Dental infection control knowledge and education has always been important but it has become even more critical in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A-dec is leading the way by supporting its territory managers in earning a rigorous educational dental infection control certificate.
The educational certificate program was developed by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP) and the DALE Foundation. Earning the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate requires completing online educational modules and then passing an assessment.
As of June 8, 2020, 70 A-dec territory managers have earned the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate.
A-dec Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing Tim Long said it was important to A-dec to invest in the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program.
“We wanted to equip our territory managers with knowledge on infection prevention and control that is directly tied to the dental industry and based on national standards,” he said.
Territory managers are in the unique position of being a trusted resource to oral healthcare providers and are often a primary source of dental infection prevention and control information.
“Being a resource for practitioners and colleagues throughout the dental industry is something we value a great deal,” Long said. “We know that doctors are going to have questions as they’re getting back to work and we want to be their sounding board and offer guidance based on the takeaways of this program. Territory managers are now able to make recommendations for improvements in dental infection prevention and control practices, referencing evidence-based sources that support any modifications to dental facility protocols.”
After earning the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate, A-dec territory managers will go one step further and earn professional certification through OSAP and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The OSAP-DANB Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control (DISIPC) is the first professional infection control certification for dental equipment and supply manufacturers and distributors.
“As part of a long-term goal, completing this rigorous education program elevates our territory managers to an expert level and positions them to sit for the Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control certification exam in 2021,” Long said.
