for Disability and Oral Health (formerly: British Society of Dentistry for the Handicapped) BSDH Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene , MS Lynnette M. Engeswick, RDH, MS Marie V. Gillis, RDH, MS Sharon Golightly, RDH, EdD Wendy Kerschbaum, RDH, MS Christine Nathe, RDH, MS Jacquelyn L. Fried, RDH, MS Hope Oliver, RDH, MEd In addition, there has been a flurry of activity in Minnesota, where we saw the first ADHP legislation filed and the first ADHP program begin to be developed by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System comprises 32 colleges and universities, including 25 two-year colleges and seven state universities. The system is separate from the University of Minnesota. . The outstanding legislative efforts of Colleen Brickle, RDH, EdD, of Normandale Community College Normandale Community College is a two-year college located in Bloomington, Minnesota, serving primarily the communities of the southwestern metropolitan region of the Twin Cities. and MNDHA working in partnership with the Minnesota Safety Net Coalition made this first step toward an ADHP a reality. Over a period of nearly three months, the legislation was considered and reshaped via a compromise that included changing the name of the provider and the level of supervision. In the end, all parties, including the Minnesota Dental Association, agreed to support the legislation. We consider the passage of this legislation to be a victory for the unserved patients of Minnesota and an advancement for our profession. In addition, we saw direct access measures pass legislatures in Maine, Maryland and Alaska. I am also happy to say that as I write this report there is still dental hygiene legislation pending in a few additional states. This has been a banner year for ADHA. But this is only one of the areas where ADHA is beginning to make real and measured progress toward achieving our goals. During the same meeting, the board of trustees also approved the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice. These standards reflect the dental hygiene process of care and will be instrumental in assisting clinicians in their daily delivery of patient care and educating the public, other care providers and policy makers on dental hygiene practice. The approval of these Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice represents the culmination of more than two years of work by ADHA. I'd like to thank the members of the Clinical Practice Guidelines clinical practice guidelines Clinical policies, practice guidelines, practice parameters, practice policies Medtalk Systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and Pt decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. See Psychology. Task Force who worked so hard to make this a reality. Members of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force included: Pamela Zarkowski, BSDH, MPH, JD, Chair Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP MHP Multimedia Home Platform (consumer electronics) MHP Milliyetci Hareket Partisi (Turkish: National People's Party) MHP Mobile Home Park (district) MHP Maximum Human Performance Tammy Filipiak, RDH, BS Deborah M. Lyle, RDH, MS Nancy Zinser, RDH, MS Lynn Ramer, LDH--Board of Trustees Liaison Carol Jahn, RDH, MS--Board of Trustees Liaison Collaboration with Dentistry Another valuable lesson we learned through the branding research was that one reason cited by many dental hygienists for not joining the association is that they view ADHA as being "anti-dentist." As a result of this input, the board of trustees created a goal for the strategic plan that states: We continued our liaison with the American Dental Association American Dental Association (ADA), n.pr a nonprofit professional association whose membership is dental professionals in the United States. Its purpose is to assist its members in providing the highest professional and ethical care to the citizens of the this year with three more meetings including another historic first. For the first time ever, we invited the ADA Ada, city, United States Ada (ā`ə), city (1990 pop. 15,820), seat of Pontotoc co., S central Okla.; inc. 1904. It is a large cattle market and the center of a rich oil and ranch area. officers and executive director to our board of trustees meeting this past March. They then reciprocated at their April board meeting by inviting our officers and executive director. Throughout the process, ADHA has enjoyed the opportunity to engage in a healthy dialogue with ADA about workforce models and other areas of potential cooperation. Since we approached them about holding the first meeting more than a year ago, we have appreciated the willingness of ADA leadership and staff to talk with us about these important issues. The result has been a productive discussion that, in the long run, may lead toward answers to alleviate the access to care crisis in this country. ADHA remains committed to our strategic plan. Given the change in staff leadership at ADA, we hope that, when new ADA staff is put in place, we will have the opportunity to continue working together to find the common ground in both groups' strategic plans that will lead to answers to the crisis in access that we face as a nation. ADHA Positioned as a Respected Media Resource This year, we saw a very large increase in the success and volume of our media activities. The main driver for this increase in requests for comments and interviews was the intense interest that has developed over the past year or two in mid-level providers. This interest in new providers--in health care overall and oral health in particular--to address access to care issues has positioned our association, due to the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner, as a "go-to" source for interviews, columns and editorials. Over the past 12 months, ADHA has been interviewed by scores of publications including such top-tier titles as the New York Times, the New York Times, The Morning daily newspaper, long the U.S. newspaper of record. From its establishment in 1851 it has aimed to avoid sensationalism and to appeal to cultured, intellectual readers. Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the Washington Post. More recently, legislative activity in several states has placed the concept of the ADHP in the editorial pages, including this recent endorsement regarding Maryland legislation from the Washington Post: Among the more promising ideas was a measure approved by the legislature to free dental hygienists in public health settings to do more for those most in need. State law had required hygienists to work under the strict supervision of dentists but, as other states are learning, there is no reason why these trained professionals shouldn't be allowed to provide such important preventive care as cleanings and fluoride treatments. It's a cost-effective way of getting help to those who otherwise would not be served. Deamonte's case was extreme, but the importance of good oral health for children cannot be overstated. Based on these successes, our efforts to effectively liaison with the media to move our profession forward and protect the nation's oral health will continue to be a priority over the coming years. Liaison Activities A unique partnership has developed over the past few years as ADHA officers and staff took to the road to increase the association's liaison efforts to build strong and solid relationships between ADHA and other organizations. This year, we have benefited from many opportunities to address other health professional groups providing information on ADHA initiatives. These professional and social gatherings have allowed us to keep the lines of communication "Lines of Communication" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Synopsis Franklin and Marcus attempt to persuade the Mars resistance to assist Sheridan in opposing President Clark. open and develop collaborative relationships and form new partnerships. ADHA presented or was represented during the following events or events hosted by: ADA Council on Dental Practice Noun 1. dental practice - the practice of dentistry practice - the exercise of a profession; "the practice of the law"; "I took over his practice when he retired" and Council on Dental Education and Licensure ADHA/Canadian DHA DHA docosahexaenoic acid. DHA, n.pr See acid, docosahexaenoic. liaison meeting Agency for Health Research Quality American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Family Physicians, n.pr a national medical organization established in 1947 to promote the practice of family medicine. American Academy The American Academy in Berlin is a non-partisan academic institution in Berlin. It was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent Americans and Germans, among them Richard Holbrooke, Henry Kissinger, Richard von Weizsäcker, Fritz Stern and Otto Graf Lambsdorff and opened in of Nurse Practitioners American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry pediatric dentistry, n See pedodontics. Professional Partners meeting on Head Start and Dental Homes American Academy of Periodontology American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), n.pr a nonprofit professional association of dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the periodontium and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants. annual meeting American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
American Association of Dental Examiners Executive Council (AADE AADE American Association of Diabetes Educators AADE American Association of Dental Examiners AADE American Association of Dental Editors AADE Army Air Defense Element ) American Association of Public Health Dentistry American Association on Dental Research annual session American Dental Association annual session American Dental Association, committee on Standards Informatics American Dental Education Association annual session, summit and allied program directors conference and Board of Directors meeting American Dental Licensing Examination House of Representatives meeting American Health Care Association The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is non-profit federation of affiliated state health organizations, together representing more than 10,000 non-profit and for-profit assisted living, nursing facility, developmentally-disabled, and subacute care providers that care for American Health American Health Inc. is a company that manufactures health supplements. It is located in Holbrook, New York. One of its products is labeled the "Chewable Original Papaya Enzyme" with the attached registered trademark, "The 'After Meal Supplement'". Insurance Plans American Indian/Alaska Native Oral Health Access Summit American Nurses Credentialing Center The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) provides individuals and organizations throughout the nursing profession with the tools they need on their journey to excellence. American Public Health Association The American Public Health Association (APHA) is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide. annual session Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Medical Colleges, n.pr a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 to reform medical education and represent medical schools, major teaching hospitals, scientific and academic faculty, medical students, and residents. Association of Maternal & child Health Programs Association of State and Territorial Directors national Oral Health Conference, Mid-year Partners' Meeting, and Healthy People 2020 Oral Health Partners Meeting Canadian Dental Hygienists Association annual session Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Chicago Dental Society Midwinter mid·win·ter n. 1. The middle of the winter. 2. The period of the winter solstice, about December 22. midwinter Noun 1. the middle or depth of winter 2. Meeting Children's Dental Health Project Commission on Dental Accreditation Dental Access Coalition Grantmakers in Health Greater New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Dental Meeting Hispanic Dental Association Indian Health Service The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an Operating Division (OPDIV) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Indian Health Service Dental Hygiene Annual Meeting Institute of Medicine International Association for Dental Research The International Association for Dental Research(IADR) is a professional association that focuses on research in the field of dentistry. The aim of this association by constitution is to promote research in all fields of oral and related sciences, to encourage improvements in methods for International Federation of Dental Hygienists Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Meeting on Oral Health and Children with Special Needs--April 2008) Minnesota Association of Community Dentistry community dentistry, n a branch, discipline, or specialty of dentistry that deals with the community and its aggregate dental or oral health rather than that of the individual patient. National Academy of State Health Policy National Association of Community Health Centers National Association of Dental Plans (NADP NADP: see coenzyme. ) National Children's Dental Foundation National Conference of State Legislatures The abbreviation NCSL redirects here. For the British educational institution see National College for School Leadership. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL NCSL National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL National College for School Leadership NCSL National Conference of Standards Laboratories NCSL National Council of State Legislators NCSL National Computer Systems Laboratory (NIST) ) National Dental Association/National Dental Hygiene Association National Rural Health Association and others OSAP OSAP, n.pr an abbreviation for the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, a nonprofit organization that consists of dental and health care professionals and others interested in promoting infection control and effective health and safety annual session RDH Under One Roof Sigma Phi The Sigma Phi Society, founded on 4 March, 1827 on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York is the second oldest Greek social fraternal organization in the United States. Alpha Special Care Dentistry Special Olympics/Special Smiles U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services whose goal is to improve access to health care for those without insurance. , various agencies Bureau of Health Professions Office of Rural Health Policy United Health Group University of South Carolina--SC Rural Health Resource Center Yankee Dental Meeting ADHA staff have also attended a number of other meetings, including the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Dental Hygiene Review Committee, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, the National Organization for Competency Assurance and the American Dental Association Annual Session House of Delegates. This year, I had the opportunity to meet many of the dedicated leaders and wonderful volunteers of our profession as I traveled from coast to coast. I spent time with constituent and component leaders who work tirelessly to promote access to oral health care. I met administrators and educators who work diligently to mold and inspire the next generation of dental hygienists, and I spent time with dental hygienists involved in the research that will improve the nation's health in the years to come. As the completion of my term approaches, I can tell you that I have loved working for you, as your president and partner in promoting the profession and oral health care over this past year. I have a lot of people to thank for making this a successful year for ADHA and myself personally. A special thank you goes to our members who have contributed their invaluable expertise, time and talent to service on our councils, committees and task forces, as this remains a critical asset to our organizational operation and sustained success. To our outstanding board of trustees, I thank you for your unwavering confidence and support, cohesive partnership with our staff and executive director, excellence in your service to your constituents, and commitment and passion dedicated to making ADHA the best it possibly can be. Your contributions and assets made me proud to be a member of our board. It has been my pleasure to work with a supportive staff that has not only been consistently energetic, but also readily responsive the needs of the board. I thank all of our staff and Washington Counsel Karen Sealander for fulfilling their assignments to serve and represent the association with professional vigor, poise and accuracy. To my friend and colleague, our executive director, Ann Battrell, RDH, BS, MSDH MSDH Mississippi State Department of Health , I am forever grateful for her support and help in managing the all the varying relationships, environments, people and operations that were necessary to facilitate ADHA achieving the successes that it did over the past 12 months. I deeply appreciate the heartwarming heart·warm·ing or heart-warm·ing adj. 1. Causing gladness and pleasure. 2. Eliciting sympathy and tender feelings: a heartwarming tale. Adj. 1. support of my family and friends that I have received throughout this journey of a lifetime. On behalf of the board of trustees and the staff of ADHA, I wish to express our collective gratitude to all ADHA members, including student members, for taking ownership in your association and collaboratively working toward the continued advancement of our profession and the improvement of life for all Americans. I look forward to continuing this exciting journey and supporting our new president, Diann Bomkamp, RDH, and the administration of 2008-09. I thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as your president.
* 2007 - 2008 Presidential
District Visits
* September 2007: District VI: Arkansas
* October 2007: District IX: New Mexico
* November 2007: District III: Maryland
* District II: Pennsylvania
* January 2008: District I: Massachusetts
* March 2008: District IV: North Carolina
District XI: California
* April 2008: District X: Wyoming/Utah
District V: Ohio
District XII: Idaho
* May 2008: District VII Wisconsin
District VIII Iowa
By Jean Connor, RDH |
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