GHDHA Spring Big (6 hour) CE

Overview

GHDHA will be sponsoring TWO amazing courses by Kimberly Erdman, RDH, PHDHP, MSDH practiced clinical hygiene as a government contractor for the U.S. Navy. She has 10 years of experience as a forensic odontology technician at the Charles E. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs. Currently, she is dental hygiene director at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, PA.

The First Course: 
Abstract/Description
The American Society of Forensic Odontology and American Board of Forensic Odontology recognize the valuable role dental hygienists play as part of forensic odontology teams. The most important role a clinical hygienists play in forensics is during recall appointments, while the patient is alive--through dedication to highest quality documentation. Kimberly has 10 years of experience in mortuary affairs; listen as she shares experiences in this jam-packed presentation, featuring examples of poor documentation. Learn the difficulties she faces with private offices that contributes to ID delays. Refresh your skills on documentation, lesion description, diagnostic radiograph placement and retakes and participate in mock-identifications.
Learning Objectives
Discuss the dental hygienist’s contribution to a forensic dental team
Describe the challenges forensic teams encounter with dental records and radiographs
Explain the ethical duty and forensic need to maintain adequate dental records and accurate dental charting
Explain the ethical duty and forensic need to retain current and diagnostic radiographs Determine when radiographs should be retaken
List the steps to describe an oral lesion
Methodology
This informative lecture-style presentation is designed to inspire clinical dental hygienists to maintain the highest standards when recording professional documentation. The PowerPoint presentation features many photographs of the speaker's forensic work with the military. The presentation is jam-packed with photos of forensic cases where she has consulted with a forensic dentist to produce a positive identification. In addition to featuring examples of "less than quality" documentation and radiographs, the speaker will make recommendations about documentation of patient's oral conditions, lesions, and when radiographs should be retaken. An interactive section accompanies the PowerPoint presentation where attendees are asked to compare antemortem and post-mortem radiographs in a mock-identification. Many questions are always asked by attendees, so the speaker welcomes questions during the presentation, and allows ample time for questions after    completion of the presentation.
The SECOND course 
Recognition and Reporting of Elder Mistreatment
Course objectives: 
1) Differentiate between the normal aging process and signs and symptoms of elder abuse
2) Describe the characteristics of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
3) Define exploitation and how it relates to financial abuse
4) Identify symptoms of elder neglect
5) Identify characteristics of home situations or care givers that make put an older adult at higher risk for mistreatment
6) Recite basic questions that can be utilized to screen for elder mistreatment
7) Define the ethical duty to report suspected mistreatment
8) List procedures involved in reporting elder mistreatment
 
Course description:
The first case of “Granny Battering” shocked the world in the1970’s; however, many health care providers still admit not asking their older adult patients about possible mistreatment due to their lack of confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of mistreatment. Elder abuse spans all races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses and it is estimated that for each reported case of mistreatment, there are twenty-three cases that go unreported. As aging Americans continue to live longer and remain in their homes, their need for assistance of others and the prevalence of abuse is likely to increase. This course compares signs of abuse to the normal aging process and provides the clinician with knowledge on physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuses, and neglect. Clinicians will be prepared to recognize and report suspected cases based on ethical and professional standards. 
Couse methodology: 
This informative lecture-style presentation is designed to prepare the clinical hygienist to properly identify signs and symptoms of elder mistreatment. The presentation provides background information normal physical changes associated with the aging process and statistics of mistreatment. Attendees will learn characteristics, signs, and symptoms of physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuses, as well as elder neglect. Many questions are always asked by attendees, so the speaker welcomes questions during the presentation, and allows ample time for questions after completion of the presentation.