FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART….. ‘THANK YOU’
By Bev Woods RRDH
Congratulations and Thank You to all Registered Dental Hygienists across Canada who united together to help those Canadians who have fallen between the cracks and cannot afford the basic dental hygiene care. We opened our ‘hearts’ and our Independent Dental Hygiene clinics on Saturday February 12, 2011 to participate in the “Gift From the Heart” event. What started as a simple idea to showcase the passion of registered dental hygienists and to give no cost dental hygiene services one day a year exploded in 2011!
My name is Bev Woods and I am the founder of the event. In 2009 (three short years ago), I emailed a handful of my colleagues asking them if they would like to join me in giving back to our communities. I was overjoyed that they all agreed to participate. It became apparent quite quickly how many people were in need, as we all received hundreds of phone calls. It was distressing that we couldn’t meet the demand. From that moment on, I have dedicated myself to making the event bigger and better each year.
In the past month I have had the distinct privilege to travel across Ontario talking with and visiting some of the Independent Dental Hygiene clinics that graciously agreed to participate in the “2011 Gift from the HEART “ event. I am humbled to see so many of my colleagues so anxious to help and grow this event into what it is today.
This year the event broke through the border of Ontario, with our Alberta and B.C. equals joining in the cause. It is my hope that in 2012, our event will gain North American status. All the while, the more of us that participate the more healthy smiles we can restore!
The media coverage this year was extraordinary. The event was talked about on radio, television, newspapers, Facebook and Twitter. With this kind of publicity, the profession of dental hygiene will come to the forefront in the minds of the public.
I am proud of my colleagues. It is not been easy to set up an independent office. There have been many barriers to overcome, but they have chosen locations that fit the life styles and needs of our clients for the 21st century. When visiting some of these offices, I was amazed at how many of you continue to think outside the box and go one step further by intergrading with other likeminded health professionals. “Collaborative Health Care” is what it is all about!
I would like to point out that even though the event was hosted by Independent Dental Hygiene offices, there were many self-initiated RDH volunteers that came to those locations to help. I cannot impress upon all Ontario RDH’s how important the ‘seal’ of self-initiation is. It baffles me to think that there are over 12,000 RDH’s in Ontario and only 3345 RDH’s have their ‘seal’. We are all in the same profession, fighting for the same cause. All for one and one for all!
There was a day that all dental hygienists were governed by the Dentists and they decided our fate. While some jurisdictions led the way for independent practice, in 2007, the face of dental hygiene and oral care in Ontario changed when the “order” was removed and registered dental hygienists in Ontario were able to provide care independently outside the conventional dental office.
We have come a long way but in order for our profession to continue to evolve, it is imperative that we all support the rights we have been given. Our regulatory body continuously sits with the government working on issues regarding local anesthetic, radiographs and prescription medications so that members of the public can experience quality oral health care. As they ask for these changes, the government looks at the statistics within our profession and says “why do you ask for these changes when only 25% of your registered professionals have their self-initiation?” It is hard for our Registrar to make a case when the facts are what they are.
So please, for a mere $75 and a simple application form, we can increase that statistic dramatically and continue to lobby for the evolution of our profession. Maybe someday your grandchild will want to be a dental hygienist, let’s hope they will be able to have their own office, take X-rays and give anesthetic! How nice would that be? ONLY WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. We are the future of Oral Care.
I would like to ‘Thank’ every one from the bottom of my heart for making the GFTH event so successful!
The endless hours of planning starts now to ensure the 2012 event is everything it can be! If you do not have your self-initiation seal, please get it today, and join me and so many others next year to spread the passion of dental hygiene all across Canada.