The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) and the DALE Foundation report that they have updated their OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program to make it more accessible for dental professionals.
When the program was first announced earlier this year, it included four steps and a variety of learning options including online, paper-based, and in-person. It now is three steps and entirely online for a lower cost. These changes were made based on feedback that OSAP and the DALE Foundation received from the dental community.
“After speaking with several dental professionals, it became clear that streamlining the steps of the program would bring tremendous benefits,” said OSAP executive director Michelle Lee, CPC. “Access to high-quality infection control information is paramount, and this three-step program delivers.”
The certificate program is intended for healthcare professionals who implement infection prevention and control standards and guidelines in dental settings as well as for educators, consultants, dental sales representatives, and state dental board and public health investigators and inspectors.
The three steps include:
- Complete the OSAP-DALE Foundation online CDEA module, which costs $30.
- Complete the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control eHandbook, which costs $225.
- Pass the OSAP-DALE Foundation eHandbook Assessment, which will be available in late 2019 or early 2020 and cost $50.
“Public protection is the driving force behind our organizations’ work,” said Cynthia Durley, MEd, MBA, executive director of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the DALE Foundation.
“By making these changes, we are increasing the accessibility of critical infection prevention and control materials that all healthcare personnel working in dental settings need to keep themselves and patients safe,” said Durley.
The program is one component of a larger initiative of the OSAP, DANB, and DALE Foundation collaboration that also includes online infection control continuing education modules and two professional dental infection control certification programs.
The impetus behind this initiative has been the growing need for accurate and accessible dental infection control resources and valid third-party standards-based certification programs, the groups report.
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