Dental Hygiene at MCC

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs), also known as “Competencies for Dental Hygiene Graduates”, outlines the knowledge, skills and attitudes that graduates of our program must exhibit to successfully complete the program and become competent Dental Hygiene practitioners. The PSLOs represent an integration of knowledge, understanding, skills and values.

These PSLOs define the core content of our objective curriculum and allow for continual assessment of our program. In other words, the PSLOs set out a blueprint for the curriculum of our program. Each course student learning outcome (CSLO) serves as a foundation or supports the PSLOs. These PSLOs are dynamic standards and must be responsive to change. The educational plan set out by these PSLOs will require regular review for continual program improvement and student achievement.

The Dental Hygiene Graduate will be competent in:

1. Using current scientific evidence to implement accepted standards of care to individualize the dental hygiene process of care to a diverse population of patients.
2. Using effective communication to collaborate with patients, colleagues and other professionals to provide optimal oral health care.
3. Promoting the values of oral and general health, integrating social determinants to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate community oral health programs.
4. Applying self-evaluation to ensure a high level of professional knowledge, judgement, and management of ethical and legal considerations in the practice of dental hygiene.
5. Demonstrating responsibility for professional growth through service activities and affiliations with professional organizations.

Health Programs Health Requirements Policy
Students accepted to Health Programs must be in compliance with the current immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Health Care Personnel (HCP) and in accordance with state law, MGL, Chapter 76, Section 15C, and its regulations at 105 CMR 220.000 - 220.700 in order to participate in an externship placement or clinical experience. Students may also be required to meet additional requirements of the particular health program and/or clinical agency as outlined below.

Students who are not in compliance with these requirements may not be allowed to participate in classes, externship placement, or clinical experiences, which may jeopardize their ability to continue in the program.

Health Record Requirements
Completion of Pages 2 and 3 of Required Student Health Record Form, Which Includes:

• Student Information
• Physical Examination and evaluation by a health care provider (completed within past 12 months).
• Testing for Color (This may be administered in Lowell by the Health Compliance Personnel in the Cowan Center, 5th floor, Cubical 9, the Administrative Assistant in Pollard 301, or the Administrative Assistant in Derby 409)
• TB testing either:
  • Two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) for Tuberculosis
    • 1st TB/PPD given, read and recorded.
    • If positive, see notes below.
    • If negative, repeat in 1-3 weeks (2nd TB/PPD given, read and recorded)

OR

• • TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold)

Notes: Positive reactors to the skin test must submit positive TB test report and a report of a negative chest x-ray performed in the past 5 years from admission date, and documentation of an annual symptom assessment report from your health care provider.

The TB Test must be done before entering the program and updated at least every 12 months

For the annual update of TB testing, Either

• a one-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test*
  OR
• TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold) will be sufficient to meet the requirements for the annual update.

Students are only required to do the two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test upon acceptance into their health program.

Exemptions From Vaccinations and Immunization
Although currently the MA Department of Public Health does not require all of the vaccinations listed in this Health Requirements Policy, to comply with MCC’s clinical sites and hospital-based placements, we require these vaccinations for Health Students who have not otherwise not been approved for an exemption.

All medical requests must be verified with a letter from a medical provider. The letter must specify which immunizations cannot be given and the condition that prevents the administration of the vaccine(s). All religious exemptions must be accompanied by a statement of a student sincerely held belief and may also include a statement from a clergy member or faith-based leader.

In the event of an outbreak of any of the vaccine preventable diseases in the community, unvaccinated students will be excluded from campus, classes, and clinical rotations until the period of communicability has passed. The College will not be responsible for any costs associated with missed classes and no refunds will be made.

While MCC will make reasonable efforts to place you at a clinical site, clinical placements cannot be guaranteed for those who have not received all required vaccinations. This may prevent you from being able to participate in clinical/practicum courses and externships, and/or successfully complete the program.

Failure to meet the health/immunization requirements deadlines will result in removal from the program.

Accepted: 2/21/06 Revised 12/11; 10/12, 8/13, 10/15, 4/16, 6/16, 3/17, 1/18, 8/18, 10/18, 8/20, 8/21, 11/21, 5/22, 6/23, 11/23, 5/8/24

*NOTE:  Although currently the Massachusetts Department of Public Health does not require these vaccines, most of our clinical partners do. While a reasonable effort will be made to place you in a clinical facility if you do not have these, clinical placement cannot be guaranteed for those who have not received these vaccinations.

IMPORTANT: We encourage you to begin completing the health requirements now and save a copy of your record. Please review the onboarding requirements.  Titers and vaccines are required. This process could take up to 6 months or more to complete. You must meet ALL requirements or you will not be able to begin the program.

Immunization Requirements for Health Care Personnel
Official Documentation of:

• One dose of Tdap vaccination, with a booster (either Td or Tdap) every 10
  
• Two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, given at least 28 days apart on/after 12 months of age, or a positive blood titer report for all three - (1) Rubeola, (2) Mumps, (3) Rubella (with original copy of lab results)
  
• Completion of the 3 dose Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine series or the new 2 dose Heplisav-B,
  
• Positive Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti HBs) blood titer report (with original copy of lab results)
• Two doses of Varicella vaccine given one month apart, or a positive Varicella blood titer report with original copy of lab results
• One dose of MenACWY meningococcal vaccine administered on or after 16th birthday for any newly enrolled full- time student 21 years of age or younger.
• Annual flu vaccine including manufacturer, expiration date, and lot number Due October 1st of each year
• Up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccine upon entry and annual boosters including manufacturer, lot number, and expiration date

OSHA Requirements
Color Deficiency testing (may be administered in Lowell by the Health Compliance Personnel in the Cowan Center, 5th floor, Cubical 9, the Administrative Assistant in Pollard 301, or the Administrative Assistant in Derby 409).

As part of the program curriculum, you will receive education for OSHA Blood-borne Pathogen Standard and Universal Precautions for all health program students prior to clinical placement.
Student Health and Medical Insurance
All students enrolled in Health Programs are required to carry health insurance because of the potential of exposure to a variety of communicable/infectious diseases as well as contractual requirements of some affiliating agencies. The period of coverage must be current throughout students’ enrollment in the Health Program.

Malpractice Insurance
As part of your tuition, MCC will provide Malpractice/Liability Coverage of one million dollars per incident and three million dollars aggregate is maintained for all students in health programs. This insurance only addresses a claim arising from activities required by the student’s program.

Health Clearance for Participation in the Clinical Area
All enrolled Health Program students, new and returning, will be expected to have completed the Health Records, Immunization, and OSHA (Color Deficiency Testing) requirements prior to participation in any externship placement or clinical experience.

All students should submit documentation of these requirements to CastleBranch as directed in the admission acceptance package. CastleBranch is an online resource that allows health program students to submit and track their health records with the College. The documentation will be reviewed and depending upon completeness of the record, the program coordinators will be notified regarding health clearance status for students enrolled in their specific program. Students may not participate in the externship or clinical experience until all records are successfully submitted and they are cleared, and/or an exemption is approved.

Students are also responsible for updating any requirements (e.g., annual TB/PPD test, CPR, Tdap) in order to continue their participation in the externship or clinical experience if any requirement expires before the end of the externship or clinical experience. CastleBranch reminder alerts start 21 days before due date, and repeat weekly thereafter.

Medical Clearance for Return to Class/Clinical After Illness/Injury or Change in Health Status
Students are responsible for notifying their course faculty/clinical instructor and their Department Chair/Program Coordinator/ Director within 24 hours of any change in health status, including but not limited to:

1. Exposure to a reportable disease requiring
   1. isolation/quarantine
   2. Symptoms/disease
   3. Accident/injury
   4. Any circumstance that may change health status
2. Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director should notify the Health Compliance and Data Coordinator (HCDC) as soon as possible of this change.
3. The Health Compliance and Data Coordinator will provide the student with a copy of a clinical clearance form to submit to the student’s health care provider.
4. Students will not be permitted to return to classes or the clinical area until documentation from the health care provider is returned to the HCDC and the student is cleared to return.
5. The Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director will notify the appropriate course faculty/clinical instructor that the student is cleared to return, and send the original of the clinical clearance form to the Health Compliance personnel.

Drug Screening: Patient safety is a paramount concern in the health care arena both locally and nationally.  To ensure that patient care is not compromised, facilities and agencies engaged in patient care have begun to require mandatory drug testing of all their employees and any affiliating groups.  Some clinical facilities, which are used in health programs at Middlesex Community College, require that all students participating in a clinical experience at that facility have undergone and passed a drug screening analysis.  Therefore, students enrolled in health programs that utilize these facilities will be required to undergo and pass random drug screening in order to remain in the program. In addition, students may be required to undergo random drug screening at the clinical facility as part of their clinical participation requirements.

Students who either fail to pass, or refuse to submit to, or fail to schedule and take a drug screening analysis within the designated time frame will be deemed ineligible for clinical placement, and consequently will be dismissed from the program.  All students will be notified, in writing, of the requirement for drug screening when enrolling in a program that requires such screening. 

CPR Certification:  All students must be currently certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) before entering any clinical nursing course and must maintain valid certification throughout the nursing program. Certification is valid for two years. Some clinical agencies may require annual re-certification. A student may not go into the clinical area until the requirement has been met. Each day missed for this reason will be considered a clinical absence.

The certification must include:

• one- and two-person CPR of adults, children, and infants who are conscious or unconscious.
• management of foreign body airway obstruction in adults, children, and infants who are conscious or unconscious.
• use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).
• live demonstration/practice. Online certification/recertification are not accepted.

Examples of courses which meet these requirements are:

1). Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer with AED Essentials

OR

2.) American Heart Association BLS for the Health Care Provider

All students should submit documentation of these requirements via Castlebranch. https://login.castlebranch.com/login. Information to create an account via Castlebranch has been provided to you at orientation and as part of your acceptance to the program. Instructions are also located in your blackboard site and the nursing website.

The Program has implemented a compliance tracking system through CastleBranch. Records and forms will need to be submitted to CastleBranch, in addition to giving physical copies of documentation of FLU and COVID-19 vaccination record to clinical sites during each semester (per DPH guidelines). Upon acceptance students will receive directions to set up a CastleBranch account and will be provided with a checklist of health records that will need to be uploaded to Castlebranch. A list of the health records to submit is located on the nursing webpage, in the nursing student handbook, and on the nursing admissions website. The Program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner. 

Nebal Al-Taweel, RDH, Assistant Professor
978-656-3061
MS, University of Bridgeport, BS, Vermont Technical College, AS, Middlesex Community College

Kimberly Augustus, RDH, Assistant Professor & Academic Clinic Coordinator
978-656-3066
BA, University of Massachusetts; AS Middlesex Community College

Nancy Baccari, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MA, University of Massachusetts, BS, Westbrook College, AAS, Westbrook College

Rebecca Bennett, RDH, LPN, Clinical Instructor
MS Ed., MCPHS University; AS MCPHS University

Julie Breen, RDH, Professor
978-656-3055
MEd., Rivier University; BS, Northeastern University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Nina Carresi, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS Ed., Saint Joseph's College of Maine; BSDH, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Debbie Fernandes, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Deborah Finnegan, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS, MCPHS University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Peter Gangi, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BSED, University of Vermont; AS, University of Vermont

JoAnne Lamoureux, RDH, Clinical Instructor
MS, Framingham State University; BS, University of Rhode Island; AS, University of Rhode Island

Christine Lombardo, RDH, Associate Professor & Department Chair
978-656-3051
M.S.Ed, St Joesph’s College; BS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Leah MacPherson, RDH, Professor
978.656.3058
MHP, Northeastern University; BS, Northeastern University; AS, University of New England

Mary Ellen Maney, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, Northeastern University; AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Elizabeth McElwain, RDH, CDA, Clinical Instructor
BS, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Crystal Ostroski, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, University of Bridgeport; AS, Middlesex Community College

Sarah Peterson-Taggard, Front Desk Manager, Dental Hygiene Clinic
978.656.3250

Kathryn Power, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BA, University of Massachusetts; AS, Middlesex Community College

Anita Qualter, RDH, Clinic Operations Manager, Dental Programs
978.656.3062

Marcie Silva, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, Mt. Ida College; AS, Middlesex Community College

Elizabeth Stone, RDH, Associate Professor 
978-656-3063
MS. Ed., St Joesph’s College; BS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

Donna Thibodeau, RDH, Professor 
978-656-3065
MS, Regis College; BS, Northeastern University; AS, Middlesex Community College

Patricia Tjoutjakis, RDH, Clinical Instructor
BS, MCPHS University; AS, Northeastern University; Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists

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Supervising Dentists

Dr. Linda Blashke-Doty, DMD

Dr. Mary Terkoski, DDS