Results from the CODA meeting, July 31, 2009

The Commission on Dental Accreditation met on Friday, July 31, 2009. There were three items of particular importance to dental hygiene on the CODA agenda: (1) Standard 2-17- dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment planning; (2) accreditation of mid-level providers; and (3) a report on the subcommittee on the ADA Taskforce on CODA.

Standard 2-17
The appendix found in the member-only section under “education” shows the adopted language which will be implemented beginning January 1, 2010. The structure of the Standard still includes all aspects of the process of care; however, it does not specifically note them as assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. In addition, the definition of dental hygiene diagnosis that was in the introductory section of the Standards has also been removed. The intent statement is a new addition from the original recommendation made by the CODA Dental Hygiene Review Committee; at the time of their meeting, it was believed that the intent would help to clarify the role of the dental hygienist as a team member.

Accreditation of Mid-Level Provider Programs
The chair of CODA provided a verbal report regarding the potential CODA accreditation of mid-level provider programs, noting calls received from state dental associations/societies regarding accreditation and the development of legislative language that identified CODA as the potential accrediting agency. CODA does not currently have a process in place in order to accredit new mid-level provider programs, and would need to receive a request from one or more of the communities of interest requesting that a process be developed. It was noted that it would likely take a minimum of 5-6 years in order to establish a process, and then to even consider the development of educational standards.

Subcommittee on the ADA Task Force on CODA
The chair of CODA provided a brief verbal report regarding the work of the Commission regarding the 2008 ADA Task Force Report on CODA. The task force developed a report in 2008 that included 34 recommendations for CODA. One of the recommendations was in regard to potentially restructuring the Commission. Some of the other recommendations were in regard to more clearly communicating with the communities of interest; a committee on communications was established and has been producing an electronic newsletter named the “CODA Communicator.”

Should you have any questions about this information, please feel free to contact Colleen Hepnar, Director of Education at 312-440-8936 or via email at ColleenH@adha.net.