Too Good to be True: Addressing Health Care Scams and Fraud

S P R I N G 2 016
1Message from the
Registrar
6CRDHA Sharpening
Protocol
7Tomorrow Project
8Front and Centre:
Too Good to be True
13 You’ve Been Asking
14 Noteworthy
15Continuing Competence
Too Good to be True:
Addressing Health Care Scams and Fraud
A registered dental hygienist is a trusted healthcare professional, advisor and health promoter with critical-thinking and
evidence-based decision-making capabilities. Dental hygienists can help clients determine reliable sources of information
to promote well-being and personal safety.
In this age of the internet and media advertising there are many sources of information, some of which provide reliable
information, but too many provide misleading or fraudulent information claiming results that are “too good to be true”. A
dental hygienist has a responsibility to encourage clients to consider the veracity of health information and refer a client
to reliable resources. The Competition Bureau, the Fraud Prevention Forum, and the Canadian Health Care Anti-fraud
Association are highlighted in this front and center article.
See page 10 for more details.
CRDHA Council Directory
InTouch SPRING 2016
Publisher:
The College of Registered Dental
Hygienists of Alberta.
InTouch is published four times a year.
Advertising:
CRDHA accepts advertising for
educational opportunities from
recognized educational institutions or
other regulatory bodies. To place an
advertisement, send camera-readyart or typed text to:
Editor, InTouch
#302, 8657 51 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6A8
Phone:
(780) 465-1756
Fax:
(780) 440-0544
E-mail: info@crdha.ca
Ads/graphics must be submitted
as camera ready artwork in high
resolution pdf format, .eps or
.tiff formats with a minimum
resolution of 300 dpi. Text only ads
may be submitted in MS Word.
7.5” x 9.4”
$600
1/2 Page horizontal: 7.5” x 4.5”
$325
1/2 Page vertical:
3.625 x 9.4”
$325
1/4 Page: 3.625” x 4.5” $175
1/8 Page (BusCard): 3.625” x 2”
Website:
Joshua Jackman, Public Member
Edmonton, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Arlynn Brodie, RDH
Vice President
Spruce Grove, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Michael Lummerding,
St. Brieux, SK
councillor@crdha.ca
Jack Belkin, Public Member
Edmonton, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Kathleen Sauze, RDH
Edmonton, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Allison Boone, RDH
Calgary, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Jacqueline VanMalsen,
St. Albert, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Joanna Czarnobaj, RDH
Edmonton, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Geraldine (Gerry) Cool, RDH
Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association, Alberta Director
Carseland, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
Rocell Gercio-Chad,
Calgary, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
RDH
Public Member
RDH
Reminders & Announcements
Rates:
InTouch advertising rates are as
follows:
Full Page: Laurie Smith, RDH
President
Calgary, AB
president@crdha.ca
Sabrina Heglund, RDH
Ardrossan, AB
councillor@crdha.ca
$100
$75/two weeks
Submissions:
Story ideas, articles and letters
are welcome. Send your submission
to the Editor at: info@crdha.ca. The
Editor reserves the right to edit
content, format and length.
Submission Deadlines:
November 15 February 15
May 15
August 15
For more information about the
CRDHA and the dental hygiene
profession in Alberta visit
www.crdha.ca
April 28-30, 2016: CRDHA Annual Continuing Competence Event: Back to
Basics… then Beyond, Calgary AB. Online registration closes midnight April
22, 2016. On-site registration will be accepted only if space is available.
April 25-May 6, 2016 inclusive: 5- or 10-day Dental Hygiene Refresher
Course, University of Alberta, Edmonton
May 12-14, 2016: Canadian Academy of Periodontology Conference,
Edmonton
June 23-25, 2016: International Federation of Dental Hygiene Conference,
Basel, Switzerland
September30-October 1, 2016: Canadian Academy of Public Health Dentistry,
University of Alberta, Edmonton. In collaboration with the School of Dentistry,
University of Alberta
October 21-22, 2016: CDHA leadership summit, professional development
workshop and CDHA Annual General Meeting, Edmonton
The College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta (CRDHA) invites submissions of original research, discussion
papers and statements of opinion relevant to the dental hygiene profession for it’s official newsletter, InTouch.
Submissions are subject to editorial approval and may be formatted and/or edited without notice. Contributions to
InTouch do not necessarily represent the views of the CRDHA, its staff or Council, nor can the CRDHA guarantee
the authenticity or accuracy of reported research. As well, the CRDHA does not endorse, warrant, or assume
responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, truthfulness or appropriateness of information regarding products,
services, manufacturers or suppliers contained in advertisements within or associated with the newsletter. Under
no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence shall the CRDHA be liable for any direct, indirect, special,
punitive, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use, or neglect, of information contained in articles
and/or advertisements within this publication.
S P R I N G 2 016
Message from the registrar
Things Need to Change;
Occupational Health and
Safety (OHS) Joint Project on
Co-worker Abuse
Although the mandate of regulatory
colleges does not include dealing with
employer/employee issues, we are
aware that abusive behaviour can and
does occur among co-workers.
Brenda Walker, RDH
Additional Resources
Alberta Learning Information
Services (ALIS): Bullies at Work:
What to Know and What You Can Do
alis.alberta.ca/ep/eps/tips/tips.
html?EK=11608
The Canada Safety Council
canadasafetycouncil.org
Search for: Bullying in the workplace
Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health and Safety
www.ccohs.ca
Search for: Bullying in the workplace
Health Quality Council of Alberta:
Managing Disruptive Behaviour in
the Healthcare Workplace
www.hqca.ca
Search for: Managing Disruptive
Behaviour in the Workplace
Almost everyone in the field of
healthcare has been affected in
some way by abusive behaviour
among co-workers, whether they
were the subject of the abuse, the
perpetrator or were a witness to the
abuse of someone else. Some have
encountered physical abuse, while
others have experienced more subtle
forms of abuse that are not always so
easy to define.
We can change things for the better by
acknowledging that abuse is happening
and by opening up healthy dialogue to
deal with it in the right way.
Professionals from the fields of
Nursing, Physiotherapy, Combined
Laboratory and X-Ray Technology,
Speech-Language Pathology
and Audiology, and Hearing Aid
Practitioners have come together with
the assistance of Alberta Occupational
Health and Safety to create a series
of tools and information to help health
care workers understand the issue
and suggest ways to deal with abusive
behaviour in a positive, practical way.
revealed they had experienced abusive
behaviour from a colleague. The survey
results led to the development of a
program that is meant to help those
who are being abused speak up, and
help those abusing others to recognize
there are better ways to communicate
and deal with our challenges and
frustrations.
Three – one minute videos and other
e-learning materials have been made
available to all health care workers.
Watch the videos and then click on the
links to the materials. The information
offers practical solutions for helping
deal with the abuse in our workplaces.
There is also a special section called
“One good thing a day.” It is a list of
ideas you can bring with you into your
workplace every day to help make
things better for you and those you
work with.
The videos and other resources can be
found at www.thingsneedtochange.ca
It is also important to understand that
certain workplace activities which may
not be particularly comfortable for you
do not constitute abuse. For example,
receiving constructive criticism from
your supervisor, participating in
performance appraisals, or developing
plans to improve work performance
are considered normal human resource
processes, which do not constitute coworker abuse.
Over 80% of all health care workers
surveyed as part of this joint project
1
C R D H A I N T OU C H
General Notice: Practicing in Alberta when registration is cancelled is unprofessional conduct under
the Health Professions Act. Such conduct is subject to sanctions by the hearing tribunal. The Crown
can also prosecute for breaches of the Act and impose fines for violation of the Act.
Notice of Cancellation of Registration
and Practice Permit
The registration and practice permits of the following
individuals have been cancelled in accordance with section
43(1) of the Health Professions Act for failure to submit a
complete application for a practice permit and default in
payment of any applicable fees or assessments under the Act.
These individuals are no longer authorized to practice dental
hygiene in the Province of Alberta.
Adabieh, Shahram ................................................. Calgary, AB
Dominelli, Haley ................................................ Edmonton, AB
Donkervoort, Berkeley Nicolette............................. Calgary, AB
Elekes, Luiza ....................................................... Red Deer, AB
Gardinetti, Melissa ............................................ Cloverdale, BC
Gloumeau, Nadia Evelyn......................................... Calgary, AB
Hakimi, Mishgan ............................................... Edmonton, AB
Hamada, Mohamed Ibrahim.................................... Regina, SK
Hodson, Theresa Kathleen...................................... Calgary, AB
Kaiss Smolley, Reem Wassim................................. Calgary, AB
Leavitt, Riley .......................................................... Calgary, AB
Loughlean, Catherine Margaret.............................. Calgary, AB
Madge, Corrin M.................................................... Calgary, AB
Mulyk, Irene Orysia........................................... Edmonton, AB
Otto, Carrie Lynn......................................................Vernon, BC
Schaeffer, Alison Leigh.................................. Palm Springs, CA
Thoren, Mercedes Joanna..................................... London, ON
Wood, Christine Ann............................................ Sexsmith, AB
Ziegenhagel, Mari-Lou J.......................................Carstairs, AB
Notice of Cancellation of Non-Regulated Membership
In accordance with section 8.8.1 of the CRDHA Bylaws,
the following individuals have been cancelled from the nonregulated member register for failure to submit an application
for renewal of membership. As a non-regulated member, these
individuals were not authorized to practice dental hygiene in
the Province of Alberta.
Ahmed, Sabeen ....................................................Oakville, ON
Andrews, Kendra Dawn............................................Tofield, AB
Aneca, Zoe Ku’uleialoha....................................... Kalispell, MT
Armstrong, Rebecca Lynn..................................Vancouver, BC
Burian, Natasha Karen Marie............................ Whitehorse, YT
Conly, Amy R..................................................Lloydminster, AB
Eisenberg, Lynn ..................................................... Calgary, AB
Ghassem, Nassim ................................... North Vancouver, BC
Grewal, Poonam ............................................... Edmonton, AB
Kerr, Pamela Jillian...............................................Cochrane, AB
2
Kunz, Kennan L....................................................... Calgary, AB
Lang, Tina Suzanne.............................................Vancouver, BC
Larson, Janis M................................................... Blind Bay, BC
Le, Thuy Angela............................................. Mississauga, ON
MacLean, Margaret Marie.......................... Campbell River, BC
Malek, Amanda ................................................ Whitehorse, YT
McIntyre Schemerhorn, Patricia D..................... Edmonton, AB
Mick, Roxanne C................................................... Kelowna, BC
Murray, Jacqueline A..........................................Coquitlam, BC
Orriss, Alanna Lynette........................................Vancouver, BC
Ostofe, Michelle Lee..................................Wasaga Beach, ON
Pichler, Shawna ................................................. Markham, ON
Salahub Olsen, Colleen M................................... Ferintosh, AB
Scott, Virginia ......................................................... Calgary, AB
Sheeler, Nicole Renee.......................................... Kelowna, BC
Watson, Donna Lynn.......................................... Chilliwack, BC
Weisshaar, Wendy M.............................................. Calgary, AB
West, Shelby Lynn............................................. Fort Myers, FL
Notice of Cancellation of Non-Regulated
Membership on Request
In accordance with section 6.3 of the CRDHA Bylaws, the
following individuals have been cancelled from the nonregulated member register at their own request. As a nonregulated member, these individuals were not authorized to
practice dental hygiene in the Province of Alberta.
Bandulj, Natalija ................................................... Windsor, ON
Carey, Jody Leah............................................Lloydminster, AB
Clive, Carole L.......................................................... Regina, SK
Crum, Serena Neile D.......................................... Red Deer, AB
Dean, Sandra Merle..........................................Wainwright, AB
Dickinson, Jennifer Lee...........................................Bolton, ON
Hart, Sevena Sue....................................................... Delta, BC
Howerton, Cindy H............................................... Langdon, AB
Lounsbury, Tara Dawn............................................ Toronto, ON
Maghee, Vivian Madelaine..............................Woodbridge, ON
Mainguy, Jacinthe ........................................ Trois-Rivieres, QC
Patel, Kinjal ............................................................ Calgary, AB
Rotstein, Samantha Dawnelle..............................Nanaimo, BC
Suciu, Rodica Margareta................................... Tottenham, ON
Surani, Fatima Zahra.............................................. Houston, TX
S P R I N G 2 016
Notice of Cancellation of Registration and Practice
Permit on Request
In accordance with section 43(5) of the Health Professions
Act the registration and practice permits of the following
individuals have been cancelled at their own request. These
individuals are no longer authorized to practice dental hygiene
in the Province of Alberta.
Abraham, Debby .................................................... Calgary, AB
Aneca, Johanna Carol............................................. Calgary, AB
Ankerstein, Lindsey Dayle..................................Vancouver, BC
Casey, Pennie M.................................................. Canmore, AB
Contré, Cynthia L............................................... Edmonton, AB
Cooke, Crystal ........................................... Fort McMurray, AB
Denys, Valerie Lee................................................ Kelowna, BC
Deo, Moon Preet................................................Vancouver, BC
Depew, Megan Cindy Ginger................................. Calgary, AB
Doody, Patricia M................................................... Calgary, AB
Duncan, Courtnay Jill......................................Lloydminster, AB
Duncan, Rhonda Esson.......................................... Victoria, BC
Dunn, Colleen ........................................................ Calgary, AB
Fairbairn, Christine Lise.......................................Chatham, ON
Fausak, Erika .......................................................Vegreville, AB
Ferguson, Rosanna ........................................... Edmonton, AB
Ford, Susan ........................................................Ardrossan, AB
Foster, Jane C.................................................... Edmonton, AB
Frey, Treslie Carol.................................................... Calgary, AB
Fynebuik, Karen ..................................................... Calgary, AB
Giroux, Judy A...............................................Medicine Hat, AB
Hinzmann Miller, Brenda ......................................... Leduc, AB
Howorth, Lois A...................................................... Calgary, AB
Ianni, Sofia L.......................................................... Toronto, ON
Ignatiuk, Doreen M...............................................Camrose, AB
Jabbour, Joelle .................................................. Edmonton, AB
Kambara-Bowler, Chika .......................................... Calgary, AB
Keenan, Louanne P............................................. Edmonton, AB
Klem, Linda G......................................................... Calgary, AB
Koustrup, Marie E............................................. Drumheller, AB
Kozmak-Moynes, Janet L............................................ Kihei, HI
Leakey, Joan Darlene............................................ Kelowna, BC
Macklin, Arna Bernice........................................ Edmonton, AB
MacLeod, Brenda Lee................................................ Truro, NS
MacNaughton, Nicole Ashley............................Valemount, BC
Majithia, Deepa Jaswant............................. Richmond Hill, ON
Maude, Kathryn A................................................... Calgary, AB
Nager, Ravina ................................................ Chestermere, AB
Nassar, Jessica ................................................. Edmonton, AB
Nordstrom, Angela Dawn Sachs............................. Rimbey, AB
Paul, Laura Dawn.................................................... Gambo, NL
Pederson, Tiffany-Dawn .................................. Sylvan Lake, AB
Pierson, Pam Orla................................................. Kelowna, BC
Polos, Mathilda ...................................................... Calgary, AB
Sampson, Robert G................................................. Halifax, NS
Schaad, Lorea ............................................. Grande Prairie, AB
Studer, Jennifer .......................................................Surrey, BC
Thomson, James E................................................. Calgary, AB
Turnbull, Lori Ann....................................................Melville, SK
Villemere, Leah-Marie Darlene....................West Kelowna, BC
Virk, Manjit Kaur............................................ Chestermere, AB
Visser, Melanie Ann............................................. Theodore, SK
Waltmans, Devon Marie Ella................................ Kelowna, BC
Weiss, Dallas C..............................................Medicine Hat, AB
Yin, Liyuan ............................................................. Calgary, AB
Zeller, Olivia Wanda Liane.....................................Osoyoos, BC
Zuchetto, Colleen G............................................Courtenay, BC
Notice of Cancellation of Conditional
Registration and Practice Permit
The conditional registration and practice permit of the
following individuals have been revoked for failure to meet
the conditions imposed under Section 30(2) of the Health
Professions Act.
Manu, Sarah Acheampong................................ Edmonton, AB
Patel, Ekta Jitendra............................................ Edmonton, AB
Periodontal Screening
and Reporting (PSR)
The PSR is a method of screening clients to decide if a
more comprehensive assessment is necessary. It is not
intended to replace a full-mouth periodontal evaluation
and has very limited use in dental hygiene practice.
All dental hygiene clients must have a baseline periodontal evaluation. The very nature of dental hygiene care
and treatment is based on a comprehensive full-mouth
periodontal evaluation and charting. Documentation
includes probing depths (six measurements per tooth),
bleeding on probing, recession, furcations, mucogingival
involvement, and mobility. In addition, this documentation is supported by radiographs as necessary. The PSR
is not to be used for clients with an established history
of periodontal disease.1
1
dapted from the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO)
A
Milestones, March 2015, www.cdho.org/milestones/Milestones_Mar15.pdf;
Retrieved February 29, 2016
3
C R D H A I N T OU C H
Call for Members for Hearing Tribunals
and Review Committees
In accordance with the Health
Professions Act (the Act), College
Councils are required to establish
and maintain a list of members who
will be available to be selected by the
College’s Hearings Director to form a
hearing tribunal or a complaint review
committee. Any hearing tribunal or
complaint review committee must
include 25% public representation.
Public members are provided from a list
maintained by the Government.
hygiene practice: general practice,
specialty practice, independent
practice, community health and
education. We would like to increase
the number of members on the list
to provide more flexibility in selecting
dates for hearings or reviews.
Pursuant to the Act, the hearing tribunal
is responsible for conducting a full and
fair hearing regarding allegations of
unprofessional conduct of a member.
The job of the hearing tribunal is to
determine, on the basis of the evidence
introduced, whether the conduct
of the dental hygienist constitutes
unprofessional conduct.
• Fair
• Good listener
• Non-biased
• Respect confidentiality
• Confident
• Mature judgment
A complaint review committee’s
powers and duties include reviewing
and ratifying alternative complaint
resolution settlements and conducting
reviews of dismissals of complaints.
The complaint review committee’s
decision making powers are set out in
the Act.
Hearing tribunals and complaint review
committees are established on an “as
needed” basis. Orientation sessions
are conducted by CRDHA legal counsel
prior to a hearing or complaint review
committee meeting.
The list of available members is
comprised of dental hygienists with
experience in all spectrums of dental
4
We are seeking members with good
knowledge of the profession and
CRDHA’s professional standards and
who exhibit the following qualities:
Applicants must have 5 or more years
of experience as a dental hygienist. If
you are interested in submitting your
name as a nominee for appointment
to the list of members available to
be selected for hearing tribunals or
reviews, please send your resume
and a brief letter describing why
such an appointment appeals to you.
Submissions should be directed to:
CRDHA Hearings Director
302, 8657 – 51 Ave. NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 6A8
by June 15, 2016
Interviews will be conducted as part of
the selection process.
Reporting Blood
Borne Infections to
the CRDHA
All health care workers with a
history of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)
or hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity
have an ethical obligation to report
to their professional regulatory
authority for referral to the Provincial
Expert Review Panel if they perform
any exposure-prone procedures.
Exposure-prone procedures
performed by dental hygienists
include scaling, root planing and
injection of local anaesthesia.
Access to the Provincial Expert
Review Panel is through referral
from a health care worker’s
regulatory authority.
Registered dental hygienists who
have tested positively to HIV, HBV
or HCV should contact the CRDHA
Registrar, Brenda Walker, in person
or by telephone at 780-465-1756 or
toll free 1-877-465-1756 for further
information and referral to the
Expert Review Panel.
S P R I N G 2 016
Radiation Equipment Registration
The Health Professions Act mandates
that the CRDHA enforces standards
for safe care by registered dental
hygienists to Albertans. Therefore,
registered dental hygienists who
own radiation emitting devices must
provide the CRDHA with evidence
of compliance with the Radiation
Protection Act by submitting an
Identification of “Radiation Equipment
Designated Under the Radiation
Protection Regulation” form and a copy
of the AASP “Certificate of Registration
for Radiation Equipment”.
The Radiation Protection Act mandates
that owners of radiation emitting
devices are required to register the
radiation equipment. The Ministry
of Labour has delegated authority
to the Alberta Association of Safety
Partnerships (AASP) to administer this
registry for registered dental hygienists.
The AASP will issue a “Certificate of
Registration for Radiation Equipment”
which must be displayed in the area
in which the radiation equipment
is operated. Radiation equipment
owners must also complete an annual
equipment status and quality assurance
report issued by the AASP.
Radiation Safety Responsibility Flow Chart
Government of Alberta
Ministry of Labour
Alberta Association of
Safety Partnerships
Registration Certificates
for Radiation Emitting
Devices
Radiation Protection Act
and Regulation
Annual Equipment Status
and Quality Assurance
Report
Ministry of Health
College of Registered
Dental Hygienists
of Alberta
Health Professions Act
Dental Hygienist
Profession Regulation
Identification of Radiation
Equipment Registered
form + copy of AASP
Registration certificates
Additional information regarding registration of radiation emitting devices and situations that could invalidate Certificates of
Registration for Radiation Equipment can be found at: www.aasp.ca; go to Radiation Health Information, then to Radiation
Health
5
C R D H A I N T OU C H
CRDHA Sharpening protocol for
dental hygiene instruments (2016)
The following instrument sharpening protocol is based on infection prevention and
control requirements from Alberta Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Experts,
Public Health Inspectors, and Occupational Health and Safety. This instrument
sharpening protocol must be followed by dental hygienists or other persons
sharpening dental hygiene instruments. Following this protocol will reduce the
practitioner’s risk of injury and ensure that clients receive sterile instruments at
point of use. Please insert this protocol in the office IPC manual and develop
specific written policies for your practice that reflects this protocol.
Instrument Sharpening Protocol
1.Return dull, contaminated
instruments to the reprocessing
area.
2.Reprocess (clean and sterilize) the
instruments prior to sharpening.
Use of the unwrapped cycle is
acceptable.
Note:
1.It is unacceptable to directly use
devices that have been sharpened
chair side as metal filings and
stone debris generated during
the sharpening process may be
introduced into the client’s tissues
during treatment.
3.Sharpen the dull, reprocessed
instruments in a clean area of the
dental/dental hygiene office using a
clean sharpening stone.
2.Sharpening contaminated dental
devices during an appointment is
an occupational health risk for the
dental hygienist.
4.Re-clean (use ultrasonic or
automated washer) the sharpened
instruments to remove any metal
filings and stone debris that may
have been generated during the
sharpening process.
3.The CRDHA is not aware of
any sharpening stone product
manufacturer that has validated
reprocessing instructions. Without
validated instructions, there is
no evidence that reprocessing
a sharpening stone (cleaning,
packaging, and running them
through a sterilizer) will result in a
clean and sterile stone. You may
choose to reprocess sharpening
stones, rather than using a clean
stone. However, the stone cannot
be reprocessed in a package with
other devices e.g., scalers, since
nothing in that package will be
considered sterile.
5.Dry, inspect, package and re-sterilize
the cleaned, sharpened instruments
following all reprocessing
procedures to ensure instruments
are sterile.
6
Instruments must not be
sharpened at chairside – either
immediately before or during
an appointment.
1.The practice of opening
packages of sterilized
instruments and sharpening
them just before using these
instruments on a client must
be discontinued.
2.If an instrument becomes dull
during an appointment, the
dental hygienist must obtain
a new, sterilized (sharpened)
instrument to replace the
dull one.
S P R I N G 2 016
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Shifts from
Recruitment to Research
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) thanks the registered dental hygienists who have volunteered to be
part of the program. Visit with ATP representatives at the CRDHA Annual Continuing Competence Event,
Community Connections Showcase, April 29, 2016.
By Sharon Basaraba, Scientific Communications
Advisor, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP)
has achieved what seemed almost
impossible a decade ago. The milestone
– recruiting a target of 50,000 adults
to the province’s largest health-related
study – sets the stage for national and
international researchers to investigate
why some people develop cancer and
chronic diseases and others don’t.
Compiled during years of rigorous
biospecimen and survey collection,
ATP’s broad database offers a wealth
of information about the health and
lifestyle habits and genetics of adult
Albertans. All participants were
between the ages of 35 and 69 years,
with no personal history of malignant
cancer, upon joining the project.
Dietary intake, physical activity levels,
prescription drug use and health
screening patterns represent just some
of the data which will be evaluated
against physical measurements and
biomarkers to map the progression
of cancer and other chronic diseases
in the months and years ahead. ATP
is actively promoting its database for
analysis by researchers across Alberta
and beyond.
ATP Scientific Director Dr. Paula
Robson notes that the value of
longitudinal studies like ATP depends
on the willingness of participants to
remain actively engaged.
“These people have committed to
staying with the project for up to 50
years. We will be able to use what
Albertans have donated to help us
develop better cancer and chronic
disease prevention strategies in the
future.”
Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund
(administered by Alberta InnovatesHealth Solutions), and the Canadian
Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC), and
is based in CancerControl Alberta at
Alberta Health Services.
Over time, information gathered directly
from participants and from public health
records such as the Alberta Cancer
Registry will shed light on the role that
genetics, lifestyle and environmental
exposure each play in the development
of chronic disease. Targeted health
promotion campaigns, social support,
workplace initiatives and public policy
may all be influenced as a result.
Long-time ATP researcher Heather
Whelan says she’s excited to discover
what will be revealed in the years
ahead from the hundreds of thousands
of pieces of information offered by
ATP participants, many of whom are
CRDHA members.
“I’m most proud of the quality and
breadth of the data we’ve collected,
and very excited that we’re at the point
now that we can really start learning
important things from it!”
Dr. Paula Robson, ATP Scientific Director
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project is funded
by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, the
7
C R D H A I N T OU C H
Front and Centre: Too Good to be True:
Addressing Health Care Scams and Fraud
Registered dental hygienists have a professional responsibility to provide accurate information to
clients. This includes being knowledgeable to help clients avoid health care fraud. As well as helping
clients, individuals and business owners should protect themselves against fraud.
Recognizing Fraud
The Competition Bureau , along with
the Fraud Prevention Forum2 , play
important roles in helping Canadians
get the information they need to be
informed and confident consumers.
Consumers also have a role to play in
stopping fraud by arming themselves
with the facts and reporting fraud when
they encounter it.
1
PROTECT YOURSELF
If you want to stay on top
of scams, inform yourself
on how to recognize
the various types of
scams and protect your
personal information by
visiting law enforcement
organizations’
websites, the Canadian
AntiFraud Centre
(www.antifraudcentre.
ca) or other reputable
organizations.
BE A RESOURCE
Take an active role to
inform clients about
potential and real health
care frauds and scams.
Encourage clients to
research and question
in order to make wellinformed choices about
products or proposed
treatment.
Thousands of Canadians of all ages and
from all walks of life are defrauded each
year. There is no typical fraud victim
in Canada. Fraud targets Canadians
of all ages and from all walks of life.
Recognizing fraud is the first step to
better protecting yourself.
Fraudsters are professional criminals that
know what they are doing. Fraudsters
rely on some basic techniques to be
successful. These include:
•developing professional-looking
marketing materials;
•providing believable answers for
your tough questions;
•impersonating government agencies,
legitimate businesses, websites,
charities, and causes;
•pretending to be your ordinary
supplier;
•hiding the true details in the fine print;
•preying on areas of vulnerability,
including those needing help with
loans or finding employment;
• a sking for fees in advance of
promised services;
•threatening legal action to collect on
alleged contracts;
8
•falsely claiming affiliation with reliable
sources, such as legitimate news sites
to support their products or services;
•and exchanging victim lists with
other fraudsters.
Golden Rules
Remember these golden rules to help you
beat the scammers.
•Always get independent advice if
an offer involves money, personal
information, time or commitment.
•There are no guaranteed get-richquick schemes—sometimes the
only people who make money are
the scammers.
•Do not agree to offers or deals right
away. If you think you have spotted
a great opportunity, insist on time
to get independent advice before
making a decision.
S P R I N G 2 016
9
C R D H A I N T OU C H
•Do not hand over money or personal
information, or sign anything until
you have done your homework
and checked the credentials of the
company that you are dealing with.
•If you spot a scam or have been
scammed, get help. Contact the
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre,3 the
Competition Bureau or your local
police for assistance.
•Do not rely on glowing testimonials:
find solid evidence of a company’s
success.
Scammers are imaginative and
manipulative. They know how to push
your buttons to produce the response
they want.
•Log directly on to a website that you
are interested in rather than clicking
on links provided in an email.
•Never send money, or give credit card
or online account details to anyone
you do not know and trust.
The Competition Bureau
The Competition Bureau, as an independent
law enforcement agency, ensures that
Canadian businesses and consumers
prosper in a competitive and innovative
marketplace. The Bureau promotes
truth in advertising in the marketplace by
discouraging deceptive business practices
and encouraging the provision of sufficient
information to enable informed consumer
choice. It offers a variety of resources to
assist businesses and trade associations in
recognizing and preventing anti competitive
conduct, including support in establishing
effective compliance programs within their
organization.Chaired by the Competition
Bureau, the Fraud Prevention Forum is
a concerned group of more than 125
private sector firms, consumer and
volunteer groups, government agencies
and law enforcement organizations, who
are committed to fighting fraud aimed
at consumers and businesses. Through
its partners, the Forum works to prevent
Canadians from becoming victims of fraud
by educating them on how to recognize it,
report it and stop it.
Consumers and practitioners can
become victims of fraud. Be informed
to help yourself and your clients.
The LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SCAMS
YOUR GUIDE TO PROTECTION
AGAINST FRAUD4 is a downloadable
easy to understand booklet that
provides valuable information and
advice on topics such as:
•Lotteries, sweepstakes and
contests
• Pyramid schemes
• Money transfer requests
• Internet scams
• Mobile phone scams
• Health and medical scams
• Emergency scams
• Dating and romance scams
• Charity scams
• Job and employment scams
• Small business scams
• Service scams
• Handy hints to protect yourself
•Scams and you: What to do if you
get scammed!
• Getting help and reporting a scam
This resource includes information
relevant to you, your clients and your
practice.
10
S P R I N G 2 016
Online Health Scams
Protect yourself online. Cyber crime
is not a new phenomena, but North
American law enforcement and
regulators have witnessed a significant
upsurge in the number of fraudulent
health care products offered on
the web ranging from counterfeit
pharmaceuticals to miracle cancer
cures. Many of these products are
untested and are, at worst, potentially
hazardous to consumers as they may
contain dangerous ingredients.
One major incident in Canada
involving counterfeit pharmaceuticals
purchased online resulted in the death
of a middle-aged BC woman. The
coroner’s final report indicated that the
anti-depressants she had purchased
contained an alarming quantity of
heavy metals including arsenic, lead,
and aluminium. It is not uncommon for
counterfeiters to use heavy metals and
other dangerous materials as “fillers”
for these drugs. (Source: National
Review of Medicine July 2007)
There are myriad online health scams
claiming they can effectively treat
serious illnesses such as cancer with
“herbal remedies.” Other fraudulent
health products include pills, creams,
teas and juices or discount medical
devices that don’t work or are never
delivered.
These scams are particularly egregious
since they prey on the most vulnerable
people, usually those who are unable
to meet their own health care needs
financially or those who are desperate
because conventional medicine has been
unsuccessful in treating their affliction.
In practical terms, these consumers
may be spending significant amounts
of money on products that provide no
benefit for their condition, may cause
harmful side effects, or simply fail to
provide any effective treatment for their
condition. Ultimately these consumers
are the victims of health fraud.
The adage “if it’s too good to be true,
it probably is” is particularly relevant to
this situation and should be observed
whenever you’re looking to buy online.
The best way to protect yourself is
through education to provide yourself
with the ability to better distinguish
between legitimate online retailers and
those that are fraudulent. If you have
questions or concerns or think you may
have been a victim of fraud, don’t hesitate
to contact the Competition Bureau.
The Problem of Health
Care Fraud
While estimates vary, it can be safely
stated that health care fraud costs
Canadians billions of dollars each
year. Like other types of fraud, it is
a complex problem, as it comes in a
variety of forms that can be difficult
to detect. What makes health care
fraud so pervasive is the fact that it
can be perpetrated by virtually any
user of the health care system, such
as patients, health care providers, staff
and administrators, and medical device
manufacturers. Whatever the source,
health care fraud comes at a high cost
to us all.
What Can I Do?
•Ensure that you understand and are
in full compliance with the practice
guidelines and standards as set out
by your profession’s regulatory or
advisory body.
•Take care to verify that you are
properly adhering to payment
terms with both public and private
insurance payors.
•Double-check claims submissions
to ensure that the information is
accurate.
Little Black Book of Scams
Increase your awareness of the
many types of fraud that target
Canadians and offers some easy
steps you can take to protect
yourself and avoid falling victim to
fraud.
www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/
site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html
Government of Canada:
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Find out how to prevent fraud and
how to report those who commit it.
www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/
protection/fraud/
Consumer Measures Committee
Identity (ID) theft is serious. It
occurs when someone steals your
personal information to commit
a crime. While you can’t entirely
control whether you will become a
victim there are ways to minimize
the risk.
www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cmc-cmc.nsf/
eng/fe00088.html
Canadian Consumers Handbook
The Consumer Handbook is
intended to help you become a
better-informed and more confident
consumer. It offers information on a
wide range of topics such as online
shopping, contracts, housing and
home renovations, identity theft,
collection agencies, and much
more, to help you build your buying
skills.
www.consumerhandbook.ca/en/
References:
Information for this article has been excerpted from
the following websites:
1
Competition Bureau www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/
2
raud Prevention Forum www.competitionbureau.
F
gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03662.html#tab2
3
anadian Anti-Fraud Centre www.
C
competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/
eng/03662.html#tab2
4
he Little Black Book of Scams www.
T
competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/
eng/h_00176.html
11
C R D H A I N T OU C H
CRDHA Practice Advisor
You’ve Been Asking
Marthe Benoit
I have a client with elevated
blood pressure. How do I
proceed?
Answer
Dental hygiene treatment in
hypertensive clients necessitates
special attention. Stressful procedures
can increase blood pressure and trigger
complications during treatment. For this
reason, accurate medical history and
updating client’s blood pressure prior
to commencing dental hygiene care
will help to ensure that clients receive
safe competent care. For certain
procedures, blood pressure must be
monitored more frequently e.g., intraoperatively and post operatively.
Dental hygienists are responsible for
providing safe and ethical care during
treatment of clients. This is reflected in
the CRDHA Practice Standards under a
number of sections, including:
Evidence Based Decision Making
Registered dental hygienists:
1.13 D
emonstrate critical thinking
in collecting and interpreting
assessment information,
formulating a dental hygiene
diagnosis, planning, implementing,
and evaluating all aspects of their
practice.
Dental Hygiene Process
Assessment
2.2 C
ollect baseline information using
appropriate methodology.
2.4 D
etermine if further assessment is
required and, if necessary, refer the
client to the appropriate health care
provider.
And also,
Blood Pressure
(mm Hg)
ASA Physical Status Classification
Less than 140 systolic and less than 90 diastolic; (Note: 120
systolic and 80 diastolic is considered “normal” – numbers
above these readings are considered “pre-hypertension”). Low
blood pressure is not addressed in this table; however it must
be considered when taking blood pressure on clients.
I
Therapy modifications are not usually warranted for this
classification based on blood pressure readings alone.
Recheck at next dental hygiene appointment. Cients with
readings that are considered pre-hypertension may benefit
from education regarding lifestyle changes and/or referral
to a physician.
140-159 systolic and/or 90-94 diastolic
II
Elective dental hygiene care is acceptable based on blood
pressure readings, unless blood pressure remains above
normal after three consecutive readings. Necessary
modifications may include stress reduction techniques, and
consultation with client’s physician, pharmacist, or other
health care provider.
160-199 systolic and or 95-114 diastolic
III
Recheck blood pressure in 5 minutes. Elective dental
hygiene care may still be appropriate; however the need
for stress-reduction techniques and other treatment
modifications is increased. Medical consult is recommended
for these clients.
Greater than 199 systolic and/or greater than 114 diastolic
IV
Recheck blood pressure in 5 minutes. Medical consultation
required if still elevated. Elective care must be postponed
until the client’s health condition improves.
(based on blood pressure alone)
Dental Hygiene Therapy Consideration
*www.dhed.net/ASA_Physical_Status_Classification_SYSTEM.html
The chart is adapted from:
• Malamed S. F. (2010). Physical status classification system. In Sedation: A guide to patient management (5th ed., pp 56-61). St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc.
• Darby and Walsh.(2015). Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice. (4th ed., pp 198)St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Inc.
12
S P R I N G 2 015
Noteworthy
The Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association (CDHA)`s Distinguished
Service Award acknowledges an individual
who has made a significant contribution
to the advancement of the dental hygiene
profession in Canada through involvement
on CDHA committees or national
projects.
The 2014 recipient of the Distinguished
Service Award has been a respected
practicing dental hygienist for over 25
years. She has provided services in
general and specialty dental practices
as well as through her own independent
hygiene practice. She was noted as one
of those rare members who actually
called to see what she could do for her
professional association. She has served
on the executive of the Northern Alberta
Dental Hygiene Society, on the Alberta
Dental Hygienists Association Council,
including as president and as president of
College of Registered Dental Hygienists
of Alberta (CRDHA).
She also served with the CDHA as a
board director, president-elect, president
and past-president. Her award nominator
noted that she believes the CDHA is
stronger, focused, and accountable and
operates with transparency because
of the fortitude and strength of the
nominee’s character and conviction to act
as a fiduciary for all. The recipient of the
CDHA Distinguished Service Award is
Jacki Blatz.
Mandy Hayre, CDHA President and Jacki Blatz CDHA
Distinguished Service Award recipient
Canadian Dental Hygienists Association
2015 Job Market
& Employment
Survey Report
Executive summary and full report available at:
www.cdha.ca/2015JobSurvey
13
C R D H A I N T OU C H
Continuing Competence
U of A Continuing Dental
Education
The University of Alberta’s Continuing
Dental Education (CDE) program
provides specialized education and
certification programs to postgraduate
dentists, dental hygienists, dental
assistants and dental laboratory
technicians.
Using innovative, evidence-based
educational activities, CDE develops,
provides and evaluates learning
opportunities and resources and as a
result, the CDE participants are better
able to meet their own professional
development requirements.
Courses of interest to registered dental
hygienists include:
• Business in Dentistry
• Dental Hygiene Refresher Course
• Local Anaesthetic
•Nitrous Oxide Oxygen Conscious
Sedation
• Orthodontic Module
Examples of specific courses that are
offered:
•May 13-14, 2016 Local Anaesthetic
Refresher
•May 19, 2016 Air Polishing
Technology
•June 4, 2016 Advanced Periodontal
Instrumentation - Root Planing
•September 15, 2016 Oral
Implications of the Human Papilloma
Virus
•September 16-18, 2016 Nitrous
Oxide and Oral Sedation Program
• October 1, 2016 Pediatrics
•October 13, 2016 Instrumentation
14
Fundamentals (includes instrument
sharpening) Part 1
•October 22, 2016 Radiology
Refresher
•October 28, 2016 Cone Beam CT for
RDA/RDH
• October 29, 2016 Oral Pathology
JASPER, AB
Jasper Dental Congress
May 26-29, 2016
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
www.dentalhealthalberta.ca/index/
Pages/jasper-dental-congress
Sponsored by ADA+C
Course dates and content are subject
to confirmation. Certain courses
are subject to limited enrollment;
participants are enrolled on a firstcome-first-served basis.
September 2016
For further information about the U of
A’s CDE learning opportunities visit
www.dentistry.ualberta.ca/
ContinuingDentalEducation.aspx or
email dentce@ualberta.ca
April 2016
CALGARY, AB
CRDHA Annual Continuing
Competence Event: Back to Basics…
then Beyond
April 28-30, 2016
Various speakers and workshops (to be
determined). All members of the oral
health team may register.
Sponsored by CRDHA
www.cvent.com/d/frqgtc
Contact: administration@crdha.ca
May 2016
CALGARY, AB
Canadian Academy of Periodontology
May 12-14, 2016
Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire
www.cap-acp.ca/en/meeting/2016_
meeting.html
Edmonton, AB
Canadian Association of
Public Health Dentistry
Annual Conference in collaboration
with the U of A School of Dentistry
September 30- October 1, 2016
www.caphd.ca/professionaldevelopment/caphd-annual-conference
Andrea Richard info@caphd.ca
EDMONTON, AB
North West Dental Expo
Edmonton & District Dental Society
September 30, 2016
http://eddsonline.com/program_events/
eddsconnect@hotmail.com
October 2016
EDMONTON, AB
Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association (CDHA)
October 21-22, 2016
Leadership summit, professional
development workshop and CDHA
Annual General Meeting.
October 2017
OTTAWA, ON
Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association,
National Conference
October 19-21, 2017
S P R I N G 2 016
Continuing Competence Online
Assigning Program Credits for Online Courses
Following are some online sites which
were accessible at the time of printing
this newsletter. Providers may assess a
user fee and/or require registration with
user name and password.
The CRDHA Competence Committee determines the eligibility of specific courses
for Continuing Competence Program credit. CRDHA Continuing Competence
Program (CCP) Rule 9.1.3 Self Directed Study states: Program credits are granted
according to recommendations made by the course provider, the publisher, or the
Competence Committee, with consideration given to the amount of time necessary
to cover the material and to take the examination. Assignment of program credits
will not include the additional time the registrant takes to study or review the materials. The Competence Committee makes the final approval for the number of
credits awarded for any course.
Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association (CDHA)
www.cdha.ca
Some CDHA courses have limitations
on the eligibility for CCP credit. Refer to
the CDHA Course Credit Table.
American Dental Association
www.adaceonline.org
American Dental Hygienists
Association
www.adha.org/CE_courses/index.html
Introduction to Chronic Disease
Management
www.albertahealthservices.ca/7736.
asp
Coursera
www.coursera.org/
Online courses from various
Universities. Some courses are free.
Diverse topics include for example:
Health Leadership; Health Literacy;
Interprofessional Practice; Drugs and
the Brain; Human Physiology.
The Competence Committee determined that the number of credits indicated by
the some providers for courses is not consistent with the content of the courses.
The Competence Committee considered the allocation of program credit from the
following online course providers and determined the following:
Courses from the providers named below are eligible for 50% of the credits
indicated by the provider.
Crest Oral B/Proctor and Gamble;
(Dental Resources; Dental Care)
www.dentalcare.com/en-CA/index.jspx
Forsyth Institute
(Colgate Oral Care Report)
https://secure.colgateprofessional.com/app/
cop/ocr/
Hygienetown
www.towniecentral.com
INR Biomed
Paper based courses
I Need CE (Penwell, Hu-Friedy)
www.ineedce.com
Pharmacy Times: Courses relate mostly
to the Pharmacy Profession.
www.pharmacytimes.com
CDE World
www.cdeworld.com/courses
Courses from the providers named below are eligible for the number of the
credits indicated by the provider.
American Dental Association
www.adaceonline.org
American Dental Hygienists Association
www.adha.org/careerinfo/continuing_
education.htm
Dental Learning Network (Academy of
Dental Learning)
www.fice.com
Dimensions of Dental Hygiene (Belmont)
https://dimensions.absorbtraining.com/#/
login
Health Studies Institute
www.healthstudies.com
Public Health Agency of Canada:
Skills Enhancement for Public Health
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/php-psp/ccphcesp/index-eng.php
Online continuing dental education is a convenient way to learn
at your own pace, anywhere, anytime. The CRDHA Continuing
Competence Program Rule 7.4 stipulates: “In the event that a
learning activity continues into the evening hours, a maximum of 10
program credits per 24-hour period may be claimed.”
15
C R D H A I N T OU C H
albertaQuits
New number.
free | convenient | personalized
Same trusted health advice.
call helpline
toll-free for information,
counselling and referral
click online
quit with powerful tools,
advice and 24/7 support
Join groups
group support programs
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albertaquits.ca
1-866-710-7848
free,
convenient,
personalized
support to
quit tobacco.
MyHealth.Alberta.ca/811
Visit the Alberta Tobacco Reduction booth at the CRDHA Annual Continuing
Competence Event, Community Connections Showcase, April 29, 2016
Helping Albertans find their way to better health
MyHealth.Alberta.ca offers valuable information and tools to help Albertans
manage their health and wellbeing. As an evolving resource, it is continually
expanding to provide additional content and exciting new features. Visit
MyHealth.Alberta.ca to discover how this online resource can be helpful for you
and your patients.
Thousands of pages of Health
Topics from A–Z, including
tooth health
Health Services Locator
Checkup and Descision Tools
Symptom Checker
Medication Guides
Tests & Treatment Guides
Videos
Coming Spring 2016:
Albertans will be able to set up a Personal Health Record and access their
provincial medication records.
Patient Care Handouts
Visit the MyHealth Alberta booth at the CRDHA Annual Continuing Competence Event, Community Connections Showcase, April 29, 2016
16
S P Rfall
I N G 2 014
6
U of A Dental Hygiene
Refresher Course
April 25 – 29, 2016 (5-Day course)
April 25 - May 6, 2016 (10-Day course)
School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Please contact the Division of Continuing Dental Education at
dentce@ualberta.ca, or 780-492-1894 to place your name on the
contact list for further information and details about this course.
Please visit www.dentistry.ualberta.ca/CDE for course information
and registration in early 2016.
Use the CRDHA Self-Assessment Tool
to help identify your learning needs and
develop a learning plan. Access the SelfAssessment Tool at www.crdha.ca
Member Sign In is required.
Attend the CRDHA Annual Continuing
Competence Event www.cvent.com/d/
frqgtc to participate in the Self Assessment
Workshop, April 28, 2016.
DVD Q uarter ly of Dental Hygiene
Add to your Continuing Competence Program credits at home
Completion Certificates 12 hr/yr
CDHA Members Receive a 25% Pricing Discount
CDHA Member Cost $149.95 + 13% HST = $169.45
(CDHA non-member cost $199.95 + 13% HST = $225.95)
Vi s i t w w w. d v d q u a r t e r l y. c o m t o s u b s c r i b e , o r c a l l 1 - 8 6 6 - 9 9 9 - 2 9 9 9
17
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
College of Registered
Dental Hygienists of Alberta
302, 8657 51 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 6A8
Canadian Publications Agreement #40012431