Records Set at OSAP Boot Camp

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) has reported that its 2015 Infection Control “Boot Camp” set records for attendance, speakers, content, and exhibitors. The annual OSAP Boot Camp is a core educational course covering all the basics in infection prevention and safety. This year’s boot camp was held January 12-14, 2015 in Atlanta, GA, a site chosen for its proximity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nearly 400 people attended the 2015 OSAP Boot Camp, a substantial increase over the 250-275 average attendance in recent years. A new format for the meeting was well received by the attendees. “The presentations were fantastic but what was even more impressive was the open forum allowing the audience to ask questions, said Mike Smurr of Patterson Dental. “It was impressive how every speaker was able to answer questions off-the-cuff and provide such insight and clarity.”

There were also more exhibiting companies at the event, showcasing the latest infection control products and services. “I was exhausted from the amount of traffic I had at the booth,” said Michael B Heffernan of Halyard Health. “I gave out and also have sent out a ton of samples to folks showing huge interest in our infection control products.”

This year’s conference took advantage of the Atlanta location by featuring several CDC epidemiologists and a special CDC-oriented event. On Monday evening Dr. Harold Jaffe, a CDC scientist who participated in CDC’s early AIDS investigations, hosted a screening and discussion of “And the Band Played On,” a television movie about the early days of the AIDS epidemic. OSAP recently opened a new office in Atlanta, to provide easier access to CDC’s resources.

The OSAP Boot Camp is a crucial building block for every dental professional with infection control responsibilities in both the civilian and military sectors. “The very positive feedback that we received from the Army attendees to this year’s conference has already resulted in many requests to attend the 2016 boot camp,” said Dr. David Carr, DENCOM Infection Control Consultant. The 2016 OSAP Boot Camp will be held January 10-13 in Atlanta, GA.

Celebrating 30 years of service to the worldwide dental community, The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is a growing community of clinicians, educators, researchers, and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. OSAP focuses on strategies to improve compliance with safe practices and on building a strong network of recognized infection control experts. OSAP offers an extensive online collection of resources, publications, FAQs, checklists and toolkits that help dental professionals deliver the safest dental visit possible for their patients.