Revitalize Your Career
Distinguish yourself
- Feel better prepared to educate your patients & loved ones on oral systemic health
- Prevent issues by understanding early warning signs
- Feel more confident working collaboratively
- Educate your local multidisciplinary teams & community health clinics
- Create new public health programs in your community
- Create your own position on an integrated care team
- Start your own speaking or consulting business
- Help your dental office become an integrated oral medicine office
- Practice true Patient Centered Care
The 1st ANSI Accredited Certificate Program in Dentistry in the World
"It took two years for ANAB to comb through the evidence we submitted, allowing time for refinement of content that did not meet the ASTM E2659-18 standard. The ethics and sustainability of our organization and leadership, as well as all major components of the individual Oral Systemic Educator program itself, were thoroughly examined; achieving a mark of excellence that traditional dental CE does not offer. Healthcare systems demand the quality assurance that comes with ANSI accreditation, as they are the global leader in credentialing. We have raised the bar on career transition education in dental hygiene, and we are just getting started! Our Oncology Certificate Program for RDHs will be next."
Jamie Dooley, BIS, RDH | NNHH Founder & Certificate Program Manager
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This foundational, comprehensive certificate program from National Network of Healthcare Hygienists, accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board, features instructors who specialize in specific areas of healthcare or integration (and/or have direct experience), and have developed learning modules to prepare Registered Dental Hygienists to work with or speak to medical professionals about the importance of the oral systemic link and collaborative care. Along with a basic review of medical terminology, physiology, current diagnostic methods and treatment modalities, students will learn how the different specialties in medicine overlap, especially when it comes to oral systemic implications. Upon completion of this program, students will be more confident speaking to and educating multidisciplinary providers and patients about the research-based links between the mouth and the body. You will have the necessary tools to be successful working on integrated care teams, helping you rise as leaders in the prevention of oral systemic disease.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES
- Examine basic medical terminology and systems in multiple specialties of medicine
- Discuss oral systemic implications and factors for each specialty or subsection of medicine
- Illustrate working in collaborative care environments as part of an interprofessional team
- Use the knowledge to educate medical providers and healthcare systems on the oral systemic link
(See individual course descriptions and objectives under Curriculum)
CERTIFICATE REQUISITES
To earn a certificate of completion, enrollees must:
- Possess an active, valid dental hygiene license or certificate
- Complete all sections of the program
- Pass the final assessment with at least a 60% in one of two attempts
- Complete a Capstone Project
- Complete the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate of Completion Application form
- Optional: Complete an internship for Practicum Level Educator
CAPSTONE PROJECT GUIDELINES
One of the requisites of receiving a certificate of completion is completing a Capstone Project. It is one of the items that holds our programs higher than typical continuing education in dentistry, where there is no implementation requirement. To hold the title of Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education, you must educate a group of providers outside of dentistry. Dental providers can be in attendance, but there must also be non-dental providers in attendance.
Develop and present an Oral Systemic Education Course to (non-dental) healthcare providers in a chosen focus of study (can be general or specialized) of at least 30 minutes in length.
You will be asked to provide the following information when you apply for your Certificate of Completion. There is no grade for the Capstone Project, it is completed, or not completed. All areas must be filled in to be considered completed. There are no other requirements or grading.
- Date/time
- Topic
- Location (name of medical facility and address)
- # attendees & their roles
- contact person's email at that facility
4.67 out of 5 Stars for Overall Student Satisfaction!
CURRICULUM
Our instructors have been handpicked by our Board of Directors and Education Committee for their dedication to oral systemic health, their expertise and/or experience in their specialty, and their commitment to medical dental integration.
> Click the arrow to the right of the drop down box to view their bio, course description, and objectives
MENTAL HEALTH Dr. Joy D. Void-Holmes, RDH, BSDH, MHSc, AADH
DIABETES Jennifer Suminski CPhT, RDH, MS
AIRWAY & MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Tamara Thomas, RDH, CSOM
RESPIRATORY Carla Roe, RDH, MHSc
CARDIOLOGY & INFLAMMATORY CASCADE Kriston Reisnour, RDH, BSDH, CCSH, COMS
STRESS Sarah Eller, RDH, IPDH
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Sandi Roggow, RDH, BA
NUTRITION & COACHING BASICS Amy Szacilo, RDH, Pn1, CF-L2
PEDIATRICS Brooke Crouch, RDH, RSDH
GERIATRICS Angie Stone, RDH, BS
ONCOLOGY Kris Potts, RDH, BS, FAADH
HOLISTIC MEDICINE & BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY Frances Horning, RDH, EFDA
COLLABORATIVE CARE Jessica Jensen
DIVERSITY Sonya Dunbar RDH, MHA
LEADERSHIP Dr. Kelly Tanner, RDH
MEDICAL BILLING Laurie Owens, CPC, CPB
START YOUR SPEAKING BUSINESS Jasmin Haley, MS, RDH
Frequently Asked Questions
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More student comments from inside the program
Do Hygienists Work in Healthcare? YES.
Katharine Martinez, RDH, MPH | ORAL HEALTH EDUCATOR
PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
is a perfect example of where our profession is needed, and headed
"There is a sense of gratitude among nurses and doctors for the expertise that I bring to the hospital. For many of these providers, their education only touched briefly upon the oral cavity, and they rely heavily on an otolaryngologist for help with conditions of the mouth. Now that my role exists, I help these providers navigate and educate patients on oral conditions. I work very closely with medical residents to educate them on performing assessments and how to classify a patient’s oral status. These residents will take that education with them to other hospitals and hopefully provide better overall care for their future patients."
How can this program help you inside a clinical setting?
Dr Marc Cooper, a periodontist and integration thought leader,
believes hygienists are an integral part of an oral medicine practice.
"I believe hygiene in most dental practices is basically held as an overpriced revenue center and dental maintenance shop. This will be dramatically altered in an integrated office. In the integrated office, the hygienist's value, worth, and stature will be directly uplifted.
Of course, their training, development, and education will need to correspond with performing primary care functions. In this paradigm, the hygienist becomes a "starter" on the team.
Who better to handle this component of healthcare but a hygienist? Expanding a hygienist's wingspan to include select primary care protocols and procedures and working with patients at their hygiene appointments on compliance and behavioral change is a natural fit."