PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Boyleston, Erin S.
AU  - Collins, Marie A.
TI  - Advancing Our Profession: Are Higher Educational Standards the Answer?
DP  - 2012 Jun 01
TA  - American Dental Hygienists Association
PG  - 168--178
VI  - 86
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/86/3/168.short
4100  - http://jdh.adha.org/content/86/3/168.full
SO  - J Dent Hyg2012 Jun 01; 86
AB  - Purpose: Educational models in health care professions have changed drastically since on–the–job training models. The purpose of this manuscript was to investigate how the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, nursing and respiratory therapy have advanced their educational models for entry into practice and to recommend how dental hygiene can integrate similar models to advance the profession. The recommendations are to create an accreditation council for dental hygiene education and to mandate articulation agreements for baccalaureate degree completion in developing and existing programs. Dental hygiene must continue on the path to advance our profession and glean lessons from other health professions.