OSAP Commits to Support Dental Infection Control Awareness Month in September 2020​ PDF Print Email

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, contact:
Michelle Lee
Executive Director
(800) 298-6727
[email protected]

ATLANTA (August 31, 2020) - The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is ramping up its efforts to support Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM) in September. DICAM is an annual observance of The Safest Dental Visit TM 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. This year’s theme is “Break the Chain”!

“As we continue to face these uncharted waters during the COVID-19 pandemic, DICAM is even more significant this year,” states Michelle Lee, CPC, Executive Director of OSAP. “During #DICAM20, we are giving dental professionals 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, patient scripts, to whitepapers. This information can be used year-round to ensure that every dental visit is a safe one.”

Support materials and resources for #DICAM20 are be available at OSAP.org/DICAM. 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 encourage everyone in the dental industry to participate,” Lee continued. “We hope 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 join the conversation using the hashtag #DICAM20. There are so many in the industry that are doing great things to keep their patients safe. We want to hear about them all so we can come together, as a community, and continue to promote the importance of dental infection control.”

To encourage social media posts, OSAP has provided suggested messaging and images that can be used throughout the month. Dental practitioners, including infection control coordinators, the dental trade, educators, consultants, and other interested parties are encouraged to visit osap.org to join OSAP and to stay up-to-date on the latest resources and educational opportunities to help ensure The Safest Dental Visit™ all year long.

About OSAP

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is the only dental membership association solely focused on infection prevention and patient safety education. Our members include individual clinicians, group practices, educators, researchers, consultants, trainers, compliance directors, policymakers, and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. OSAP focuses on strategies to improve compliance with safe practices and on building a strong network of recognized infection control experts. OSAP offers an extensive online collection of resources, publications, FAQs, checklists, and toolkits that help dental professionals deliver the Safest Dental Visit for their patients. Plus, online and live courses help advance the level of knowledge and skill for every member of the dental team. For additional information, visit osap.org.

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