Notice of PUBLIC
MEETING - Notice is hereby given that
a public meeting of the Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries will be held as follows
1430
Howe Avenue, Greg Gorges Conference Room, Sacramento,
CA 95825
Thursday,
January 19, 2006 – 1:00
p.m.
Agenda
1. Call to Order/Roll
Call/Establishment of Quorum
2. Election of 2006 Officers
3. Approval of November 16, 2005, Meeting Minutes
4. Report of the Chair
5. Report of the Executive Officer
6. Legislation of Interest to COMDA
RDA Program
7. Review of RDA Educational Programs and Radiation Safety Courses/Recommendations
to Board
8. Discussion of Status of Implementation of SB1546 (dental assisting scopes
of practice)
9. Proposal to Recommend that Board Delegate Auxiliary Educational Program
Approvals to Board Executive Officer
10. Request by 4-D College to Reconsider Staff’s Disapproval of Use
of Dental Offices as Clinical Facilities in Proposed RDA Educational Program
RDH Program
11. Proposed Changes to RDH Examination Subcommittee Member Qualifications
All Programs
12. Delegation of Selection of Examination Chief and Assistant Chiefs to
Appropriate Examination Subcommittee and/or Executive Officer
13. Consideration and Adoption of Revised Strategic Plan
14. Establishment of 2006 Meeting Dates and Times
15. Report of Executive Officer Recruitment Subcommittee
16. Agenda Items for
Future Meetings
17. Public Comment
18. Adjournment
The Committee may
take action on any item listed on the agenda
unless listed as information only. All times
are approximate and subject to change. Public
comments will be taken on agenda items at the
time the specific item is raised. Items may be
taken out of order to accommodate speakers and
to maintain a quorum. The meeting may be cancelled
without notice. For meeting verification, call
(916) 263-2595 or access the Committee’s
website at www. comda. ca.gov. The meeting is
accessible to the physically disabled. A person
who needs disability-related accommodations or
modifications in order to participate in the
meeting shall make a request to the Committee
by contacting Karen Wyant at (916) 263-2300 or
sending a written request to the person at the
Committee on Dental Auxiliaries, 1428 Howe Avenue,
Suite 58, Sacramento, CA 95825, one week prior
to the day of the meeting. Contact: Karen Wyant,
(916) 263-2595 or email Karen_Wyant@dca.ca.gov.
Agenda Item Information
Committee on Dental Auxiliaries State
of California
Dental Board of
California Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 6.
Legislation of Interest to COMDA
This item will
be mailed under separate cover, or reported at
the meeting.
_______________________
Committee
on Dental Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California
Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 7.
Review of RDA Educational Programs and Courses
RDA Educational Programs
Staff recommends that
COMDA recommend that the Board grant provisional
approval to the following RDA educational programs,
with the assumption that no irregularities are
discovered at on-site evaluations scheduled for
January 20, 2006. These visits were scheduled before
the change in the COMDA meeting date.
1. San Joaquin Valley
College, Rancho Cordova
2. Western Career College,
Citrus Heights
Other Programs and
Courses
Any other programs or
courses that are ready for consideration by the
meeting date will be presented at the meeting.
________________________
Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California Department of Consumer
Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 8.
Discussion of Status of Implementation of SB1546
(dental assisting scopes of practice)
This item will
be mailed separately, or presented at the meeting.
____________________
Committee
on Dental Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California
Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 9. Proposal to Recommend that
Board Delegate Auxiliary Educational Program
Approvals to Board Executive Officer
Recommendation:
COMDA staff recommends that COMDA recommend to
the Board that it delegate the authority to approve
auxiliary educational programs and courses to the
Board Executive Officer to assure the timely availability
of such programs and courses to applicants and
licensees.
Background:
COMDA is statutorily
charged with the duty of evaluating auxiliary educational
programs and courses applying for approval by the
Board, and making recommendations to deny or approve
such programs and courses. They include: RDA educational
programs, radiation safety courses, coronal polishing
courses, ultrasonic scaling courses, and pit and
fissure sealant courses.
COMDA has been performing
this function for nearly thirty years. It employs
numerous consultants and has one primary staff
person devoted to this program, which entails detailed
review of curriculum, equipment, and facilities.
All RDA educational programs applying for approval
undergo an on-site inspection, as did all radiation
safety programs until recent changes to the regulations.
All programs and courses
must meet certain, very detailed criteria contained
in Board regulations, much like an applicant for
an auxiliary or dental license must complete certain
requirements before a license is issued.
During at least the
last 20 years, neither COMDA nor the Board has
ever rejected a COMDA staff recommendation that
a program or course be approved.
However, because of
meeting timelines, there are often instances in
which COMDA staff has not completed its evaluation
until, for example, a few weeks after a particular
set of COMDA and Board meetings, which means that
the applicant cannot be considered for 3 or 4 more
months, and cannot offer their program or course
until that time.
In order to assure that
as many auxiliary programs and courses are available
to applicants and licensees as possible, it is
recommended that the approval of such programs
and courses be delegated to the Board’s Executive
Officer. Any recommendations to deny a program
or course would continue to be reviewed by COMDA
and the Board.
_________________
Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 10.
Request by 4-D college to Reconsider Staff’s
Disapproval of Use of Dental Offices as Clinical
Facilities in Proposed RDA Educational Program
Issue: 4-D College
has submitted an application for approval of its
RDA educational program. Their application proposes
to solely use dental offices for clinical instruction.
They have asked that COMDA and the Board hear their
appeal of COMDA staff’s interpretation of
the regulations that an RDA educational program
must also have its own clinical facilities.
Basis for COMDA staff’s
interpretation:
California Code of Regulations
Sections 1070, 1070.1, and 1070.2 contain the requirements
that an applicant must meet to obtain and maintain
Dental Board of California ("Board")
approval to offer an RDA educational program. As
stated in Section 1070, it is the intent of the
Board to approve only educational programs which
continuously maintain a high quality standard of
instruction, to protect the public by assuring
that RDAs are properly educated.
4-D’s application
indicates that all clinical instruction will take
place in dental offices. The regulations governing
the approval of RDA educational programs do not
allow for clinical instruction in a dental office
with the exception of final experience gained in
extern clinical sites once the student has demonstrated
competency in the program facilities.
The Board has never
approved an RDA educational program that did not
contain its own clinical facilities. A high quality
standard of instruction, as required by the regulations,
cannot be assured if clinical facilities are separate
from lecture and laboratory facilities, as instruction
must be integrated. Continuity of instruction would
be seriously compromised if students received lecture
and laboratory instruction on a procedure, then
were required to relocate to another facility to
engage in clinical instruction. An additional disservice
to students would occur if the provider decided
to change dental offices, requiring instruction
to cease until COMDA could physically evaluate
the new facilities.
A review of the following
provisions of Board regulation Section 1070.2,
envisions that a portion of the clinical training
be provided with direct program faculty supervision
in program facilities, followed by clinical experience
on patients in an extra-mural dental office once
the student has demonstrated competence in the
procedures in the program facilities:
"(h) Facilities
and Resources. Facilities and class scheduling
shall provide each student with sufficient opportunity,
with instructor supervision, to develop minimum
competency in performing dental assistant and
registered dental assistant duties. Such facilities
shall include safe, adequate and educationally
conducive:
(1) Lecture classrooms.
Classroom size and equipment shall accommodate
the number of students enrolled. Classrooms shall
include: chalkboard or whiteboard, projection
equipment, sufficient electrical outlets, adequate
lighting and ventilation, and chairs and writing
space for each student.
(2) Operatories. Operatories
shall be sufficient in number to allow a ratio
of at least one operatory for every five students
at any one time, and shall be of sufficient
size to accommodate an operator, a student,
an instructor, and a patient at one time.
(A) Each operatory
shall replicate a modern dental office containing
functional equipment including: a power-operated
chair for treating patients in a supine position;
operator and assistant stools; dental units
designed for application of current principles
of dental assistant and registered dental assistant
utilization; air-water syringe; adjustable
light; slow-speed and high-speed handpieces;
oral evacuation equipment; work surface; view
box; hand-washing sink; and all other armamentarium
required to instruct dental assistant and registered
dental assistant duties.
(B) Each operatory
shall contain one training manikin with
simulated face and tongue, full dentition,
and water retrieval system.
(C) Each operatory
must be of sufficient size to accommodate an
operator, a student, an instructor, and a patient.
…..
(5) Armamentarium
(A) The number and
variety of hand instruments shall be sufficient
to instruct students in identifying and exchanging
instruments, preparing procedural trays, and
assisting in the diagnostic, operative and specialty
procedures which are a part of general dentistry.
(B) Each student
shall possess a pair of safety goggles for their
exclusive use.
(C) One permanently
preassembled tray for each procedure shall be
provided for reference purposes. In addition,
at least one set of hand instruments per chairside
procedure for every two students shall be available
during instruction of clinical, pre-clinical,
and laboratory procedures.
…
(i) Program Content.
The organization of the curriculum shall be balanced
and flexible, creating opportunities for adjustments
to changes in the practice of dentistry and registered
dental assisting.
(1) Sufficient
time shall be available for all students to
obtain laboratory experience to achieve minimum
competence in all dental assistant and registered
dental assistant duties prior to the performance
of procedures on patients.
(2) A detailed
course outline shall be provided which clearly
states curriculum subject matter and specific
instruction hours for each topic in the individual
areas of didactic, laboratory, pre-clinical,
clinical, and externship instruction.
(3) There shall be
no more than 14 students per instructor during
laboratory instruction. There shall be no more
than 6 students per instructor during pre-clinical
and clinical instruction.
…
(j) Externship
Instruction. Students shall, as part of an
organized program of instruction, be provided
with planned, supervised clinical instruction
in performing all dental assistant and registered
dental assistant duties.
(1) The program director/coordinator
or a dental faculty member shall be responsible
for selecting extern clinical sites and evaluating
student competence in performing procedures both
before and after the clinical assignment.
(2) Objective evaluation
criteria shall be used by the program faculty
and clinic personnel.
(3) Program faculty
shall visit each extramural clinical facility
at least once every ten clinical days.
(4) Dentists who
intend to provide extramural clinical practices
shall be oriented by the program director/coordinator
or a dental faculty member prior to the student
assignment. Orientation shall include the objectives
of the program, the preparation the student has
had for the clinical assignment, and a review
of procedures and criteria to be used by the
dentist in evaluating the student during the
assignment.
(5) There shall be
a written contract of affiliation with each extramural
clinical facility utilized by the program. Such
contract shall describe the settings in which
the clinical training will be received, affirm
that the clinical facility has the necessary
equipment and armamentarium appropriate for the
procedures to be performed, and affirm that such
equipment and armamentarium are in safe operating
condition.
(6) The program shall
maintain documentation that students completed
clinical training in all dental assisting and
registered dental assisting functions during
the clinical externship phase of the program."
{emphasis added}
_________________
Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California
Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 11. Proposed Changes to RDH
Examination Subcommittee Member Qualifications
Attached is a chart
showing the composition of COMDA’s various
subcommittees. For many years, the RDH Examination
Subcommittee has been comprised of educator members,
as designated by the dental schools.
During the last few
years, there has been considerable turnover in
the educator members as they change jobs, effecting
the consistency and focus of their primary purpose,
which is to assist in the training of examiners.
This configuration is also inconsistent with the
other examination subcommittees: The RDA Examination
Subcommittee only has two educator members, appointed
by COMDA; and the EF Examination Subcommittee has
no educator members.
It is recommended that
the composition of the RDH Examination Subcommittee
be changed to include no more than five educator
members, with no designation as to their educational
affiliation, so that members can be sought who
have the interest and background to most effectively
serve on the Subcommittee. It is also recommended
that the policy on appointment be changed as follows to
streamline COMDA operations and assure that the
positions are filled in an appropriate timeframe
(see related agenda item #12):
"The educator
members of the RDH Examination Subcommittee shall
be appointed by the RDH Examination Subcommittee
without automatic review by COMDA, unless specifically
requested by COMDA or the Executive Officer.
In the event that the subcommittee does not meet
to appoint individuals to such positions, they
shall be appointed by the Executive Officer,
reported to the Subcommittee at its next meeting,
and subject to review by COMDA if so requested
by the Subcommittee."
________________
Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California
Department of Consumer Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 12.
Delegation of Selection of Examination Chief
and Assistant Chiefs to Appropriate Examination
Subcommittee and/or Executive Officer
It is current COMDA policy that
the RDA and RDH Examination Subcommittees appoint
a Chief and two Assistant Chiefs, which is reported
to COMDA at its next meeting, and subject to COMDA’s
rejection.
The Chief, "first" Assistant
Chief, and "second" Assistant Chief serve
in a ascending pattern, with the "first" Assistant
Chief becoming Chief when the Chief’s term
expires, the "second" Assistant Chief
becoming "first", and a new person selected
to become the "second" Assistant Chief.
This change is intended to become effective on
January 1.
Because of changing COMDA meeting
dates, and differing needs for meetings of the
Subcommittees, it is proposed that the policy be
changed as follows to streamline COMDA operations
and assure that the positions are filled in an
appropriate timeframe:
"The RDA and
RDH Chief and Assistants Chiefs shall be appointed
by the respective Subcommittees without automatic
review by COMDA, unless specifically requested
by COMDA or the Executive Officer. In the event
that either subcommittee does not meet to appoint
individuals to such positions, they shall be
appointed by the Executive Officer, reported
to the Subcommittee at its next meeting, and
subject to review by COMDA if so requested by
the Subcommittee."
_________________
Committee on Dental
Auxiliaries State of California
Dental Board of California Department of Consumer
Affairs
TO: COMDA Members
Meeting Date: January
19, 2006
Re: Agenda Item 14.
Establishment of 2006 Meeting Dates and Times
At its November meeting,
the Board adopted the following meeting dates for
2006. COMDA needs to assure that members do not
have conflicts with COMDA dates associated with
the Board’s dates, and determine the date
and time that they wish to meet.
Also, staff suggests
that the April meeting be held in Sacramento in
order for COMDA to interview prospective Executive
Officer applicants, or that a separate meeting
be held for the sole purpose of interviews.
Board meeting dates:
Tuesday and Wednesday – April
11 and 12 (Southern California)
Thursday and Friday – August 3 and 4 (Northern California)
Tuesday and Wednesday – November 14 and 15 (Southern California)
COMMITTEE
ON DENTAL AUXILIARIES
Draft
Meeting Minutes – January 19, 2006
Members Present: Shanda
Wallace, RDH, Chair; Sonia Molina, DMD, Vice Chair;
Linda Gipson, RDH, Secretary; Darla Dale, RDH;
Teresita Churchill, RDA
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Karen
R. Wyant, Executive Officer; Dyna Leonard, Associate
Analyst; LaVonne Powell, DCA Legal Counsel
1. Call
to Order/ Roll Call/ Establishment of Quorum
The meeting was called
to order at 1:05 p.m. Roll was called and a quorum
was established.
2. Election of
2006 Officers
Member Dale nominated
Shanda Wallace as Chair, Member Churchill nominated
Sonia Molina as Vice Chair, and Member Churchill
nominated Linda Gipson as Secretary. The nominations
passed unanimously.
3. Approval
of November 16, 2005, Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the November
16, 2005, meeting were adopted as presented.
4. Report
of the Chair
Chair Wallace reported
that she and all members had completed legislatively
required sexual harassment training, and that next
month she would be attending the RDH instrumentation
training class and RDH subcommittee meeting.
5. Report
of the Executive Officer
Executive Officer Wyant
referred members to the packing, noting that the
report on regulations has not changed significantly,
except for the regulation governing RDHAP applications
which was being finalized for submission to the
Department. She also directed members to the updated
information on examination statistics.
She advised that COMDA
was preparing to send a final notice to about 6,000
RDAs who have not yet submitted proof of completion
of a coronal polishing course, a radiation safety
program or both, that their licenses will be suspended
on March 31. She advised that COMDA was gearing
up for February RDA examinations, April and May
EF examinations, and the June RDH examination.
6. Legislation
of Interest to COMDA
Wyant reported that
AB1334, which would eliminate the prescription
requirement for RDHAPs was the only pending legislation
of interest to COMDA, and that it has been taken
off inactive file and is expected to staring moving
again. She brought to their attention a recent
article in the Sacramento Bee supporting passage
of the bill.
7. Review of RDA
Educational Programs and Radiation Safety Courses/Recommendations
to the Board
Staff recommended that
COMDA recommend that the Board approve the RDA
educational programs of San Joaquin Valley College,
Rancho Cordova, and Western Career College, Citrus
Heights. It was M/S/P (Molina/Gipson) to recommend
approval to the Board contingent upon there being
no irregularities discovered at on-site visits
scheduled on January 20 and 21.
8. Discussion
of Status of Implementation of SB 1546
Executive Officer Wyant
apologized for providing a handout on this issue,
but she wanted to provide the most up-to-date information
possible. She asked that the members, and audience,
take about 5 minutes to read the report.
She explained that many
hours had been spent by herself, CDA, and the Alliance
on this issue. Her concern at this point was that,
as far as she knew, negotiations had not taken
place since about November and there are many regulations
that must be developed. In view of her retirement,
and the continuing issues that seem to identified
surrounding the legislation, she was concerned
that the regulations would not be implemented on
time, as shown on Attachment B.
She recommended that
the Business and Professions Committee be approached
with a recommendation to delay implementation for
another year, until January, 2009, but that negotiations
continue in a timely manner. She recommended that
one person be appointed from COMDA and one from
the Board to become involved in the negotiations
at this point, since her role thus far has been
more administrative-related than commenting on
policy. Since the Board and COMDA are responsible
for implementing the legislation, she felt it was
time for them to become more actively involved.
She also advised that
the number of courses and programs being submitted
for consideration in the last several months had
increased significantly, and in view of the additional
course approvals that would be required by SB1546,
she recommended that an additional position be
sought to handle both the current workload of evaluation
educational programs.
Member Dale felt there
was no other solution than to delay implementation.
Chair Wallace agreed, noting that implementation
needs to be done correctly, and that the changes
are very complex. Vice Chair Molina noted that
there had already been a year delay and was concerned
with another delay. Wyant explained that there
had been significant discussions and progress in
the last year, but new issues and disagreement
have continued to arise which have resulted in
reaching a point in time where the regulations
cannot be finalized in a timely manner.
Audience member Earl
Johnson of the California Association of Orthodontists
asked for clarification about who is responsible
for developing regulations, the Board, COMDA, or
outside parties. EO Wyant explained that COMDA
normally developed initial regulations, and that
outside parties were often involved, as was the
case with the regulations being discussed. Mr.
Johnson expressed concern that there should be
a lot more people involved in these discussions
than just CDA and the Alliance, and that a subcommittee
should be appointed. He wanted to know why other
parties had not been involved. Chair Wallace noted
that the Business and Professions Committee had
charged CDA and the Alliance with negotiating SB1546
and its implementation, and that the bill was not
the product of COMDA deliberations.
Edmund Carolan of CDA
stated that they have involved all of the various
specialties in the discussions and that additional
comment will certainly occur at regulatory hearings.
Wyant clarified that
a two-person subcommittee would determine what
further meetings or hearings should take place,
as well as who should be involved, and that rather
than looking back, we should look to the future
to resolve the outstanding issues.
Edmund Carolan felt
that there were very few issues left to negotiate
and that they were not supportive of delaying the
legislation another year, but that they were supportive
of elevating the issue to a subcommittee of a member
of the Board and COMDA. Wyant pointed out that
regardless of the status of negotiations, there
were still many regulations to develop, finalize,
and get through the regulatory process, and that
she would not be able to devote all of her time
before she leaves to writing those regulations.
She also informed the
members that CDA would be introducing legislation
to establish a separate OJT pathway to the specialty
licensure categories, and it is unknown at this
time what regulations that legislation would require,
or how that pathway would fit into the entire new
regulatory scheme. She felt that it was problematic
to finalize regulations when the whole body of
law was now going to change again. Edmund Carolan
advised that the legislation would be written to
be self-contained so that new additional regulations
would not be needed and, in any case, regulations
should not be delayed simply because of proposed
legislation.
Legal Counsel Powell
indicated that in view of the number of regulations
involved, and that the legal office would be closely
involved with their development and review, it
was her opinion that the process to finalize the
regulations would indeed by very lengthy because
of legal office staffing levels.
Elizabeth Champion,
49er ROP, stated that the ROP Board of Education-approved
programs in the state are concerned that the provisions
of SB1546 will not allow the programs to continue
to offer instruction toward RDA licensure. EO Wyant
stated that she thought that SB1111 had made provision
for ROP instruction as part of the pathway to RDA
licensure by recognizing core course instruction.
Ms. Champion indicated that it was not full recognitin
and that they should be involved in the discussions.
Kim Soares, San Joaquin
Valley College, commented that there were concerns
that approved RDA educational programs would not
have sufficient notice of the required changes,
as they have to obtain approval from curriculum
committees to implement any changes, and that the
legislation should be delayed a year.
It was M/S/P (Dale/Gipson)
that legislation be sought to delay implementation
of SB1546 for another year, that COMDA seek authority
to establish another position for the approval
of programs and courses, and to seek the support
of the Board in these efforts.
It was M/S/P (Dale/Molina)
to allow the Chair to appoint a person to work
with a member of the Board to oversee development
of regulations to implement SB1546.
9. Proposal to
Recommend that Board Delegate Auxiliary Educational
Programs Approvals to Board Executive Officer
Chair Wallace explained
that neither COMDA nor the Board had ever questioned
any of the COMDA staff recommendations for approval
of courses and programs, and that such courses
and programs could begin operation much more quickly
if the Board were to delegate the approval process
to its Executive Officer. She also noted that the
Board would continue to directly consider any recommendations
to deny approval of a course or program.
It was M/S/P (Churchill/Molina)
to recommend to the Board that it seek a regulatory
change to allow the Board’s Executive Officer
to approve auxiliary educational courses and programs.
10. Request by
4D College to Reconsider Staff’s Disapproval
of Use of Dental Offices as Clinical Facilities
in Proposed RDA Educational Programs
Chair Wallace explained
that the issue before COMDA was that 4D College
has submitted an application for approval of an
RDA educational program, and their application
proposes to solely use dental offices for clinical
instruction. They have asked COMDA and the Board
to hear their appeal of the COMDA staff interpretation
of the regulations that such programs must also
have their own clinical facilities. She referred
members to the background information provided
in the packet.
Linda Smith, President
and CEO of 4D College, and Danetra Ray, Program
Director, introduced themselves. Ms. Smith felt
that the Board’s regulations allowed approval
of a program based on another accreditation, but
they were told that this was not possible. She
stated that they started this process in 2003 and
2004, and referred to a handout she had provided
to Chair Wallace outlining the many difficulties
they have had with various staff over several years
with submission of the application, evaluation,
COMDA asking for more corrections and re-submissions.
She indicated that this included prior evaluations
where certain areas were found to have met standards,
and then later those same areas were found not
to be in compliance, including a report as recent
as last week. She felt that no matter what they
do, they will not be approved because different
people are doing the evaluation. She requested
that only one person be assigned to review their
submissions, and that they be fair in that process,
which is based on very subjective regulations.
She stated that the
other matter at issue has been their laboratory
and operatories. She stated they were truly trying
to think out of the box in serving the community
in responding to a clinic’s request that they
provide the program using the clinic’s facilities.
She felt that a dental office was the same as a "simulated" dental
office, as stated in the regulation. In essence,
she felt that the regulation was not being correctly
applied, and that an appropriate educational process
can occur using clinical facilities off-site. She
felt that it may not have been considered when
the regulations were written 20 years ago, but
that didn’t mean that it was not appropriate
at this point in time. She stated that using an
actual dentist office should be viewed as even
better than "replicating" a dental operatory.
Wyant noted that while
regulations can certainly be changed, it had always
been the interpretation that operatories be available
on-site, and that in the last at least 20 years
there has never been a program approved that did
not have these on-site facilities. She stated that,
to her, the term replicate meant that operatories
must be within the facilities, or why would the
word "replicate" even be in the regulation.
Ms. Smith again disagreed with the interpretation
of the regulation, and disagreed that the language "replicate
a dental office" by itself prohibited the
use of dental operatories in a dental office or
clinic, and noted that the regulation was enacted
when there was not access to dental offices.
Legal Counsel Powell
noted that there may be other considerations about
why the regulation was written this way, and that
to re-interpret the regulation after 20 years of
interpreting it a specific way with regard to all
past programs must be done carefully.
Chair Wallace noted
that since the interpretation of the regulations
requiring on-site clinical facilities had been
observed for over twenty years, that it would not
be appropriate to change that interpretation without
further input from other interested parties. It
was decided that an informational hearing on the
matter would be held at the April meeting.
Ms. Smith of Four-D
College stated that they still wished to be heard
by the Board at their January meeting the following
week. She also voiced her concern that the latest
evaluation found that certain standards were not
met, when they had not been found as deficiencies
in prior evaluations. She asked that this be reversed,
and that only one consultant be assigned to review
their application
Chair Wallace directed
that their contact person would be the Executive
Officer, who would advise the Chair during the
evaluation process.
11. Proposed Changes
to RDH Examination Subcommittee Member Qualifications
Chair Wallace explained
that changing the requirement that educator members
of the Subcommittee be from certain schools would
assure that the subcommittee had access to the
assistance of the most qualified instructors, that
they are available, and that vacancies can be filled
as quickly as possible. It was M/S/P (Gipson/Churchill)
to revise the requirements for RDH Subcommittee
membership as recommended by staff.
12. Delegation
of Selection of Examination Chief and Assistant
Chiefs to Appropriate Examination Subcommittee
and/or Executive Officer
As recommended by staff
to streamline the appointment process and assure
full subcommittee membership, it was M/S/P (Gipson/Dale)
to revise the procedures for the selection of Examination
Chief and Assistant Chiefs to allow the Subcommittee
to appoint the Examination Chief and Assistant
Chiefs without automatic review by COMDA, unless
specifically requested by COMDA or the Executive
Officer, and that in the event a subcommittee does
not meet to make such appointments, they shall
be appointed by the Executive Officer, reported
to the Subcommittee at its next meting, and subject
to review by COMDA if so requested by the subcommittee.
13. Consideration
and Adopted of Revised Strategic Plan
Chair Wallace noted
that there would not be time to fully consider
a revised Strategic Plan, and urged that all members
carefully review the proposed Plan as an important
planning tool for COMDA. Since the Plan under review
was actually prepared in April, 2005, it was decided
to rename the current document as revised in April,
2005.
It was M/S/P (Dale/Molina)
to place this item on the April, 2006, agenda for
an in-depth review.
14. Establishment
of 2006 Meeting Dates and Times
It was determined that
COMDA would next meet on Friday, April 7th,
to conduct Executive Officer interviews and hold
its regular meeting, and to meet for half a day
of Saturday, April 8, to review and revise COMDA’s
Strategic Plan.
It was also decided
to hold the August meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
August 2, and to hold the November meeting at 1:00
p.m. on Monday, November 13th.
15. Establishment
of an Executive Officer Recruitment Subcommittee
Chair Wallace advised
that she had selected Sonia Molina to serve with
her on the Executive Officer Recruitment Subcommittee.
It was proposed that they will screen applicants,
conduct pre-interviews as necessary, and select
the final applicants for COMDA to interview at
its April meeting. It was M/S/P (Gipson/Churchill)
to approve this process.
16. Agenda Items
for Future Meetings
No additional agenda
items were identified for future meetings.
17. Public Comment
Donna Jacobson, RDA,
asked that an item be placed on the next meeting
agenda. She stated that she received her RDA license
in 1983, and that she is now required to obtain
both coronal polishing and x-ray certification
and that her license will be suspended if she does
not. She requested that COMDA consider and extension
of the date by which RDAs have to comply. Executive
Officer Wyant explained that the law requiring
completion of such courses is already in effect,
and that the licenses of those who do not comply
will be suspended on March 31. Therefore, even
if COMDA voted at its next meeting to seek an extension,
it would require legislation that would take a
year or more, and the suspensions would already
be in effect.
18. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned
at 4:30 p.m.
