The notice period has now ended as of November 20, 2018
Notice of Consultation on the Proposed Quality Assurance (QA) Program
Posted 20 September 2018
The College of Dental Surgeons of BC is inviting you to provide feedback on the proposed Quality Assurance (QA) Program.
The proposed program is presented in a board report and a new detailed outline of the proposed program. The consultation period is open until 20 November 2018.
This proposal required a high-level of engagement and research to develop. The working group has done extensive research and in-person consultations on the proposed changes. The research and resources, as well as the feedback received to date are available
here.
Background
The Board directed the QA Committee to form a working group to research and develop a comprehensive program that would:
- Promote career-long hands-on learning
- Encourage collaboration among colleagues
- Improve treatment outcomes for patients
The QA working group spent the past two years carefully considering different options for improving the QA program. They reviewed other health professions' programs, evidence-based articles and research by subject matter experts, and feedback from an initial consultation with targeted groups of registrants, stakeholders and members of the public.
The group drafted the proposal in accordance with the Board's direction and based on what they heard from the dental community. The draft program was approved for consultation by the Board on 24 February 2018. The working group began by holding in-person consultations throughout the province to hear registrant feedback. It has since developed a detailed program outline based on feedback from the initial consultation.
Key Changes
The key changes for the draft proposed program are outlined in the following document. Click the following link to review the changes:
Detailed Outline of the Proposed QA Program (PDF)
Rationale
Quality assurance programs are developed and maintained by health professional regulatory bodies to help ensure the public is well-served by competent health professionals. The
Health Professions Act (HPA) stipulates that health profession colleges maintain a QA program for registrants.
As part of good governance and in alignment with the College's new policy development process, the Board charged the QA Committee with reviewing and updating the existing QA Program. The Board recognized that the thinking around building competence had changed since the current program was established, so they asked the committee to research and develop a comprehensive QA program that goes beyond reporting continuing education and practice hours, and promotes career-long hands-on learning, increases collaboration among colleagues and improves patient outcomes.
What these changes mean
The proposal will change the QA requirements for dentists, certified dental assistants and dental therapists. If approved, it will require significant development and a gradual roll-out plan to implement the new program throughout the province.
How to submit feedback
1. Online Forum
You can submit your feedback on the consultation forum until 20 November 2018. To view and submit feedback on the forum, click the link below:
Visit the discussion forum
2. Email
Include "Proposed QA Program" in the subject line of your email to consultation@cdsbc.org
3. Mail
CDSBC
500 - 1765 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 5C6
Attention: Proposed QA Program Consultation
Consultation and Next Steps
Following the consultation, the working group will consider the feedback, make any necessary changes, and finalize the draft program for the Board’s approval.
