The Accelerated Instructional Program Review
Narrative Report
1. College
College of Alameda
Discipline, Department or Program
Dental Assisting Program
Members of the Accelerated Instructional Program Review Team
Yvonne Carter, Dental Assisting Program Coordinator
2. Narrative Description of the Discipline, Department or Program
The College of Alameda provides a comprehensive program in dental assisting for interested and qualified students of all race and gender. Students will have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and proficiency to successfully assist in serving the dental health needs of the community. The philosophy of the program is to provide an educational program that promotes an atmosphere of excellence. The program is involved in developing and fostering professional attitudes along with the knowledge and skills that will enable the student to function as a part of dental health care team. In view of this philosophy, the College of Alameda believes that formal education is essential to the future of dental assisting as a profession.
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3. Curriculum:
- Is the curriculum current and effective?
Yes, all course outlines were review for effectiveness by the ADA Commission on Dental Education Site visit team in December 2004. Updates to all dental assisting courses were approved by the curriculum committees on campus and at the district level. Date of approval, March 2008.
In determining the number of dental assisting students enrolled in a program, careful consideration is given to ensure that the number of students does not exceed the program resources including, as appropriate, patient supply, instructional equipment, financial support, scheduling options, facilities and faculty.
To ensure that the foundation knowledge is established early in the dental assisting program and that subsequent information is provided which is comprehensive and prepares the student to achieve competence in all components of dental assisting.
- Have the course outlines been updated within the last three years?
Yes, all course outlines were review and updated during the ADA Commission on Dental Education Self-Study in December 2004. Updates to all dental assisting courses were approved by the curriculum committees on campus and at the district level. Date of approval, March 2008.
- What are the department’s plans for curriculum improvement?
Curriculum documentation is reviewed periodically by the dental assisting faculty and revised, as needed, to reflect new concepts and techniques.
The Dental Assisting program stay current with the educational standards set forth by the Dental Board of California, Committee on Dental Auxiliaries and the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Education Accreditation.
- Have prerequisites, co-requisites, and advisories been validated.
There are no prerequisites for the Dental Assisting program. There are only highly recommended courses. Information on highly recommended courses is available in the counseling department and in the application handbook.
The Dental Assisting program addresses the appropriate content to ensure competency as determined by the program goals and objectives. These competencies are achieved within the framework of an appropriately sequenced curriculum, co-requisites. Each subject prepares the student to work and communicate effectively with patients and health professionals.
- Is the date of validation on the course outlines?
Yes, March 2008
- What steps has the department taken to incorporate student learning outcomes in the curriculum?
Goal #1:
The students obtain the knowledge necessary to perform as an ethical,
responsible, considerate member of the dental health team through the entire
program, including clinical experience rotations. Evaluations during clinical
rotations address the quality assessment tools by both faculty and the
practitioners. Determination of whether a student ethically performs their tasks is
reflected in their ability to pass a Law and Ethics examination during DENTL
221, Professional Standards, as well as the legal aspects portion of the state board
written examination.
Goal #2: The application of legal principles and accordance with the applicable laws and regulations in the fair and equitable treatment of patients is constantly evaluated throughout the program. Ultimately, the successful graduate will be able to demonstrate their ability to apply what they have learned regarding the legal aspects of dentistry throughout their employment. Measuring outcomes of a theoretical understanding of accountability by the student is accomplished through examination. Application of the theory is demonstrated in the overall work experience.
Goal #3: DENTL 220 Infection Control and Oral Health deals greatly with the students understanding of OSHA, infection control and California Law. The student demonstrates a theoretical understanding of compliance through practical and written examination. A measurable outcome is accomplished through experiential learning and evaluation via clinical rotations.
Goal #4: Outcomes and competencies are measured throughout the program. Mock examinations prior to the state board examinations are a strenuous course of action for the students but yield a greater understanding of the state and national board examination process. Mock boards allow the student to demonstrate the overall success of the learning through their ability to pass the mock examinations. These examinations are held toward the end of the program, in preparation for the summer state board examinations.
Are outcomes set for each course?
Yes, by Student Learning outcomes and lab competency criteria, along with written examinations.
- Describe the efforts to develop outcomes at the program level. In which ways do these outcomes align with the institutional outcomes.
The program is involved in developing and fostering professional attitudes along with the knowledge and skills that will enable the student to function as a part of dental health care team. In view of this philosophy, the College of Alameda believes that formal education is essential to all students and the future of dental assisting as a profession.
4. Instruction:
- Describe effective and innovative strategies used by the faculty to involve students in the learning process. How has new technology been used by the department to improve student learning?
To ensure that the foundation knowledge is established early in the dental assisting program information is provided which is comprehensive and prepares the student to achieve competence in all components of the dental assisting. Weekly progress in the form of practical hands-on competencies and written exams are reviewed by the student with the instructor comments and grading criteria. Students are constantly aware of their progress in the program.
A dedicated computer lab for dental assisting students has been established within the department which includes wireless internet connection. This enables students to do research dental projects with ability to connect to the dental school libraries as well as other dental websites such as the Dental Board of California and the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries.
Digital radiography is part of the radiology course. The dental assisting program will need to continue to stay aligned with new technologies such as: Digital panoramic dental x-rays equipment, intraoral camera, new infection control and sterilization equipment, new dental instruments for specialties in dentistry to include orthodontic, endodontic, pediatric and surgical, updated dental practice management software.
- How does the department maintain the integrity and consistency of academic standards with in the discipline?
College of Alameda is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
The dental assisting curriculum is a science-oriented skill development which is relatively difficult and enrollment is limited by facility capacity, special program admissions criteria and procedures.
The Dental Assisting program follows the standards and regulations set forth by Dental Board of California and the American Dental Commission of Dental Education to maintain the integrity of the profession and the consistency of academic standards within the discipline.
- Discuss the enrollment trends of your department?
The Dental Assisting program admits one full-time class per year, which begins in the fall semester. Students wishing to take the Dental Assisting program as a part-time student may enter either in the fall or spring semester. The enrollment trends to this point seem to be constant.
What is the student demand for specific courses? How do you know?
Students attending the Dental Assisting must take dental courses in sequence. Instruction on basic dental assisting is during the fall semester, leading to more advance theory and patient care (intership) during the spring semester. Appropriate sequence of curriculum within the framework of the curriculum ensure competency as determined by the program goals and objectives. Instruction must stay within the educational guidelines of accreditation.
What do you think are the salient trends affecting enrollments?
Economic factures with in the community, tuition has increased recent years. Need for basic skills education before entering the program. Diversity of languages, need for ESL courses.
Are courses scheduled in a manner that meets student needs and demand? How do you know?
Yes, as stated in the above answer.
Recommendations and priorities
Basic skills, intervention
Dedicated counselor or counselors for dental assisting students.
ESL prep course for students with English as a second language.
Additional full-time instructor/s
Lab assistants for instructors.
Priorities:
Additional instructors to meet new dental healthcare education and healthcare demands. (3)
Replacement of old x-ray machines (4)
Additional operatory equipment
- 3 patient chairs
- 5 mobile carts
- 5 operator stools
- 5 assistant stools
- 5 overhead light
Additional instructional equipment for dental specialties
Help with marketing the Dental Assisting program
Counselors
Secretarial help for instructors and program coordinator
5. Student Success:
- Describe student retention and program completion(degrees, certificates, persistence rates) trends in the department. What initiatives can the department take to improve retention and completion rates?
Basic skills, intervention
Dedicated counselor or counselors for dental assisting students.
ESL prep course for students with English as a second language.
Dedicated tutors in dental subjects.
- What are the key needs of students that affect their learning?
Basic skills, reading and writing
Economics
English as a second language
Time management (their time, education or working to survive life demands)
What services are needed for these students to improve their learning?
Assessment evaluation reviewed with a counselor directing students to the correct level of courses (basic skills) needed before entering the dental assisting program.
Assessment in ESL, even when the student has indicated completion of ESL courses.
Financial aid, counseling and support
Time management and organizational courses (setting priotories)
- Describe the department’s efforts to access these services.
All students must meet the program’s admission criteria. Our student population includes many diversities. The dental assisting faculty continues to address the area of language skills deficiency. Individual time is spent with language –deficient students during schedule appointments during office hours by faculty members to tutor, provide extra assignments, and to urge and encourage students to enroll in basic English skill classes are strategies for remediation employed by the dental assisting department in connection with regular English faculty. In addition the dental assisting coordinator as part of her teaching load is assigned to two hours per week of supervised tutoring (50l Learning Resources). Each instructor informs students of office hours. Supervised tutoring days and time are printed in the schedule of classes and all hours are posted in the department for students to reference.
The admissions criteria, in and of themselves, cannot identify all students with the
potential for completing the program and performing dental assisting functions with competence and efficiency. There are other variables that contribute to success, or the lack of it, which cannot be measured.
What are your department’s instructional support needs?
Additional instructors to meet new dental healthcare education and healthcare demands.
Additional instructors will improve rational of student to instructor during lab sessions. This would reinforce language skills; improve tutoring for individual student of diversities.
ESL software for healthcare, for individual student of diversities.
Writing and reading center for individual student of diversities.
Dedicated counselor/s
- Recommendations and priorities.
Recommendations is to have the administration acknowledge and support the requests of the dental assisting department as stated above.
- Human and Physical Resources (including equipment and facilities)
- Describe your current level of staff, including full-time and part-time faculty, classified staff and other categories of employment.
The coordinator position is a full-time position, tenured track. There are four part-time instructors. The program coordinator is expected to teach a full-time load each semester with five (5) hours release time to administrate the program. This amounts to fifteen (15) equated hours each week. In addition, she is required to hold five (5) office hours for students each week. . When decisions need to be made involving the department as a whole, meetings are called on an as-needed basis with final decision-making resting with the program administrator and division dean.
Currently, the coordinator is seeking administrative help in the delegation of her
duties and responsibilities, as the department has positioned itself for growth and
development. The program used to employ another full-time tenured faculty
member. In 2001, that position was vacated and remained vacant for one year.
The district eliminated the position. Now, the department is in need for the
position again based on estimates of program growth. Expanded scope of practice
for assistants in California warrants the development of extended function courses
and the administration of those courses requires additional time and attention.
The program is seeking the former full-time, tenured track position to be
reinstated to the DA program..
Further, it is the desire of the program coordinator that the duties of the position be shared between herself and the second full-time faculty member. While sole responsibility for the duties may well need to rest with one coordinator, a shared coordinatorship will best serve the department and new courses.
- Describe you current utilization of facilities and equipment.
During winter break December 29, 2006 to January 11, 2007, the dental assisting department was moved to a portable location on site. Location is the behind the F Building on the east side of campus. At this time the dental assisting facilities includes 3-suites. All dental equipment from the original location was relocated and installed at the portable site. Installationof all dental equipment was done by Patterson Dental Company. Only one x-ray machine was not installed due to lack of wall space. At the present time dental equipment is being operated and observed for correct functioning and operating of systems. Storage is at a minimum and not as plentiful as the original location. With future expansion of the program it will be necessary to be relocated into the original remodeled site in Building A.
- Are the human and physical resources, including equipment and location adequate for all the courses offered by your department (or program)?
What are your key staffing and facilities needs for the next three years? Why?
The present portable location has just enough room for the present size of the
program including equipment. After the completion of the retrofitting and
remodeling of A-Building the program will be moved back to it original location
on the second floor. Planning and design of the dental assisting department will
allow the for expansion of the program. The dental department would wants to
incorporate a dental hygiene program.
Within the next three years educational requirements will be updated the
Dental Board of California, reference Senate Bill 1546, 1111, 1048, 1049 and 534.
Additional education and certifications which will be mandated will require:
A. upgrading curriculum to meet the new educational requirements
B. additional course hours
C. additional instructional faculty
D. additional dental equipment, instruments and supplies
Equipment: Please see next page for listing.
Equipment needs:
Operatories (Patient rooms)5-moble carts
3-patient chairs
5-overhead lights
5-operator stools
5-assistant stools
1-air compressor
1- 2pump vacuum system
Restorative dentistry
1. Coronal polish handpieces (10)
2. Curing lights (10)
3. High and low speed handpieces (10)
4. Assortment of hand instruments
Oral surgery
1. Surgical instruments
2. Surgical patient monitoring equipment (2)
for basic vital signs, conscious sedation
3. Surgical manikins for case study
Orthodontics
1. ultrasonic scalers (20) &ultrasonic units
(10) units
2. face bow transfer equipment (10)
3. Bands (2sets) and brackets (3sets)
4. Orthodontic typodonts, with full case
banding and brackets (12)
5. Orthodontic case study models (1set)
Radiology equipment
1. new wall mountxray machines (4)
2. digital radiology equipment, including all sizes in sensors (4-systems)
3. software for each system (4)
4. computer, laptop (4)
5. colored printer (4)
6. digital panoramic equipment (1)
7. new xay processing equipment (2)
8. new xray manikins (5), with human
anatomy (skull) / Sterilization equipment
1. Autoclave (1)
2. Statum (1)
3. Dishwasher (1)
4. Ultrasonic cleaner (2)
Lab Equipment
- ventilation hood (4)
- plaster equipment, assorted
- impression trays (3dozens, assorted)
- dentition molds (1 dozen adult, 1 dozen pedo )
- vibrators (12)
It is imperative that the lab and clinical
settings are maintained in a good custodial manner.
Multi-media equipment
- projector, LCD (1)
- cart for LCD (1)
- computer, laptop (1)
- screen (1)
- storage unit (1)
- Still projector/presenter with zoom and freeze (1)
Facilities Needs (Items that should be included in our Facilities master Plan) for Measure A funding: