Dental hygienists in Canada are subject to an occasional review of their quality assurance records by the Quality Assurance Committee. The goal is to ensure hygienists are meeting the highest standards of care and hygiene practices.

Those who are selected for a review find it helpful to complete a dental hygiene quality assurance course, which guides you through every step of the process. If you were recently selected for a quality assurance review, you may be wondering what to expect.

This quick guide explains what you need to know and explores how dental hygiene quality assurance courses can help:

Understanding the quality assurance program

Before we dig into dental hygiene quality assurance courses, let’s first take a look at the quality assurance program itself. There are three main components of the program:

1. Mandatory self-assessment, continuing education, and professional development

Registered dental hygienists first must complete a mandatory self-assessment, which helps hygienists assess their own practices, and also helps them establish specific goals that will be addressed in their continuing education and professional development activities. Hygienists will need to provide proof of all these steps in order to comply with the quality assurance program.

2. Peer and practice assessments

This second component allows hygienists to show that they have the adequate education and skills needed to uphold the highest standards of care. Meeting the requirements of this second component can be achieved by either: completing a “learning portfolio” or completing a written assessment called the QA Test. Either option is sufficient in assessing a hygienist’s ability to safely and competently practice dental hygiene.

3. Ongoing support and education

The third component of the quality assurance program involves the CDHO’s ongoing activities to support hygienists in their education and professional development. This includes mentoring programs, suggested courses, educational resources, and more.

What to expect from dental hygiene quality assurance courses

It can be difficult navigating the quality assurance program, especially if this is your first time. That’s why dental hygiene quality assurance courses exist: they’ll help you stay on track throughout the entire program.

Here at RDHU, we provide a variety of courses to help dental hygienists across Canada excel in their careers and meet regulatory requirements. Our dental hygiene quality assurance courses are designed for busy professionals, and we have different options to choose from:

• CDHO Quality Assurance Coaching: Wondering how to get started with the quality assurance program? Stuck on a specific step? That’s where we can help. Our coaching program walks you through every step of the quality assurance program. You can get the help you need via one-on-one phone and email sessions.
• Quality Assurance Webinars: Gain valuable insight by watching our helpful webinars, which cover topics like practice profiles, infection control, ADPIE, and more.
• SMILE Portal Review: If you’re almost finished with the program and you just need an expert to review your SMILE portal, this service is the perfect option.

Find dental hygiene quality assurance courses and more at RDHU

RDHU is a leading provider of dental hygiene quality assurance courses in Canada. Whether you need a helping hand during every step of the quality assurance program, or you just need an expert to review your SMILE portal, we can help.

Review our courses and services, or contact us with any questions you may have.