OSAP Releases Updated CDC Guidelines Workbook

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a growing community of clinicians, educators, policy makers, consultants and industry representatives who advocate for the Safest Dental Visit™ has announced the release of an updated From Policy to Practice: OSAP’s Guide to the CDC Guidelines. The comprehensive workbook has been updated to reflect the recommendations from the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings-2003 and the 2016 Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. The workbook costs $66 for OSAP members and $78 for non-members and is being released in time for Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (September).

The new From Policy to Practice: OSAP’s Guide to the CDC Guidelines workbook reaffirms the importance of having a comprehensive infection control program including an infection control coordinator and includes CDC resources for developing, managing and evaluating a site-specific infection control program. The workbook walks users through the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings-2003 and the 2016 Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care.

Each chapter of the workbook contains practical how-to instructions, charts, additional checklists, pictures and captions, and answers to common infection prevention and control questions. The new OSAP workbook contains the reprinted 2016 CDC Summary two-part checklist. By using this CDC checklist, dental practices can evaluate their site-specific written policies and procedures and personnel practices to ensure compliance with CDC recommendations.

The workbook is also a self-directed continuing education program. Ten hours of continuing-education credits are available through this program. For additional information or to purchase the new workbook, go to https://osap.site-ym.com/store.

The From Policy to Practice: OSAP’s Guide to the CDC Guidelines workbook is the perfect adjunct to activities surrounding Dental Infection Control Awareness Month, a collaborative, profession-facing effort to support dental practitioners and help dental professionals communicate to patients the critical role infection control in dentistry plays in preventing the spread of disease. Dental Infection Control Awareness Month provides a proactive way for practitioners to educate patients about what they are doing (often behind the scenes) to protect them. Clinicians do not usually bring it up, and patients may be too shy to ask, so awareness month materials provide a neutral conversation starter for showcasing infection control and safety practices. For more information, or to access downloadable posters and other tools, go to: http://www.osap.org/?page=NDICAMAll.