Message from the President & Registrar - October 2023
Dear Colleagues,
This issue finds us reflecting back on a busy summer season for the College and looking forward to an active fall.
In July, we partnered with the other oral health Colleges (representing dental hygienists, dental technologists and denturists) to rescind our COVID-19-specific guidance. As we move into flu season, dentists still have responsibilities with respect to COVID-19 and must ensure their practice meets Ontario’s standards for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC). Visit the College’s website for resources.
In late August, the Ontario government approved the Emergency Class of Registration for all 26 heath regulatory colleges. The aim is to reduce barriers for new applicants in emergency situations, as determined by Council or the government. At its September 21, 2023 meeting, Council approved by-law amendments in relation to fees for the new emergency class of registration. The consultation on those by-law changes remains open until November 24th.
On the topic of registration, the RCDSO Annual Licence Renewal opened on October 11th through the RCDSO portal. Though the deadline is December 15th, we strongly encourage registrants to renew early to give RCDSO staff the opportunity to answer your questions or provide technical assistance ahead of the deadline.
As noted in a recent communication to the profession, Council directed staff to explore the option of divesting from direct ownership and operation of the Professional Liability Program. The program is working well today—and dentists should continue to use the program as they always have. As this decision is the beginning of a lengthy process, it is too early to answer many of your detailed questions, such as what future registration or liability fees might be. RCDSO is committed to keeping you informed as we further research and develop our plans.
You’ll be hearing more about our upcoming RCDSO Connect session on November 1st, where you will have the chance to learn about important regulatory updates, access to care and get an introduction to the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Dental Program. This live-only session will be eligible for a category 2 CE point so be sure to register early as space is limited.
Finally, October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness about cyber threats and equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills to stay safe online. It’s how we protect patients and each other. Our March 2023 RCDSO Connect session, available on YouTube, featured a presentation on cybersecurity. We encourage you to watch it.
Sincerely,
Dr. Harinder Sandhu and Daniel Faulkner