September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM); and to mark the month the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is offering a number of free resources to dental and orthodontic practices to help clinicians and infection control coordinators promote a safe and professional environment, encourage patient dialogue, attract new patients, and enhance the overall image of their practice.
“The goal of DICAM is to truly Take Safety Viral,” says Michelle Lee, CPC, executive director of OSAP. “During DICAM 2019, we are giving participants access to free resources, most of which are usually reserved as a member-only benefit. These resources range from checklists, frequently asked questions and answers, scripts, to whitepapers. While the materials are available throughout the month of September, the information OSAP is providing can be used year-round to ensure that every dental visit is a safe one.”
Support materials and resources for DICAM will be available on the OSAP website at osap.org/dicam starting September 1 for members and nonmembers. Each week will have a different infection control focus:
- Week One: Hand Hygiene
- Week Two: Dental Unit Waterlines
- Week Three: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Week Four: Instrument Sterilization
“We are encouraging everyone in the dental industry to participate,” Lee continued. “Our hope is to see dental practices, educators, consultants, and those in the dental trade posting infection control best practices, success stories, or selfies on social media and joining the conversation using the hashtag #DICAM19. There are so many in the industry that are doing great things and keeping their patients safe. We want to hear about them all so we can come together, as a community, and continue to build up the importance of dental infection control.”
To encourage social media posts, OSAP will provide suggested messaging and images that can be used throughout the month.
