Root of the Matter: Naloxone Update

by Jacqueline Guyader, Senior Dental Hygiene Advisor

In the November 2016 edition of Access, the College shared information on amendments to the Health Professions Act (HPA).  The changes allow for all health professionals regulated by the HPA, including dental hygienists, to administer naloxone in an emergency situation, to a person they suspect is suffering from an opioid overdose. At that time there was little information available on how to access education and where to purchase naloxone kits. The following is meant to provide further follow-up to this initial information.

Click here to read more.

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Renewal is Open!

Don’t leave registration renewal to the last minute! This year, the deadline for renewing your registration for the 2018/19 year is at 11:59pm on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. You can renew through the online system - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - by accessing your personal CDHBC profile at https://registrant.cdhbc.com/Login.aspx. Your username is your email address and the password had already been set up by you. If you forgot your password, you have the option of resetting it. If you require assistance with your registration renewal, the CDHBC Registration Office staff are available to help during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

All CDHBC registrations expire on the last day of February each year; your renewal must be completed by then in order to have a valid license to practice on March 1st, 2018. Failure to renew your registration by February 28, 2018, will result in removal from the register effective March 1, 2018 and the revocation of your license to practice dental hygiene in BC. It is illegal to practice dental hygiene in BC without being registered with the CDHBC and is considered a serious breach of the CDHBC Regulations and Bylaws as well as the Health Professions Act.

Payments for your renewal can be paid by Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Interac Debit. Please note in order to utilize the Interac payment option, you must have online banking set up with your banking institution. The College no longer accepts paper renewal forms and cheques.

Like last year, registrants will be paying their registration fees to the College at the same time as membership fees are collected on behalf of the BCDHA and CDHA.  By aligning the renewal year of the associations with the College and collecting all professional fees from all dental hygienists in BC during the College’s renewal period, all dental hygienists in BC will automatically have access to comprehensive and continuous professional liability insurance coverage effective March 1, 2018.

Before you can begin your renewal, you will be asked several questions pertaining to your level of education and practice setting(s). The answers you provide will be collected anonymously for the purpose of informing College initiatives and projects. Your answers will not be linked to your profile. Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

If you have a pre-paid deposit plan for the 2018/2019 registration plan, you still need to log into your CDHBC profile to renew and apply your deposit plan to this year’s fees. Don’t forget that you can plan ahead for next year’s renewal period by setting up your pre-paid refundable deposit plan now and start contributing on March 1, 2018.

If you are currently registered in a practicing class and would like to renew in the Non-Practicing class for 2018/19, you must contact the CDHBC Registration Office to request a class change before renewing. If you are registered in the Non-Practicing class and wish to renew your registration in a practicing class, please contact the CDHBC Registration Office for assistance.

Please click here to visit the Renewal page on the College website for more information on how to prepare to renew.

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Inquiry Committee Investigations Review

The framework for the College’s complaints and investigation processes are established by the Health Professions Act. It assures the public, as well as registrants, that an appropriate regulatory mechanism exists should concerns arise about the quality of care provided by a BC dental hygienist or their professional conduct. In the fall of 2017, the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia (CDHBC) conducted a retrospective review of the investigations undertaken by the Inquiry Committee from 2012-2017. Out of this review, the College is able to provide a summary of how investigations arise, what the most commonly investigated areas are within dental hygiene practice, and how investigations are resolved.

Click here to read more.

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Have You Voted? 2018 Board Elections

Lower Mainland electoral district registrants voting in the Board Election are reminded that they will have until 4:00pm on Wednesday February 7, 2018 to submit their vote online. These registrants should receive an email from Big Pulse, the company engaged by the College to host the 2018 Online Election.

If you are a Lower Mainland district registrant who did not receive an email with a link to vote, please contact the College office.

Please click here to read the Bios of the Lower Mainland Candidates.

The College would like to congratulate Wendy Kelly on her acclamation to the Board in the Okanagan electoral district, and Karen Lange on her acclamation to the Board in the Cariboo North electoral district.

Election results will be posted on the CDHBC website and in the next issue of ACCESS newsletter.
 

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Moving?

It is a bylaw requirement that registrants of the College ensure that their mailing address is always current on the CDHBC register. Incorrect or out-of-date addresses can lead to missed mailings that may include important notices and documents. Address changes can be submitted online at www.cdhbc.com or via email to cdhbc@cdhbc.com and should include the following information:
 

• Name

• Registration Number

• Old Address

• New Address

• Email

• Telephone

• Effective Date

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