This message was sent to all oral health professionals via email.
As the end of the year approaches, we find ourselves already looking at the one-year anniversary of BCCOHP receding in the rearview mirror.
I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had this fall to engage with you as oral health professionals in a couple of different forums: we are thrilled to have welcomed hundreds of oral health professionals over the course of our recent annual meeting and our first webinar. Thank you to all those who found time to join us.
- Annual Meeting recording >>
- Reimagining oral health care: informing better health outcomes webinar recording >>
Upcoming office closures
BCCOHP will be closed for the winter break from noon on Thursday, December 21, 2023, through to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
Throughout the upcoming office closures and altered schedules that come with winter holidays, it is important to ensure there is a line of communication available for emergencies involving patient safety or practitioner wellness. BCCOHP’s Critical Incident Report Form is available here. In the event of a critical incident, an emergency involving patient safety, or for registrants with health concerns during a BCCOHP office closure, please call 672-202-0448 and press 8 to reach the Registrar’s Office.
For all other non-emergency concerns, please listen to the menu provided and leave a message with the appropriate department. We’ll be sure to reply when we are back in the office in early January.
As we reach the end of the year, please note that those whose Quality Assurance Program cycles are ending on December 31, 2023 can rest assured that all valid credits submitted before the deadline will be applied to the appropriate quality assurance cycle, even if they are not yet reflected as approved/complete before the upcoming closure.
Looking ahead
In 2024, we will continue to build on our unique and unified oversight of oral health. As we head into the year, top of mind are:
- Strategic Plan: work continues on the initiatives coming out of the Board’s identified strategic priorities and will be building out timelines on all of this work as the year progresses.
- Health equity & cultural safety:Our work here will incorporate meaningful Indigenous involvement in decision-making at all levels of the organization. We will develop policy and adopt practices that that uphold indigenous specific anti-racism, cultural safety and humility.
- Regulatory leadership:While BCCOHP remains ready to regulate under the upcoming Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), we await next steps from the government and are keenly aware of the need to assess and prepare for the regulatory impacts of the HPOA. As directed by the Board, we will seek to identify the strategic opportunities both within the HPOA as our new governing legislation and in the broader context of regulatory modernization.
- Unified regulatory functions: We will continue work to develop a holistic set of professional and ethical standards for all oral health professionals. Work will continue in earnest on the development of a new Quality Assurance program as well as specific practice standards for the oral health team including sedation and general anesthesia standards, infection prevention and control and recordkeeping expectations. We will be providing information and opportunities to engage with this work throughout the year.
- 2024 Board Election: January is a busy month for the BCCOHP Board election as nominations close on January 3 and the voting period follows later in the month to fill four registrant board member positions. All six types of oral health professionals regulated by BCCOHP can vote for all four elected board member positions. Election details >>
- Committee Recruitment: As committee terms come to an end this spring, work has begun to recruit new professional and public members for upcoming vacancies. Watch for application details in January 2024. Learn about our committees >>
- Webinar Series: Creating opportunities to engage with oral health professionals is hugely valuable to BCCOHP as we pave our way as a new regulator in a changing regulatory landscape. Thank you to everyone who joined our first webinar on December 4. Expect more to come.
We look forward to this and much more in 2024. I can’t thank you enough for your support and engagement over this past year as we have continued work on defining ourselves as a modern regulator.
May your holiday season be filled with wonderful moments, and I wish you all continued success in the coming year.
Chris Hacker, Registrar/CEO