Date of Report: 03/2010
Source: Southeast ATEC
What do dentists and hygienists want and need from the AETCs? SEATEC faculty, administrators, and staff have often felt challenged by this priority audience. However, in February 2010, SEATEC met this challenge through an unqualified blockbuster success, with 80-plus participants at a full-day training event. The demand to participate was so high that 100 people were turned away because of limited room capacity. What elements combined to make this event so successful? Some possibilities are as follows: Faculty Appeal: Four instructors were selected for this event--all four are seasoned HIV caregivers and engaging speakers. SEATEC's dental director David Reznik, DDS covered dental treatment considerations including diagnosis and treatment of HIV-related oral manifestations. Helene Bednarsch, RDH, MPH addressed HIPAA, privacy, and standard precautions in the dental setting. Susan Richardson, MN, MPH, FNP-BC provided an update on HIV treatment standards and the clinical course of HIV. Finally, Carla Johnson, RN, BSN, ACRN addressed the medical and counseling elements of workplace exposures. Appropriate Setting: The training event was convened in a conveniently located hotel with free parking. An amphitheatre-style room was used with high-grade acoustics and sightlines that encouraged questions. Consistency with Ryan White Quality Management Standards: In Atlanta's 17 Part A agencies, oral health professionals are required to have 6 hours of HIV-related continuing education every 2 years. This training event met that requirement. Continuing Education Credit: SEATEC offered six hours of credit for dentists and hygienists at no charge through Emory University School of Medicine's Office of Continuing Medical Education. No Charge to Attend: SEATEC chose to offer this event at no cost to attendees in order to promote attendance. This tactic appears to have made a difference in our ability to draw private sector participation. The five elements described combined to yield good attendance and an encouraging degree of change or intent-to-change in attendees. More specifically, participants entered the following comments on the event evaluation form:  | "I will present some procedures I never thought about at our staff meeting this evening." |  | | "I will be more proactive if definitive suspicions." | | | "I will set up a post-exposure plan." | | | "I know what lab values to look for and interactions of medicines." | | | "Be more mindful of confidentiality." | | | "Not as scared now." | |
Dr. Reznik adds that "the demand for, and success of, this event could be an indication that 29 years after this disease was initially discovered, the attitude of dental healthcare workers towards managing HIV-positive patients is optimistically changing. Several factors-lack of documented HIV transmission in the dental setting, advances in the medical management of HIV, viewing HIV as a chronic disease-may signal a greater willingness of the dental profession to manage the oral health needs of people living with HIV/AIDS." SEATEC intends to repeat this training event later in 2010. | 
