Ministers approve scope of practice registration standard
The Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council (the AHWMC) announced today that they have approved the Dental Board of Australia’s (DBA) scope of practice standard. An earlier Blog post (5 April) announced their adoption of a range of other national professional standards.
In making this decision, Ministers noted the release of the DBA 26 March 2010 Meeting Communiqué. The communiqué clarifies that "the Standard is drafted to reflect the current scope of practice which exists in Australia and that oral health therapists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists will be able to meet the supervision requirements of the standard through ensuring that a structured professional relationship exists with a dentist who can be consulted as necessary and via any means".
Ministers have also asked the DBA "to review the approved standard 12 to 18 months after it takes effect, to formally assess whether the approved standard has had any unintended and negative impacts on the scope of practice of oral health therapists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists". Ministers have also agreed that an AHMAC working party is to be established to review the roles and scope of practice of therapists and hygienists prior to the Board review of the approved scope of practice standard.
In making this decision, Ministers noted the release of the DBA 26 March 2010 Meeting Communiqué. The communiqué clarifies that "the Standard is drafted to reflect the current scope of practice which exists in Australia and that oral health therapists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists will be able to meet the supervision requirements of the standard through ensuring that a structured professional relationship exists with a dentist who can be consulted as necessary and via any means".
Ministers have also asked the DBA "to review the approved standard 12 to 18 months after it takes effect, to formally assess whether the approved standard has had any unintended and negative impacts on the scope of practice of oral health therapists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists". Ministers have also agreed that an AHMAC working party is to be established to review the roles and scope of practice of therapists and hygienists prior to the Board review of the approved scope of practice standard.
This standard will not come into force until the full commencement of the national scheme on 1 July 2010.
The ADA remains concerned that the vague reference to "a structured professional relationship ... with a dentist" will leave dentists (jointly) liable for problems over which they had no influence or control. Further representations will clearly be required on this standard.
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