Clinical Dental Hygienist III Syllabus for 2020-2021
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Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-2260-001 Clinical Dental Hygienist III

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: DHYG 1360

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 12 clinic)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Course Textbooks

Students MUST have the current edition of ALL required textbooks.

Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, Jill Neild-Gehrig; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 8^th Edition. (Available in Hard Copy Text)

Patient Assessment Tutorials: A Step-By-Step Guide for the Dental Hygienist, 3^rd Edition, Jill Neild-Gehrig; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. (Available in Hard Copy Text)

Dental Hygiene Applications to Clinical Practice, Rachel Henry, Maria Perno Goldie, FA Davis (Available in E-book or Hard Copy Text)

Student Workbook to Accompany Dental Hygiene Applications to Clinical Practice, Rachel Henry, Maria Perno Goldie, FA Davis (Available in Hard Copy Text)

Health Professional and Patient Interaction, Ruth Purtilo, Amy Haddad, Regina Doherty; Elsevier, Saunders Publisher (Available in E-book or Hard Copy Text)

Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions, Ruth B. Purtilo, Regina F. Doherty; Elsevier, Saunders Publisher (Available in E-book or Hard Copy Text)

Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office, Stanley F. Malamed, 7^th Edition; Elsevier, Saunders Publisher (Available in E-book or Hard Copy Text)

 Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program Manual will be available to you in Blackboard.

Supplies

Technical Skills and Requirements

The use of a tablet is an integral part of this course.  Students are required to have regular, reliable access to a stable internet connection. The necessary skills include proficiency in sending and receiving emails with attachments, uploading documents, and participating in Discussion Board assignments.

Computers can break, servers can crash, and electric power can go out.  It is your responsibility to identify solutions for unexpected catastrophes by thinking ahead about solutions to potential problems.  Possible solutions for each of the above scenarios include using a friend or relative's computer and accessing a computer in one of the computer labs on campus.  Students will be responsible for bringing their tablets to clinic every session.  Please have the battery charged and ready to go.  Students will need to make sure that the Respondus Lockdown Browser has been installed on the computer.

Utilize CTL resources for technical help.  CTL Student Help Center:  (806) 371-5992 or ctlstudenthelp@actx.edu

Communication

The best way to contact me is through your student email in Blackboard.  I will check my emails on Monday-Friday first thing in the morning and throughout the remainder of the day as time allows.  I will respond to your email within 24 hours.  Emails sent over the weekend will be answered the following Monday morning.  Please remember the use of netiquette when corresponding to faculty, staff, and peers.

Other Supplies

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

Library Card for AC and/or city library

Flash Drive (1)

Students may be required to print some materials.

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes

A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. The instructor's primary role will be to function as a facilitator to aid the student through functional assessment and quality patient-centered treatment of clients. Clinic III is the bridging course from the academic clinical environment to enter into the profession. This competency-based clinical course uses the process of care model of assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Critical thinking skills, time management, and self-assessment are emphasized for the practical application of dental hygiene theory. Patient cases include medically compromised, advanced complex treatment cases, pediatric and special needs populations. In the clinical setting, students will serve as patients for their classmates, complete manikin exercises, treat all patients without discrimination, and attend all assigned rotations.

Course Meeting Days and Times

Clinic:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• 8:00 am – 5:30 pm 
• Tuesday & Thursday 
• 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Jones Hall, Dental Clinic Room 112
• Clinic start times are staggered 10 minutes apart to maintain Social Distancing. (COVID-19)

Morning/Afternoon Report:  To be announced.

Additional Faculty

• Ashlie Lang, RDH
• Jessica Ayers, RDH, MS.
• Donna Cleere, RDH, M.Ed.
• Lynette Hayhurst, RDH, BS
• Karen Lester, RDH, BS
• Janet Ramos, RDH, BS
• Lori Bagwell, RDH, MS.
• Charlene Mastick, RDH, BA
• Missy Reeves, RDH
• Rachel Rubalcaba, RDH
• Mitzi Leonard, RDH
• Mike Henderson, DDS
• Madeline Borecki-Coury, DMD
• Rick Dunham, DDS

Method of Instruction

In the clinic setting the ratio of faculty to students never exceeds 1:5.  Individual feedback will be provided for the students verbally and in TalEval and Blackboard.   Direct observation will be utilized through process performance evaluations, while indirect observation will be used in end-product evaluations.

Morning/Afternoon Report will be held each week to allow discussion of clinical issues and present additional clinical procedures and materials.  The forum setting is mandatory.  You will be counted absent for the entire day if you do not attend clinic forums.  You will also be counted absent if you are not present when the roll is called.  Student input is encouraged. When Report is offered virtually students will be required to use the camera on their computer and be professional in appearance.

Clinical Dental Hygiene

Clinical Dental Hygiene is the portion of the dental hygiene curriculum focused on developing the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills necessary for the delivery of preventive, educational, and therapeutic services to the public.  The delivery of patient-centered 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.  The patient care experiences are required for all students in order to attain clinical competence and to complete the dental hygiene program.  This education is provided in the program's clinical facilities as defined in the Accreditation Standards and is supervised and evaluated by program faculty according to predetermined criteria.

Definitions:

• Preventive Services:  Clinical methods employed by the clinician and/or patient to promote and maintain oral health.
• Educational Services:  Strategies developed for an individual or for groups to elicit behaviors directed toward health.
• Therapeutic Services:  Clinical treatment designed to arrest or manage the disease and maintain oral tissues in health.
• 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.
• Dental Hygiene Diagnosis:  A statement of potential or actual patient need that can be addressed by dental hygiene intervention services or strategies.
• Pre-Clinic:  The 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.
• Clinical Dental Hygiene:  The major portion of clinical education.  As the primary provider, the dental hygiene student integrates preventive, educational, and therapeutic care in treating the patient.
• Fundamental Clinical Dental Hygiene Skills:  Skills routinely performed by the dental hygienist and/or taught to clinical competence 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 
• evaluation
• documentation (including electronic health records)

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:

• Apply the process of care to preventive and therapeutic oral health management to a diverse patient population.
• Assess and analyze objective and subjective patient findings to formulate an evidence-based, patient-centered dental hygiene diagnosis.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate intervention strategies that will promote and maintain oral health including oral self-care behaviors.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and skill in applying dental hygiene methodology of care.
• Apply the principles of professional and ethical behavior in providing care to individuals of all populations.

Special Learning Objectives

1. The comprehensive collection of data, and assess comprehensive health history, including social history.
2. Perform and record extraoral and intraoral examinations, clinical and radiographic assessment of the periodontium and dentition, and assessment of occlusion.  
3. Assess the need for, expose, develop, evaluate, and interpret dental radiographs to support the clinical examination.
4. Expose, assess, and transmit intraoral photography.
5. Formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis and supportive dental hygiene treatment plan.
6. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate a dental hygiene treatment plan for the prevention and/or treatment plan for the prevention of oral diseases.
7. Assess the need for and perform a periodontal risk assessment, initial and supportive therapies.
8. Assess the need for and perform therapeutic hand and ultrasonic periodontal debridement therapies.
9. Perform care and maintenance of procedures for dental implants.
10. Assess the need for and perform extrinsic stain removal procedures.
11. Assess the need for and apply adjunctive topical chemotherapeutic and controlled released agents.
12. Assess the need for and apply pain and anxiety management strategies.
13. Assess the caries risk and plan appropriate interventions and therapies.
14. Assess the need for and application of professional topical fluorides and/or self-applied fluoride
15. Apply principles of nutritional and/or tobacco cessation counseling to the management of oral and systemic health.
16. Assess the need for and place pit and fissure sealants.
17. Assess, plan, and perform patient oral self-care education.
18. Apply standard precautions for the prevention of disease transmission.
19. Follow all state and federal regulatory requirements when rendering patient care.
20. Apply the principles of comprehensive record-keeping.
21. Apply principles of professional and ethical behavior.
22. Apply principles of evidence-based decision-making.
23. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills when providing patient care.
24. Demonstrate professional communication skills in all aspects of patient care that includes interacting with diverse populations and other members of the healthcare team.
25. Demonstrate concern and understanding of a variety of patient needs to be based on overall health, oral health, cultural, social, and economic circumstances.
26. Recognize those patients whose medical, physical, psychological, or social situations make it necessary to modify normal dental routines in order to provide dental treatment for that individual.  These individuals include, but are not limited to, people with developmental disabilities, complex medical problems, and significant physical limitations.
27. Obtain informed consent by discussing with the patient his/her oral health findings, goals, and comprehensive treatment needs.  Patients that are accepted for dental hygiene care must be advised of the scope of dental hygiene care available in the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic.
28. Recommend a re-care schedule for continued supportive care.
29. Recommend referral for additional assessment and/or treatment.
30. Assess overall patient satisfaction with the care provided.
31. Self-assess ability to perform dental hygiene services at a high standard of care.
32. Value patient confidentiality and patient rights according to HIPAA guidelines.
33. Evaluate the relevancy and accuracy of new information in order to provide evidence-based client care.
34. Accept constructive criticism and peer review as a learning experience that contributes to professional knowledge and growth.
35. Apply basic, dental, and behavioral sciences to clinical practice.
36. Use the dental hygiene process of care to render comprehensive preventative oral health services.
37. Demonstrate appropriate time management strategies when rendering dental hygiene services to patients.
38. Demonstrate clinical emergency medical protocol procedures.
39. Comply with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for the prevention of disease transmission during the rendering of dental hygiene services to patients.
40. Provide specialized treatment that includes preventative and therapeutic services designed to achieve and maintain oral health and assist in helping the patient formulate and achieve oral health goals.
41. Evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of dental hygiene services and make modifications as needed.
42. Demonstrate accurate, consistent, and complete documentation skills.
43. Evaluate the effectiveness of sterilization procedures, and identify and demonstrate the need for accurate documentation, i.e. biological indicators.
44. Develop awareness and sensitivity for the scope of health and dental health needs in the community.
45. Provide dental hygiene services to an under-served population
46. Observe and appreciate the role of dental support staff in managing patient communication and care.
47. Develop an appreciation for the different roles and responsibilities of each person within private practice, and how they work together for the successful management of the office.
48. Recognize, experience, and understand the role of the front office/receptionist, and their function in the dental setting, to include phone skills, greeting patients, scheduling, and using EagleSoft to create treatment plans. 
49. Complete HESI modules and examination.

Emergency Management: In the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic we have medical emergency management procedures and safety policies.  Please refer to the program manual for further detail regarding these procedures and policies.

This course is designed to support the student’s development in the knowledge, skills, and values required for graduation from the program and the dental hygiene licensure eligibility. Specifically, this course promotes the development of the dental hygienist as defined by the following Educational Standards of the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA CODA) and the Department of Dental Hygiene competency statements.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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 that 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 that 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

• All dental hygiene students are expected to demonstrate professionalism in behavior, manner, and judgment in the dental hygiene clinic and clinic rotation sites. The professionalism area includes appearance, asepsis, patient management, peer, faculty and staff interaction, and documentation. Guidelines for professionalism and professional appearances are discussed in the AC Dental Hygiene Clinic Manual.  Professionalism will be evaluated on a continual basis.
• Students will exhibit professional maturity and an acceptable level of clinical judgment as determined by the clinical faculty. Unprofessional behavior will be documented in written form by the faculty to the Clinic Coordinator. Unprofessional behavior may be defined as a continual pattern of misconduct and/or an egregious act that endangers the patients, students, and/or faculty health. Egregious acts also include violations of the Texas Dental Hygiene Practice Act and falsification of patient records and/or faculty signatures.
• Students must be competent in applying the principles of ethical reasoning, ethical decision making, and professional responsibility as they pertain to patient care. Dental hygienists should understand and practice ethical behavior consistent with the professional code of ethics throughout their educational experiences. The following are examples are considered professional standards.   These are representative examples and may not be all-inclusive.  For maximum learning to occur, the student is expected to demonstrate professional conduct and judgment at all times.
  • The student is concerned with excellence in learning rather than just meeting minimal criteria.
  • The student maintains his/her composure, dealing with conflict in a constructive way.
  • The 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 from another faculty member.

Safety: Individual Responsibility

This course supports the Amarillo College policies regarding responsibility for a safe environment.

Amarillo College is in compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations, and therefore requires that all AC employees, students, and visitors comply to maintain a safe environment:

• Report hazardous conditions and safety concerns immediately to their supervisors, instructors, staff, and/or emergency management personnel, as appropriate.
• Abide by safe practices and procedures established by the College.
• Adhere to and cooperate fully with all local, state, and federal regulations concerning environmental, health, and safety issues.
• Take action to resolve safe workplace issues when appropriate.

Statement of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the duty owed by dental hygiene professionals, including students enrolled in Dental Hygiene accredited programs, to protect all patient information privacy.  Dental Hygiene professionals must 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 particular circumstances, dental hygiene professionals have a clear obligation to maintain all patient information confidentiality.

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.  The American Dental Hygienists' Association has published the following statement which all dental hygiene professionals (including students) must always follow "Code of Ethics"  :  "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."

Instructor Help and Student Participation

• You must seek faculty input regarding your performance so that you may:
  • Gain confidence in your performance
  • Identify problem areas and determine methods for correcting deficiencies
  • Attain competency in your clinical skills
• All students are considered mature enough to seek faculty assistance and to monitor their progress.
• All students are expected to meet with the Clinic Coordinator if you have any questions or difficulties in this course.  The faculty is committed to supporting your success; please remember that you are the only person who can make us aware that you need assistance.

Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Mentoring Program

The student has a vital role in the mentoring process.  Each student has is assigned a mentor for the second year of the program.  The mentor/mentee assignment is in Blackboard.   As partners in the mentoring relationship, students have responsibilities to:

1. Contact mentors and arrange for a mentoring appointment, one in February and one in April.
2. Be aware of their mentoring needs and discuss these needs with mentors
3. Maintain regular communication with their assigned mentors
4. 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.

Mandatory Skills Building/Tutoring

To increase student success in DHYG courses and assist students with difficulty understanding complex subject areas, any student who scores below a 75% on any exam (excluding the final exam) must complete a mandatory skills-building assignment before taking the next exam.  Before receiving a skills assignment, you must first schedule a time with the instructor.  The assignment will be given at that time.

Clinic Remediation Policy

Remediation is defined as the act or process of remedying.  Students should not fear this word or this policy.  Remediation is available to address calculus removal, calculus detection, tissue trauma, radiographs, instrument selection, hand instrumentation, ultrasonic instrumentation, environment, probing, fulcrum, grasp, and adaptation.  Students may also request this from a clinical instructor, and an instructor may request this for a student as well.  All skill evaluations, including Mock Boards, will require a 75% to achieve Mastery.  If 75% is not achieved, remediation will be mandatory to demonstrate competency.  The initial grade will stand.  The Clinical Instructor will fill out a Student Remediation Form, and the student will sign upon completion.

Course Failure-Remediation Policy

If you fail to attain the required minimum requirements for Clinic III and have less than three 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 you have completed 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.  If an "I" (incomplete) is received in the summer session, it must be removed during the fall session before you can register for the subsequent academic year.  If you fail to remove the "I" grade from your record in the allotted time, a grade of "F" will be posted automatically.  No, "I" s can be given the final semester before graduation.

The Clinic Manual

The Dental Hygiene Clinic Manual contains information pertaining to but not limited to, the following:

• Our Program's Mission/Goals/Philosophy
• Clinic Curriculum 
• Code of Ethics
• Standards for Professional Responsibility
• Bloodborne Infectious Diseases
• Clinic Operations
• Professional Appearance Standards
• Clinic Rotations
• Emergency Management
• Infection Control
• Hazard Communication Policy
• Competencies

Electronic and Recording Devices

In order to maximize learning, all electronic recording devices and cell phones are prohibited in this course.

If a student is caught with a cell phone in hand,  in a uniform pocket or in the clinic bay, actively texting, talking, or surfing the internet during a clinic session, the student will immediately 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.   This includes cell phones in the hallways outside the clinic bays, on all rotations, and anywhere in the Clinic.  The only approved area for cell phone use is in the locker room before or after the Clinic.  Those students who have children or who anticipate an emergency should give caretakers and family members the Office Supervisor's phone number  (806-354-6050) or the clinic supervisor at 467-4099 and have calls directed to her first.  The office supervisor will act accordingly to inform the student. 

Your children will not be allowed in the Clinic.  Please, no exceptions.

TalEval & Blackboard

Students can communicate with clinical faculty and check their progress in the Clinic through the web-based system TalEval. Blackboard is a web-based learning management system provided by Amarillo College.  Students can access their grades through Blackboard as well as many resources for this course.

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 inside 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 Clinic Office Supervisor:   354-6050

Amarillo College Police:   371-5163

Academic Grievance Procedure

A student who has a grievance concerning an academic course in which they are enrolled is directed to appeal in the following order to the:  (1)  Instructor  (2)  Clinic Coordinator   (3)  Department Chair/Program Director  (4)  Dean of Health Sciences  (5) Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs (6) Vice President of Academic Affairs (7) College President.

Grading Criteria

General Clinic Guidelines

• 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 also be required to select a patient who meets the criteria for WREB and/or CRDTS or another regional clinical board in order to pursue licensure to practice dental hygiene.
• It is important that each student understands the necessity of taking a proactive 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 requirements/competencies in order to graduate from the Dental Hygiene Program at Amarillo College.
• In a competency-based clinical system, dental hygiene students are expected to demonstrate the mastery of skills along a progressive continuum toward entry-level competence.  Once you have demonstrated mastery of a skill you are expected to maintain that level of mastery.  Each skill assessment serves as the foundation for your continued skill development.  Therefore your maintenance of the base skills will be evaluated on a continual basis.
• Each error for Clinic III will count as a minus 7 point deduction per error on the screening evaluations.  All Screening Evaluations are due to the instructor at the end of the day.  Sealant placement will be graded as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.  Radiographs will be graded as outlined in the Program Manual and must be critiqued at the time of the appointment and turned in at the end of the appointment.    All evaluations must be graded by an instructor.  Clinic requirements must be completed by the final clinic day of the semester.  A student who does not complete all clinic requirements in Clinic III by the final clinic day of the semester will receive an (I) incomplete.
• The course will also consist of quizzes and other online/computer assignments.  Quizzes may or may not be announced in advance.  All grades will be counted and will not be dropped.
• Critical Errors may drop a student’s grade.  Examples of critical errors may include but are not limited to:  breach of infection control, critical medical history error, unprofessional conduct, dishonesty, a breach of confidentiality, and arguing with a faculty or staff member. A critical error during Screening will 

Minimum Number of Successful (75% or greater) Learning Experiences Required for Clinic III Calculus Deposit Skill/Periodontal Skill Levels: 

Clinic III Requirements

Minimum Number of Required Case Types:
10	Case Type A	Perio I-IV
8	Case Type B	Perio I-IV
2	Case Type C	Perio III-IV
2	Case Type D	Perio III-IV
Minimum Number of Patient Care Experiences:
1	Child Patient (age 12 and under)
2	Adolescent Patient (age 13-17)
2	Adult Patient (age 18 and up)
2	Geriatric Patient (age 65 and up)
2	Special Needs Patient
Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Services
Area Specific Insert Competency
Sealants	8 Required
Radiographs
FMX	4 Required
BWX	8 Required
Pano	1 Required
Clinical Screening Assessment (including BWX & PANO)	6 Required
Other Additional Requirements
Case Presentation
Ethics Chapters (10,11,12)
Professionalism Chapters (10,11)
Medical Emergencies (22,23,24,25,26)
Journaling

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

Periodontal Maintenance of Oral and Perio Status (must be a moderate or severe periodontal classification.)   You must have completed the scaling and root planning of at least two quadrants within the last month.  Complete the Perio Exam in Eagle Soft which includes noting all periodontal readings, bleeding, suppuration, furcation involvement, mobility, clinical attachment loss (CAL), clinical descriptors, and periodontal diagnosis.

Mock Board Patient Experience with WREB and/or CRDTS Exam Criteria. This patient must qualify for either WREB or CRDTS criteria to count toward competency.  In order for you to count the Mock Board Patient Experience as a competency, the patient MUST meet Board Criteria and the student must achieve a minimum of 75% on the skill evaluation.  If your grade falls below a 75% on the Mock Board Exam, you will be required to remediate on a typodont and/or a clinical patient (preferably the same patient) by the end of the semester.  (The Remediation must be done and documented by March 26, 2021)  

Case Presentation Competency is a presentation that is due April 16, 2021, the rubric for the Case Presentation and the instructions are in Blackboard under content. 

Ethics, Professionalism, and Medical Emergency Quizzes Due Date: April 16, 2021. 

Case Presentation:

• The rubric for this project, will be available on Blackboard.  The due date will be April 16, 2021. 

HESI

Complete all assigned online HESI assessments in the AC Computer Lab by the scheduled deadline.  

All HESI Assessment grades will be count as a quiz grade.  A grade of 75% or higher will need to be achieved to meet the Final HESI Test's competency.  To be approved to take your National Written Dental Hygiene Board Exam, it is required to pass HESI with a grade of 75% or higher.  Mandatory remediation and makeup exam are necessary for those that do not achieve a 75% or higher on the first attempt.  Payment is due for HESI on January 31, 2021.  Please follow the instructions given by Evolve to make payment through the Evolve website.  (Link to follow on Blackboard)

Upcoming HESI dates to be announced. 

 AC Dental Hygiene Rotation Assignments:

Rotations that will be evaluated by faculty and in TalEval

• Office Assistant
• Sterilization
• Dental Assistant (Float) 

The rotation that will be Evaluated as Patient Care Assessment (Including X-rays) point value = 7 point value

• Screening Rotation

Clinic Requirements and Grading Criteria

Please see the Grading Criteria in the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic Manual Regarding TalEval Grading System.  You may also refer to https://taleval.com/signin/aspx for more information.

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

Patient Treatment/Rotations  TalEval IIIA	35%
Patient Treatment/Rotations  TalEval IIIB	35%
Screening Assessments	10%
Radiographs	10%
Mock Board/Case Presentation	5%
Competencies/Quizzes/HESI	5%

Critical errors may drop a student's grade.  Examples of critical errors may include:  breach of infection control, critical Medical History error, dismissing or re-appointing a patient without faculty approval, unprofessional conduct toward a patient, student, or faculty/staff member, a breach of confidentiality, scheduling a fictitious patient(s) or phone number (s), cancelling or moving a patient without the patient's permission and or faculty member, failure to accept a patient assignment from the front office supervisor and/or faculty, clocking in or out of the clinic/lab for a classmate.  

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. 

Attendance

Attendance Policy

"Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the student's responsibility to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the instructor" (Amarillo College Student's Rights and Responsibilities Publication, http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=18&navoid=813#Academic_Information). Due to the tremendous amount of information in this course, the student who plans to succeed should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly and promptly. Without question, the instructor expects each student to be present at each session. Unfortunately, no one has ever developed a shortcut to replace hours of experience needed to master a new skill. Therefore, the student must be present to acquire specific knowledge in this subject.

Absences are monitored and evaluated to determine the student's final course grade. The student may have no more than 1 absence in this course without affecting the final grade. In the case of a  2nd absence, 2 points will be deducted from the final grade; on the 3rd absence, 3 points will be deducted; on the 4th absence, 4 points will be deducted. On the 5th absence, the student will fail the course and be required to repeat the course. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each lecture and lab session. Students who are not present when attendance is taken will be counted as absent.

COVID-19 has caused the clinic to stagger start and end times for the clinic.  Clock in and out times for students are as follows:

• Students must log in to the computer no later than 45 minutes before their appointment and log out no earlier than three hours after their appointment start time.    
• When students enter the clinic, they are required to take their temperature and sign in with the infection control coordinator.  Students that have been exposed to COVID-19 or have a temperature should not come to clinic.  

Attendance records will be kept daily during the semester.  Any absence from the clinic or scheduled rotation(s) must be reported to the Clinic Coordinator first via email (Amanda Lester-Chisum> ajlester21@actx.edu) and then the Clinic Supervisor via email (Mitzi Leonard >m0067781@actx.edu).    Mrs. Leonard's number is 467-3099.   Each student must complete a minimum number of clinic hours and requirements to graduate from the dental hygiene program.  If a student does not report an absence, the student will be required to type a two-page report on professionalism and turn it in to the Clinic Coordinator.   A Critical Error in TalEval will be given for each day the paper is late.   The deadline for submission of the paper is no later than 24 hours after the absenteeism.  Students who are not present when attendance is taken in Morning/Afternoon Report will be counted as absent virtual or in person.  A student will receive 2 bonus points to the final clinic grade for perfect attendance.  Arriving late or leaving clinic/rotation early will result in a critical error in TalEval. (Item #122)  Student's that do not log in or out of Eaglesoft correctly will need to email Mrs. Leonard and request a correction.  You are allowed 5 corrections in a semester before you will receive 1 absent for the sixth correction.   Also, students who leave early without special permission from a faculty member will be counted as absent.  The clinic supervisor will monitor student time logged in at the clinic's computers and report this information to the faculty. 

Absences Defined:

Critical Error in TalEval> Late= is arriving after your required 45 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

Absence in Blackboard>Absence=arriving after your scheduled appointment time or not present at all.

Example for Bonus Points:

The 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