NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) section 464-7 and Chapter 91, notice is hereby given that the Board of Dental Examiners will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Queen Liliuokalani Conference Room, First Floor, King Kalakaua Building, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, 335 Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, to hear all persons interested in the proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rules (“HAR”) Title 16, Chapter 79, relating to dentists and dental hygienists.
The purpose of the proposed amendments is to clarify and update the Board’s administrative rules by significantly amending the provisions relating to industry practices, national guidelines, and administrative procedures. In particular, the proposed amendments are to: (1) Add the definitions of “BLS” and “license in good standing”; (2) Propose new language to clarify proper sterilization and disinfection procedures and require ethics training, record keeping, patient confidentiality, and CPR for dental assistants; (3) Clarify language for a dental hygienist to perform allowable duties under general supervision of a licensed dentist in a public health setting; (4) Add the definition of “pediatric patients” to clarify the age group of children twelve years or younger for purposes of differentiating the required life support courses (e.g., CPR) when administering general anesthesia or moderate (conscious) sedation to children; (5) Propose to include the word “and” for clarity to allow a licensed dentist to administer nitrous oxide and a single oral sedative medication; (6) Require a licensed dentist to administer general anesthesia and sedation consistent with the guidelines and recommendations of the American Dental Association Guidelines for the Use Of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentist; provided that for pediatric patients the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients During and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures shall be followed; (7) Require specific CPR training when treating pediatric patients; (8) Update educational requirements / life support requirements which ensure the board of competency; (9) Propose language to clarify that a certified nurse anesthetist or physician who specializes in anesthesiology shall be currently licensed in Hawaii; is actively practicing; and employed or works in conjunction with a licensed dentist who may qualify and receive a written permit to use general anesthesia, deep sedation or moderate (conscious) sedation on dental patients; (10) Require more than one half of CE hours be directly related to clinical courses and treatment of patients; (11) Require completion of a life support course (e.g., CPR) for Healthcare Providers; (12) Require that a dentist administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation shall complete the Advance Cardiac Life Support course, or if treating pediatric patients, the Pediatric Advanced Life support course; provided that both courses shall be completed if treating pediatric patients and minors thirteen years or older; (13) Requires at least two hours of a course in ethics per biennium for dental hygienists; (14) Clarify the requirement of an additional three hours of ethics training per year for dentists, pursuant to Act 028, SLH 2015 (S.B. No. 114 S,.D.1.); (15) Define the CE categories and rules eligible for credits to ensure that the licensee continues to practice high patient care standards, safety and promotes patient/public welfare as it pertains to oral health; (16) Additionally, the proposed amendments delete unnecessary and out-dated provisions and make non-substantive changes for clarity and style.
All interested persons shall be afforded the opportunity to submit testimony, orally or in writing, at the time of hearing. All persons wishing to submit written testimony are requested to submit sixteen (16) copies of their written testimony by Monday, May 2, 2016 to the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at the address printed below.
A copy of the proposed rules will be mailed to any person who requests a copy upon receipt of $21.60 for the copy and postage. Please submit your request to the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at the address noted below or contact the Board’s office at (808) 586-2702.
Copies may be picked up at the following address between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, 335 Merchant Street, Room 343, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. The cost of a copy, $19.25 is due and payable at the time of pick up.
Further, the proposed rules may be reviewed in person free of charge at the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at the address and hours of operation printed above. In addition, the full text of the proposed rules is available and can be downloaded free of charge from the web site of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/har/pvl/proposed-pvl-har.
Individuals who require special needs accommodations are invited to call James Kobashigawa or Sandra Matsushima at (808) 586-2702 at least four (4) working days prior to the hearing.
Paul Guevara, D.D.S., Chairperson
Board of Dental Examiners
State of Hawaii
(TGI865734 4/16/16)~
