Dental Quality Assurance Commission Business Meeting
Friday, April 20, 2018
9:30 a.m.
Department of Health
Point Plaza East Rm 152/153
310 Israel Rd. SE
Tumwater, WA 98501

DQAC Meeting Agenda
During the meeting, the commission will hold a rules hearing to consider adoption of the following:

WAC 246-817-440 Dentist continuing education requirements.
The proposed amendments clarify continuing education subject matter, describe different ways to obtain continuing education, the number of hours a licensed dentist may devote to specific continuing education activities, and identifies mandatory continuing education of a dental jurisprudence examination. Additionally, the proposed rule amendment changes the reporting period of continuing education from 21 hours annually to 63 hours every three years.
 
WAC 246-817-441 Dentist suicide prevention education.
The proposed rule implements Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill (E2SHB) 1612 (chapter 262, Laws of 2017) codified in RCW 43.70.442. The law amended RCW 43.70.442 adding dentists to the list of professionals required to complete a one-time continuing education in suicide prevention. RCW 43.70.442 requires the commission to determine a three or six hour education requirement. The proposed rule requires dentists to take a one-time, three-hour training in suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means. The commission determined three hours was sufficient to include content related to the assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means, since dentists will only screen and refer patients.