Highlights of the 2014 CDA Annual General Meeting

On April 12^th, 2014, the Canadian Dental Association held its annual general meeting (AGM) in Ottawa. The AGM and its related events provide an opportunity for the profession to gather together to exchange ideas, celebrate achievements and collaborate on future initiatives.

• Dr. Peter Doig speaks about CDA’s outreach and collaboration activities with stakeholders.
• Dr. Gary MacDonald presents his priorities for CDA for the coming year
• CDA Award Presentations 
• The 2014 National Dental Forum and the Canadian Dental Specialties Association (CDSA) 
• The Dentistry Leaders’ Forum (DLF) 
• The Launch of the new CDA Essentials Magazine
• Access to Care for Children and Seniors
• Trust and Value Project
• NIHB Update

Dr. Doig speaks about CDA’s outreach and collaboration activities with stakeholders

Outgoing CDA President, Dr. Peter Doig spoke about CDA’s outreach and collaboration with stakeholder groups and other highlights of the past year. This included CDA’s successful outreach to external stakeholder groups and the identification of opportunities for collaboration on oral health care initiatives through the development of a National Oral Health Action Plan (NOHAP):

1. A common position on community water fluoridation,
2. Oral health standards in long-term care facilities, and
3. Education programs for children and parents.

Dr. Gary MacDonald presents his priorities for CDA for the coming year

CDA’s incoming President, Dr. Gary MacDonald commented on his priorities for the coming year. They include working with the Corporate Members to enhance the visibility of CDA with individual dentists, working with external stakeholders on access to care and national oral health care issues, and continuing to build strong relationships with Corporate Members, Sections and internal stakeholders.

CDA Award Presentations held on Friday April 11, 2014

CDA Awards were conferred on the following individuals for their outstanding service to the profession, their patients and their community:

Award of Merit – Dr. Dennis Bedard (AB), Dr. Colin Jack (PEI), Dr. Graham Usher (NS)

Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Walter Dobrovolsky (AB), Dr. Louis Dubé (QC), and Ms. Susan Matheson (ON)

Honorary Membership Award – Dr. Bill MacInnis (NS)

Medal of Honour – Dr. George Zarb (ON)

The 2014 National Dental Forum and the Canadian Dental Specialties Association (CDSA)

CDA Officers met with the Board of Directors of the Canadian Dental Specialties Association which represents the 9 nationally recognized Canadian dental specialties. In recognition of the relationship between CDA and CDSA, CDA has disbanded its Committee on Specialist Affairs and will now have the CDSA as its point of contact on matters related to dental specialties.

A National Dental Forum on optimizing patient care by enhancing general practitioner and specialist communications was held in conjunction with CDA’s AGM. The forum was organized by the Canadian Dental Specialties Association.

• Dr. Bernie White, Dr. Lee McFadden, Dr. Amarjit Rihal and Dr. Aaron Burry discussed problems arising from miscommunications between specialists and general practitioners and potential solutions.
• Dr. Ron Smith, Chair, Continovation Services Inc., presented on CDA’s new service, eReferral, for the secure transmission of referrals between general practitioners and specialists.

The Dentistry Leaders’ Forum (DLF) 

CDA President, Dr. Peter Doig co-chaired a meeting of the Dentistry Leaders’ Forum (DLF) with Dr. Gary Fong, President of the Alberta Dental Association and College. The forum provides advice to CDA on issues of relevance to the dental profession. In recognition of CDA’s national facilitation role, the members of the forum asked CDA to facilitate discussions on corporatization as it relates to the impact of external controls on dentistry. A meeting was subsequently held with a representative group of the Corporate Members to discuss this issue.

The Launch of the new CDA Essentials Magazine

CDA was pleased to launch its new magazine, CDA Essentials at the April meetings. Branded as CDA’s magazine to enhance community building, CDA Essentials will focus on:

1. News and views of national importance,
2. Initiatives by dental organizations that enhance the image of the profession,
3. The experiences of dentists who have advice for the profession,
4. The professional accomplishments of dentists,
5. Dentists contributing to their community and to the oral health of their patients.

Stakeholders are encouraged to submit stories for publication. CDA Essentials will be published 10 times yearly in both English and French. The print version of CDA Essentials magazine is available as a member benefit. An electronic version of the magazine will be available via the CDA website.

Clinical and scientific information will continue to be available online through Oasis Bulletin, Oasis Help and Oasis Discussions.

A native ―app for Android and Apple products featuring Oasis information is scheduled for launch later this year.

Access to Care for Children and Seniors 

For Children-First Dental Visits

Work continues on the development of messaging and a fully developed communications campaign on the first dental visit. This will be followed by an external rollout to other health professionals. A November 2014 date is targeted for completion of the campaign materials. An article on this topic appeared in the inaugural issue of CDA Essentials.

For Seniors

Generic Legislation on Oral Health Care Standards in Long-Term Care Facilities Sample legislation has been adapted into a new format and a new template for ease of use in a variety of contexts and focuses on the dentist as the leader of the dental team.

Trust and Value Project

The CDA Board of Directors and DLF participants were presented the results of public research commissioned by CDA. The goal of the research was to understand:

If Canadians trust their dentist and value the investment they make in their oral health care.

1. How dentists are perceived by the public.
2. If there have been any significant attitudinal shifts since the last survey was undertaken in 2010.

Although Canadians view oral health care as important, and most feel it is a worthwhile investment, key findings parallel findings from the earlier 2010 study. It was reported that:

1. Dentists are viewed as business people first and care providers second,
2. There are a growing number of consumers who go to the Internet first for their dental knowledge,
3. Services provided by dentists and their level of education are poorly understood,
4. The cost of dental services is an issue, and
5. Trust and value are a concern.

However, it was noted that this erosion of trust and value is not unique to dentistry, but is also being experienced by other professions.

A second research study is underway with dentists. Next steps will involve an analysis of both sets of data to compare findings and to see if they are aligned, as well as the development of updated communications messages and materials geared to dentists.

NIHB Update

The Board received an update on NIHB issues. They included:

1. Health Canada’s planned improvements to the centralization process by committing to a more responsive and streamlined adjudication process with the goal of having approvals ready within 5–10 business days. It was reported that there have been slight improvements in turnaround time, but there is still work to be done in this area.
2. First Nations and Inuit Health Branch’s (FNIHB) commitment to look into the issue of pre-approvals, pre-authorization of crowns and appeals.
3. FNIHB’s commitment to send detailed information to CDA explaining the audit process and to work with CDA on a system that is fair, equitable and which respects the dentist’s privacy.
4. FNIHB’s agreement to review privacy issues and to develop a national communications package on the D29 consent form. It was reported that FNIHB has adopted the wording provided by the Manitoba Dental Association on the D29 form.
5. FNIHB’s agreement to discuss service solutions in remote areas and to improve communications regarding its fee guide. It was reported that FNIHB has lessened the gap between grid updates in the provinces and national NIHB updates.
6. FNIHB’s agreement to look into the CDA eReferral Service as a way to streamline processes.
7. Discussions on the endodontic trial program. It was reported that the approval rate has reached 82%, up from 75% in December. Compliance is trending in the right direction.
8. Discussion on the NIHB Crown Policy was reported not to meet current standards of practice.