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The Florida Dental Association's Official Electronic Newsletter
January 2008
In This Issue:
- January Member Voices Survey Question
- December Member Voices Here’s What You Said Last Month About FNDC:
- Public Health Proposal Contemplates Licensure by Credentials
- Capital Report Distributed
- PDC Access-to-Care Resource Guide Completed
- Dues Statements in the Mail!
- FDA Staff Adopts Three Families for the Holidays
News Bites Archives
January Member Voices Survey Question:
Are you experiencing a shortage of qualified dental team members in your area?
We want to hear from you! Click here to take the survey.
December Member Voices
Here’s What
You Said Last Month About FNDC:
A total of 47 people responded to the December Member Voices survey, which asked: “Would you be more likely to attend the Florida Dental Association’s (FDA) annual session, the Florida National Dental Convention (FNDC), if it were held in the spring?” Of the respondents, 51 percent replied “yes” and 49 percent said “no.”
Thank you, members, for your participation! Your opinion counts!
Public Health Proposal Contemplates Licensure by Credentials
FDA lobbyists learned that government public health officials have proposed legislation designed to address the state’s inability to recruit and maintain public health dentists. A form of licensure by credentials is included in the proposals being considered. Particular details of the proposal have not been released, but the concept of allowing a dentist who served in a public health facility to be licensed without taking the state’s dental examination. The issue was briefly discussed in a meeting that included FDA President Nolan Allen, DDS; FDA President-elect, Ted Haeussner, DDS; FDA Executive Director Dan Buker; FDA lobbyists; and key staff from the Governor’s Office.
The FDA contingency immediately expressed concern with the issue. All parties are expected to meet again after the New Year. Stay tuned for more details.
Capital Report Distributed
The December edition of Capital Report was sent to all Legislative Contact Dentists, members of the FDA Board of Trustees and other FDA leaders. This edition explores possible issues upcoming in the 2008 session. In addition, it reports on Senate Committee approval of Board of Dentistry appointments. The report also provides an update on a bill amended by the FDA to ensure that dentists working in hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities do not have to take additional HIV/AIDS courses.
PDC Access-to-Care Resource Guide Completed
The Project: Dentists Care (PDC) 2008-2009 Access-to-Care Resource Guide, a 40-page compilation of dental services in Florida for low-income residents, has been completed. In addition to 27 PDC programs operating within FDA affiliate dental societies and 48 PDC associate member clinics, the guide provides detailed information on Department of Health dental clinics, federally qualified health centers, educational facility dental clinics, veterans administration clinics, military-based clinics and non-profit dental clinics that are not affiliated with PDC.
The resource guide will assist FDA component and affiliate dental associations, social service agencies and public advocates in referring disadvantaged Floridians to PDC and other community dental programs. In January, 1,000 copies of the resource guide will be available for distribution.
Dues Statements in the Mail!
Dues statements were mailed in early November for the 2008 membership year. You may mail your dues payment with your statement (check, Visa or MasterCard) or by calling your Membership Services toll-free line at (800) 877-9922. Don’t forget to pay your dues early!
FDA Staff Adopts Three Families for the Holidays
Every year, FDA staff adopts less fortunate families during the holidays to provide them with not only basic items, but special “wish list” items requested by family members. The FDA continued its tradition again this year and adopted three families in the Tallahassee area: two from the Children’s Medical Services and one from the Refuge House.
Children’s Medical Services is an agency that provides assistance to families whose children have serious health-related issues. The Refuge House assists women and their children who have escaped abusive households. Through a number of charitable activities, FDA staff donated clothes, toys, bicycles, games, gift certificates and food to make the holidays special for those less fortunate. As an additional charitable gift, the FDA also provided refurbished computers to each of the families. The FDA is very proud of its staff and their efforts to promote goodwill in the community.