Clinical - Dental Hygienist II Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

DHYG-1261-001 Clinical - Dental Hygienist II

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: DHYG 1260 and DHYG 1301

Course Description

A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 12 clinic)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ 1.  Patient Assessment Tutorials:  A Step By Step Guide for the Dental Hygienist, 2nd  edition, Jill Neild-Gehrig;  Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

\ 2.  Current copy of the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program Manual

\  

Supplies

\ Each student will supply his/her own instruments and disposable products.

Student Performance

 Clinical Dental Hygiene

Clinical Dental Hygiene is that portion of the dental hygiene curriculum focused on developing the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills necessary for delivery of preventive, educational, and therapeutic services to the public.  The delivery of comprehensive care is accomplished through adherence to the process of care:  assessment of patient needs, formulation of a dental hygiene diagnosis, planning for the prevention and treatment of oral disease, implementation of various dental hygiene interventions (services) and evaluation of both the patient and practitioner efforts and oral health outcomes. 

Definitions

A.     Prevention Services:  Clinical methods employed by the clinician and/or patient to promote and maintain oral health.

B.     Educational Services:  Strategies developed for an individual or for groups to elicit behaviors directed toward health.

C.     Therapeutic Services:  Clinical treatment designed to arrest or manage disease and maintain oral tissues in health.

D.     Process of Care:  Systematic approach to the delivery of dental hygiene care that supports comprehensive services to meet the individual needs of all patients.  The process of care requires defined problem solving and critical thinking skills and supports evidence-based decision making.

E.     Dental Hygiene Diagnosis:  A statement of potential or actual patient need that can be addressed by dental hygiene intervention services or strategies.

F.     Pre-Clinic:  That portion of clinical education during which the student does not have direct and primary responsibility for providing comprehensive dental hygiene care to a patient.  The student performs selected services on a patient, a partner or a laboratory manikin, but does not necessarily provide a full range of services.

G.     Clinical Dental Hygiene:  The major portion of clinical education.  As primary provider, the dental hygiene student integrates preventive, educational, and therapeutic care in treating the patient.

H.     Fundamental Clinical Dental Hygiene Skills:  Skills routinely performed by the dental hygienist and/or taught to clinical competency in most dental hygiene programs and/or are legal in most states. 

Clinical Dental Hygiene:  Primary Educational Goals

Clinical dental hygiene experience provides preventive and therapeutic care according to the process of care:   assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation.

This requires critical thinking and evidence-based decision making skills that guide the provision of dental hygiene care within a focused scope of practice.  Upon the completion of the clinical curriculum, the student will be able to:

A.     Apply the process of care to preventive and therapeutic oral health management to a diverse patient population.

B.     Assess and analyze objective and subjective patient findings to formulate an evidence-based, patient-centered dental hygiene diagnosis.

C.     Plan, implement and evaluate intervention strategies that will promote and maintain oral health including oral self care behaviors.

D.     Demonstrate knowledge of and skill in applying dental hygiene methodology of care.

E.     Apply the principles of professional and ethical behavior in providing care to individuals of all populations.

Course Goals

Upon successful completion of Clinic II, the student will be able to:

1.  Improve efficiency and maintain quality when collecting and analyzing data and selecting, performing, and evaluating oral health procedures for clinical patients, based on the concept from DHYG 1431.

2.  Improve efficiency and competency in performing the additional clinical skills introduced in DHYG 1260.

Specific Learning Objectives

1. Collect data, record and assess a comprehensive health history, including social history.
2. Recognize conditions that necessitate special consideration prior to or during treatment.
3. Perform and record extraoral and intraoral examinations, clinical and radiographic assessment of the periodontium and dentition, and assessment of occlusion.   
4. Assess the need for, expose, develop, evaluate and interpret dental radiographs to support the clinical examination.
5. Employ radiation safety principles and procedures requiring exposure to ionizing radiation.
6. Expose and implement intraoral photography.
7. Formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis and supportive, patient-centered dental hygiene treatment plan.
8. Obtain informed consent by discussing with the patient his/her oral health findings, goals and treatment strategies.
9. Value the importance of patient - centered care and concepts of health promotion.
10. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate a dental hyiene treatment plan for the prevention and/or treatment of oral diseases.
11. Assess the need for and perform initial and supportive periodontal therapies.
12. Assess the need for and perform therapeutic hand and ultrasonic/sonic periodontal debridement therapies.
13. Perform care and maintenance of procedures for dental implants.
14. Assess the need for and perform extrinsic stain removal procedures.
15. Assess the need for and apply adjunctive topical chemotherapeutic and controlled released agents.
16. Assess the need for and apply pain and anxiety management strategies.
17. Assess the need for and plan professional topical fluoride and/or self applied fluoride;  apply professional topical fluoride.
18. Apply principles of nutritional and/or tobacco cessation counseling to the management of oral health.
19. Assess the need for and place pit and fissure sealants.
20. Assess, plan and perform patient oral self care education.
21. Apply standard precautions for the prevention of disease transmission.
22. Follow all state and federal regulatory requirements when rendering patient care.
23. Apply principles of comprehensive record keeping.
24. Apply principles of professional and ethical behavior when providing patient care.
25. Apply principles of evidence-based decision making.
26. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills when providing patient care.
27. Demonstrate professional communication skills in all aspects of patient care.
28. Demonstrate concern and understanding of a variety of patient needs based on overall health, oral health, cultural, social  and economic circumstances.
29. Recommend a recare schedule for continued supportive care.
30. Recommend referral for additional assessment and/or treatment.
31. Value the importance of evaluation and monitor patient oral health.
32. Assess overall patient satisfaction with care provided.
33. Value the need for maintenance of thorough and accurate records.
34. Apply the principles for maintaining comprehensive and accurate records of all information and services offered to and provided to the patient.
35. Self-assess ability to perform dental hygiene services at a high standard of care.
36. Value patient confidentiality and patient rights according to HIPAA guidelines.

Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Mentoring Program

The student has a very important role in the mentoring process.  Each student will be assigned a mentor.  The mentor/mentee list will be posted in the locker room and emailed to each student.  As partners in the mentoring relationship, students have responsibilities to:

Contact mentors and arrange for a mentoring appointment from June 15^th- June 30^th

Be aware of their mentoring needs and discuss these needs with mentors

Maintain regular communication with their assigned mentors

Prepare for mentoring meetings by:

Setting daily and weekly goals for program progression

Assessing attainment of goals

Identifying impediments to achieving goals

It is the student’s responsibility to contact mentors and arrange appointments.  Failure to arrange and /or keep appointments will result in a two-point deduction from the final clinical course grade for each occurrence in the semester.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

A high standard of conduct is expected of all Amarillo College students.  The Student Code of Conduct is defined in the Amarillo College Student Rights and Responsibilities publication.  The document may be located at www.actx.edu under the student tab.

"Amarillo College expects a high standard of conduct from its students.  Students are expected to comply with the law, respect proper constitutional authority, and obey College policies, rules and regulations.  Unacceptable conduct is defined as an action or behavior that is contrary to the best interest of a fellow student or students, the faculty or staff, the College, or the teaching/learning process.  Students failing to perform according to established standards may be subject to disciplinary action.  Policies, standards, rules and regulations apply to students attending College activities whether the activity takes place on or off campus.  Each student shall be responsible for becoming knowledgeable of the contents and provisions of College policies, rules, and regulations concerning student conduct.  In some cases, individual programs may have approved policies for student conduct which guide the actions of each member of the college community both in and out of the classroom.  Integrity and common sense will guide the actions of each member of the college community both in and out of the classroom.  Any student who fails to perform according to expected standards may be disciplined."

The Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program has specific policies which apply to student conduct within the program.  These policies may be implied or written.  The course syllabus and the Program Manual are sources for specific student conduct policies for dental hygiene students at Amarillo College.

Professional Standards

For maximum learning to occur, the student is expected to demonstrate professional conduct and judgment at all times.  A violation of professional or ethical standard may result in a zero for the day as well as the student being sent home with an absence.  The following are examples which  are considered professional standards.  These are representative examples and may not be all inclusive. 

1.     Student is prompt to Clinic/Rotation Assignments both in the morning and afternoon sessions.

2.     Student is prepared for Clinic/Rotation Assignment.

3.     Student assumes responsibility for his/her own learning.

4.     Student is concerned with excellence in learning rather than just meeting minimal criteria.

5.     Student applies lecture material in the clinical setting.  The student utilizes references in the clinic to look up various diseases and/or medical conditions in which dental   treatment may be altered.

6.     Student maintains his/her composure, dealing with conflict in a constructive way.

7.     Student exhibits an attitude of respect for classmates, faculty, and staff.  If a student has a conflict with a grade given by the instructor, the student must follow the outlined grievance procedure.  Faculty will not change a grade given to a student by another faculty member.  Students must talk to the faculty member who assigned the grade.

8.     In order for maximum learning to occur, students should  not be disruptive in Clinic or Class.    Should this occur, the student will be asked to leave immediately and will receive an absence for the day.  Disciplinary action may also be taken.

9.     Student should not visit with other classmates during patient care.   Patients need your dedicated attention while receiving care.

10.    Student will use the light system in the Clinic as well as the " instant messenger" system to summon clinical instructors and assistants.

11.    Student will accept alternate assignments as needed and have an attitude of team spirit.  Teamwork is an essential component of the dental profession.

12.     Student will be responsible for broken or damaged equipment in the Clinic. 

13.     Student will not leave the clinic before 12:00 noon or 4:00 p.m without permission from the clinical faculty.  Failure to receive faculty permission will result in an absence for the day and a 0 for the rotation, class and/or clinic assignment.  Remember:  all students must correctly log in and out of the computer each day for an accurate record of attendance.  Failure to do so will result in an absence for the day. 

14.      If a student has placed a "hold" on his/her clinic schedule, the Office Supervisor will schedule a patient if the "hold" is not filled within  two days prior of the scheduled appointment.   As in any dental practice, the office supervisor is responsible  for keeping the appointment book filled.  Amarillo College is no exception.

15.     Students may not dismiss or re-appoint a patient without the approval of a faculty member.  If a student does dismiss or reappoint a patient without the approval of a faculty member this action will be considered a critical error.     

16.  If a student clocks in or out for another student, both students will receive a 0 for the day and will be dismissed from clinic.

17.  If a student schedules a "bogus" patient, the student will receive a 0 for the day and will be dismissed from clinic.

18.  The cell phone policy will be enforced in the front office and sterilization rotations.  Clinical faculty may give a student a 0  if he/she observes cell phone use in these areas.  No exceptions please.  

Professional Behavior Around Patients

First and foremost confidentially and compassion are at the cornerstone of patient-centered care.  Students are not to discuss private information regarding his/her patient with classmates.  Patient information relevant to patient care is only to be discussed with the supervising faculty and/or attending dentist. HIPAA policies and guidelines are strictly inforced.  All patients should be treated with the utmost professional respect. In turn, any inappropriate behavior demonstrated by patients should be immediately brought to the supervising faculty’s attention.

As a matter of courtesy, patients should be addressed by their last name.  Students must be professional in his/her choice of language around patients.  Students must be professional and courteous at all times with patients, fellow students, staff and faculty.  Personal conversations with classmates must be kept to a minimum during patient care.  Students should avoid comments such as, “I’ve never seen this much calculus!” and “I’ve never used the Air polisher”.  If a student is unsure about a procedure, he/she should not exhibit insecurity in front of the patient.  Students should discreetly speak with the faculty away from the chair.

Statement of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the duty owed by dental hygiene professionals, including students enrolled in Dental Hygiene accredited programs, to protect the privacy of all patient information.   Dental Hygiene professionals clearly have an obligation to keep MEDICAL and PERSONAL information about patients in the strictest confidence at all times.  Unless disclosure is mandated by patient consent, statute, a duty to inform third parties, or special circumstances, dental hygiene professionals have a clear duty to maintain confidentiality of all patient information.

Breach of the duty to hold such information in the strictest confidence, may cause liability for the individual student such as fines, imprisonment, and dismissal from the program.  In the professional "Code of Ethics," the American Dental Hygienists' Association Code of Ethics for Dental Hygienists has published the following statement which all dental hygiene professionals (including students) must always follow:

                        “We respect the confidentiality of client information and

                        relationships as a demonstration of the value we place on

                        individual autonomy.  We acknowledge our obligation to

                        justify any violation of confidence.”

Electronic and Recording Devices

In order to maximize learning, all electronic recording devices and cell phones are prohibited in this course unless utilizing them in your operatory to confirm or reschedule a patient.  If a student is caught with a cell phone in hand or in a uniform pocket, or actively texting, talking, or surfing the Internet during a clinic session unrelated to patient care, the student will be dismissed from the Clinic and will receive a grade of "0" for the patient session or rotation, as well as an absence for the day.  Students on rotation under no circumstances are allowed to utilize their cell phones, and cell phones are not permitted in morning report. Those students who have children or who anticipate an emergency situation should give caregivers and family members the Office Supervisor's phone number (806-354-6050) and have calls directed to her first.  She will then act accordingly to inform the student.  Patient care should not be interrupted unless a student is alerted from the Office Supervisor regarding an emergency. 

Children/Friends and Family in Clinic

Children are not permitted in the clinic unless they are the patient receiving clinical care.  Your  children will not be allowed in the clinic.  No exceptions.  Also, we do not have proper seating for guests of patients in the clinic. Guests of patients will need to wait in the waiting room for patients to be completed.  This will allow optimal time for individualized care of the patient.  The exception to this rule would be a interpreter.  If your patient requires an interpreter please use a solid chair from the faculty workroom and return it to its place when you are done.

TalEval:

Students can communicate with clinical faculty and check their progress in clinic through this web based system.

Mailboxes

Each student is assigned a mailbox located inside the student dressing room.  Students are required to check his/her mailbox daily for various communication from the faculty. Faculty will also correspond via email and announcements on Amarillo College Blackboard.

Bulletin Board

First and second year dental hygiene students have designated areas on a common bulletin board in the student dressing room where various announcements may be posted.

Emergency Contacts

Phone numbers that family members may use to reach a student in case of an emergency are as follows:

Dental Hygiene Office Supervisor:  354-6050

Amarillo College Police:                371-5163

Academic Grievance Procedure

A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which he/she is enrolled is directed to appeal in the following order to the:  (1)  Instructor  (2)  Clinical Coordinator  (3)  Department Chair/Program Director  (4) Dean of Health Sciences  (5)  Vice President of Academic Affairs  (6)  College President.

Grading Criteria

General Clinic Guidelines

1.  Certain standards of care apply to each patient (i.e.:  asepsis, patient management, professionalism, patient confidentiality, patient education, etc.) and are considered part of all aspects of patient treatment.

2.  Although the Department of Dental Hygiene maintains a system for recalling patients and providing maintenance oral hygiene care, students will be responsible for recruiting new patients to the Dental Hygiene Clinic who will meet the student's needs for various dental hygiene requirements.  Additionally students will be expected to recruit and maintain a list of potential patients, who are available and willing to make an appointment on short notice. Students will be required to select a patient for Mock Boards.  Students will also be required to select a patient who meets the criteria for  WREB and /or CRDTS or another  regional clinical board in order to prove competency and apply for licensure to practice dental hygiene. 

3.  It is important that each student understands the necessity in taking a pro-active and responsible role in obtaining his/her education.  Your signature on the "syllabus documentation form" is evidence of the fact that you understand your responsibility in recruiting the type(s) of patients you will need to complete your requirements in the Dental Hygiene Program at Amarillo College.

4.  It is important for the student to seek faculty input regarding his/her performance so the student may:

a.  correct techniques as necessary

b.  determine problem areas and methods for improving those areas

c.  gain confidence that his/her performance is correct and competent

d.  attain competence in clinical skills

All students are considered mature enough to seek faculty assistance and to monitor his/her own progress in meeting course requirements.  Students who continually fall below the recommended competency level in any area should seek remediation skills from the clinical faculty.

I.  Preclinical

The student will be required to satisfactorily complete and demonstrate basic dental hygiene skills on a typodont and/or student partner in Preclinical Dental Hygiene Laboratory for advancement to Clinic I.

II.  Clinic I, II, III, IV

A.  Students will be required to meet minimum requirements outlined on the STUDENT COMPETENCY RECORD for each individual clinic.

B.  Definitions

1.  Objective - given at the beginning of each procedure to define the procedure which must be mastered by the student.

2.  Performance Criteria - derived directly from the Objective given for each procedure or from criteria outlined in the applicable PROCESS EVALUATION.

3.  Evaluation Criteria - student will be evaluated as follows:  5 point deduction per error.  Sealant placement will be graded as competent or incompetent.  Panoramic radiographs will be 10 point deduction per error from categories I - IV and 1 point each for anatomical landmark not correctly identified and critiqued.  All evaluations must be graded by an instructor.

4.  Clinic Requirements - clinic requirements project the minimum number of learning experiences needed to obtain competency/proficiency in the performance of a procedure.  The clinic requirements increase in number (for some procedures) and patient difficulty as students progress from Clinic I to Clinic IV.  Each clinic requires both process and end- product evaluations.  Students must successfully complete (75%) of a procedure for it to count as one of the required minimums.  Clinic requirements must be completed by the final day of the semester.

5.  Performance Levels - in addition to the minimum requirements, each procedure has been assigned a minimal level.  Performance levels are listed on the STUDENT EVALUATION RECORDS.

Please see the Grading Criteria Addendum that has been added to the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic Manual Regarding TalEval Grading System.  You may also refer to https://taleval.com/signin.aspx.

Clinical competency is obtained successfully by completing procedures in the following categories:

Patient Treatment/TalEval 1A                           40%

Patient Treatment/TalEval 1B                           40%

Radiographs                                                    10%

Competencies                                                   5%

Quizzes/Rotations                                             5%

The following are the  Minimum Number of Successful (75% or greater) Learning Experiences Required for Clinic II Calculus Deposit Skill/Periodontal Skill Levels:

11 Patients with Case Difficulty Index Case Type A

3 Patients with Case Difficulty Index Case Type B

1 Patient with Case Difficulty Index Case Type C

 Adjunct Procedures 

Note:  All adjunct procedures/competencies must be completed no later than June 27, 2015  with the exception of Nutritional Counseling and the CE assignments which are due no later than June 20, 2015.

8 Sealants - As outlined on the performance criteria, sealants will be marked as either competent or incompetent. No credit will be given for the sealant if the procedure is deemed incompetent or unsatisfactory.

5 Panoramic Radiographs (Competency Level of 75% or above)

2 FMX (Competency Level of 75% or above)

2 Horizontal Bitewings ( Set of 4 at a Competency level of 75% or above)

Radiographs will be graded as outlined in the Program Manual.  Radiographs must be critiqued and the critique sheet  turned in to be graded by faculty with grade sheets at the end of each clinical setting.

1   Nutritional Counseling complete with a 1-2 page summary to be turned in for grading.  A video presentation to be peer reviewed will also be required.  All components for the requirement must be completed and turned in to receive a competency.  The due date is June 20, 2015.

4 Calculus Detection

2 Ultrasonic Scaling Competencies

Rotation Assignments - (Numerical Grade will be given and will be counted as part of the Process Evaluation.  DA rotations will be evaluated both by faculty and your peers)

Entrance Examination

Exit Examination

Modules 5 and 6 in the Work Ethics Section of the Program Manual will be completed druing Clinic II.  Turn in the Activities Assignments.  Ethic Modules will be graded as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.  This assignment needs to be hole punched and handed in by June 20, 2015.  A student who does not complete and turn in the required Ethic Modules will be given a grade of 0.  The Work Ethics Modules are geared toward self-responsibility and taking a proactive role in your own learning.

Online Assignments

Online Assignments from the following website:  www.dentalcare.com.  Read the assignment and take the quiz.  Turn in the CE certificate by June 20, 2015.  Quizzes will be given over the material covered in these assignments.  Complete the following assignments:

a.  A History and Update of Fluoride Dentifrices ( Course #94)

b.  An Update on Demineralization/Remineralization ( Course #73)

c.  Dental Hypersensitivity:  A Review ( Course #200)

d.  Caries Process and Prevention Strategies:  Demineralization/Remineralization (Course #372)

e.  Prosthesis Retention and Effective Use of Denture Adhesive in Complete Denture Therapy ( Course #360)

In addition to treating patients at the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic, the students must participate in the following  enrichment rotations:

Office Assistant

Sterilization Assistant

Dental Assistant  ( Faculty and Peer Evaluation)

Screening Rotation

Chair Side Observation Rotation  (Direct Observation of Clinical Patient Care)

Veteran's Hospital (Voluntary/Optional Enrichment Rotation)

Wyatt (Voluntary/Optional Enrichment Rotation)

All guidelines set forth in the Program Manual will apply to rotation assignments.  Absences and tardiness will be recorded for each rotation assignment.  Any missed rotation will be recorded as a 0 for the rotation and will also be counted as an absent for the day.

Critical Errors may drop a student's grade.  Examples of critical errors may include:  a breach of infection control, critical Medical History error, unprofessional conduct toward a patient, student, or faculty/staff member, dishonesty,  a breach of confidentiality, dismissing a patient without faculty permission, violating cell phone use policy, scheduling a "bogus" patient, clocking in or out for a classmate,  poor attitude with office supervisor or not accepting a patient assignment etc.   The result of performing a critical error may result in 0 percent credit for the patient and dismissal from the clinic or rotation.

Entrance and Exit Examinations

All students are required to complete both an Entrance and Exit Examination with a competency level of 75% or higher in order to progress to Clinic III. 

The Examinations will include the demonstration of the following instrumentation skills:

Explorer 11/12

Periodontal Probe

Nevi 2

Nevi 4

H6/H7

204S

Columbia 13/14

YG 7/8

Barnhart 1/2

Mini Gracey 1/2

Gracey 1/2

Gracey 7/8

Gracey 11/12

Gracey 13/14

Gracey 17/18

A student who does not achieve 75% competency on the Entrance and/or  Exit Examination must complete mandatory remediation and an opportunity to retest until 75% competency is achieved.  However, the original exam score will be counted in computation of the final grade.

Assignment and Examinations

The course wil consist of several quizzes, online assignments,and an entrance and exit examination.  The quizzes that will be given may or may not be announced in advance. All online assignments, quiz grades, entrance and exit exams will be added to your end-product evaluation. All grades count and none will be dropped. The competency level is 75% or above.

Make Up Policy

A student will not be allowed to make up quizzes or online assignments.  A zero will be given for each missed quiz or online assignment.  Any and all competencies must be completed.

Course Remediation Policy

If a student fails to attain the required competency or minimum requirements for Clinic I, II, III, or IV, and has less than 3 absences during the semester, an "I" (Incomplete) may be given.  The "I" (Incomplete) will be removed and a grade of "C" will be given for the course after the student completes the required work.

If an "I" is received in the first (spring) semester, it must be removed by the end of the first four weeks of the following second (summer) semester.  When a grade of "I" is received in the second (summer) semester, it must be removed during the fall session, before the student can register for the subsequent academic year.  If a student fails to remove the "I" grade from his/her record in the alloted time, a grade of "F" will be posted automatically.

Evaluation The final course grade will be computed as follows:

A = 93-100 %

B= 83-92%

C= 75-82%

F= Below 75%

Note:  A grade of "D" is not possible in this course.

Attendance

"Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the instructor."  (Amarillo College Student's Rights and Responsibilities Publication)  Due to the tremendous amount of information contained in this course, the student who plans to succeed should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly and promptly.  Without question, the faculty expects each student to be present at each clinic/rotation assignment.   Unfortunately, no one has ever developed a short cut which will replace hours of actual experience needed to master a new skill; therefore, students must be present to acquire the specific knowledge in this subject.  Attendance records will be kept on a daily basis during the semester.  Any absence from the clinic or scheduled rotation must be reported to the Clinic Coordinator first through email, then the Office Supervisor through phone.  The office number is 354-6050.  Each student is required to complete a minimum number of clinic hours and requirements in order to graduate from the Dental Hygiene Program.

The Office Supervisor is also responsible for all clinic schedule changes for patients and students.    Students are required to treat all  patients assigned  to them regardless of whether competencies have been met or not.  Students will also be required to treat patients who may be late getting to the clinic.  The student can at the very least start the process of care.    Refusing to treat a patient will result in dismissal from the clinic and disciplinary action will  be taken. 

Absences will be monitored and may be evaluated on an individual basis to determine a  student's  final clinic grade. A student may have no more than 1 absence in this course without affecting his/her  final grade.  Beginning with the 2^nd  absence, 2 points will be deducted from the final grade; after the 3^rd absence, 3 points will be deducted; after the 4^th absence, 4 points will be deducted. On the occurrence of the 5^th absence, the student will be required to repeat Clinic II.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each clinic, class  and rotation session.  Students who are not present when attendance is taken will be counted as absent.  A student will receive 2  bonus points to the final clinic grade for perfect attendance. Leaving clinic/rotion early will result in an absence.  In clinic, students must log into the computer not later than 8:30 am and log out at 12:00 pm.  After lunch the student must  log back  in not later than 12:45 pm and log out no earlier than  4:00 pm as a record of his/her attendance. Students who do not log in to the computer correctly in the morning or afternoon will be counted absent.  Also, students who leave early without permission from a faculty member will be counted as absent.  The office supervisor will monitor student time logged in at the computers in the clinic and will  report this information to the Clinic Coordinator.

Example for Bonus Points:

Student has a final clinic average of 91% = B

Student attends all scheduled clinics, classes and rotations on time

Final Clinic Grade = 93% = A

Calendar

Additional Information