The Workforce Work Continues
by VICKI WILBERS T
he MDA’s Dental Education Center is almost complete. Installation of dental equip- ment began after Thanksgiv- ing, and we will be ready to welcome the OPA EFDA trainees later in January. The space will be utilized for EFDA training, but also will be considered for a variety of other dental assistant training programs, such as radiography and nitrous courses, as well as hands-on clinical courses for the entire dental team. We have even had conversations about working with a dental hygiene program to utilize the area to extend more seats within their classroom. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. So too, we hope the education that takes place in this new space will create many “dental” hands to make “lighter” the provision of oral healthcare for more people. We are excited about all the possibilities for the future.
We have been fortunate to receive a large sponsorship from Missouri Dental Insurance Services (MDIS) toward this education room. This is just one small example of MDIS support of MDA proj- ects and programs that not only create value for MDA members, but also serve as an important non-dues revenue source to keep your membership dues from increasing. Since its founding, MDIS has given more than $4.8 million to the MDA! We’re also grateful that Central, Northeast, Northwest, Springfield and St. Louis Dental Societies have donated, and we know other local components are considering donations at upcoming board meetings.
If any member is interested in becom- ing an EFDA trainer (there are five programs in existence) or has questions about EFDA training for assistants (and
hygienists) in your practice, please con- tact Mandy Lewis, MDA EFDA Program Manager. Trainers receive stipends, but you also get the reward of teaching a meaningful course without the burden of hosting a course in your practice. Mandy is in the process of setting up the class schedules for 2024. Course dates and other resources are at
moefda.org.
This past October we took another step forward in the Oral Preventive Assistant EFDA Pilot Project by receiving curricu- lum approval from the Missouri Dental Board. Following this in mid-November, the MDA hosted a training session where OPA sites selected for this pilot project came together with their full teams (dentists, OPA candidates, hygienists and office administrators) for briefing on project details and responsibilities, including reporting. There are 14 sites prepared to be a part of the project, with up to 32 OPA candidates, that will be trained in two cohorts, during January, February and March 2024.
A last phase for commencing the OPA EFDA Pilot project is through the waiver of current state rules, which govern the practice of dentistry and include rules for EFDA. Rules must be posted in the Missouri Register and a public comment period allowed as a part of the official process. This is a key piece of the pilot project progressing through the state of Missouri process, necessary to begin the actual delivery of care within the selected sites.
We will continue to keep you updated through Association communications, and continue to appreciate your interest and support.
Contact Vicki Wilbers, Executive Director, with questions at vicki@
modentalmail.org.
Health Care Career Day Will Bring Exposure to Health, Dental Careers
R
ecently, the MDA attended Statewide Healthcare Workforce Partnership meeting hosted by the Missouri Primary Care Asso-
ciation. And at its November meeting, the MDA Board created a Rural Health ad hoc committee that will be looking at recruitment, retention, policy and training/education affecting dental careers, especially in rural Missouri: the same fo- cus areas of the Statewide Healthcare Workforce Partnership. At that Workforce Partnership meet- ing, we learned of a virtual Annual Health Care Career Day event on February 23 developed by the Missouri Chamber Foundation, the Missouri Hospital Association and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. MDA member Dr. JC Standlee and his team will be part of the portion for dentistry.
The fall 2023 Focus issue had a workforce theme and we presented various activities going on seeking to improve the dental workforce. We feel an event and partnership like this one is another aspect of that. We’re sharing with our members so you may share it within your community.
This statewide Annual Health Care Career Day virtual event will take students inside Missouri healthcare organizations to learn about the hottest careers in health care and engage in real- world learning. Both K-12 and higher education students and school groups can register free of charge, to see inside various occupational pathways, learn about the future of healthcare and virtually engage directly with profession- als. LEARN MORE AT
MOCHAMBER.COM/ EVENT/HEALTH-CARE-CAREER-DAY.
ISSUE 4 | WINTER 2023 | focus 11
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