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strong membership that the ADA is able to provide the programs members want and maintain its leadership role in the world of health care.
JADA CE PROGRAM
REVAMPED
This month The Journal introduces some changes to its members-only continuing education program, with the goal of giving participants more options. Originally, CE participants had to read all three of JADA's monthly continuing education articles and answer a dozen questions, four per article, to earn one CE credit hour. A score of at least nine correct answers (75 percent) earned the hour. But starting this month, members will have the option of answering the questions for one, two or all three of JADA's monthly CE articles, depending on their interests. For their efforts, they will earn half a credit per article or 1.5 credits for all three. An additional half credit will be awarded retroactively to all those who participated in the program during 1995, its first year. The rest of JADA's current CE program will remain the same. The monthly $10 fee, to help defray administrative costs, is the same, whether the dentist answers questions for one CE article or all three. "We think that's only fair, because the cost of processing an exam is roughly the same for one article or three," noted JADA Editor Lawrence H. Meskin. Using a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope, dentists send their answer sheet, also 38 JADA, Vol. 127, January 1996
provided, and the $10 fee (payable by check, money order or credit card) to the University of Colorado dental school, which awards the credit. Dental school faculty members grade the exam, then notify the dentist of credit earned. The dentist passes that notification on to his or her state dental board. (Editor's note: The CE test begins on page 110.) JADA SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR UPCOMING SECTION
The Journal is seeking material for a new section specially targeted to practicing dentists. JADA Editor Lawrence H. Meskin said the new section, dubbed Clinical Directions, will contain brief reports on "improvements in dental procedures and time-saving tips" that practicing dentists have developed through their own clinical expe-
Journal for the practical tips every clinician can use." He said JADA expects to run two or three items each month in the Clinical Directions section. Each item submitted will be subject to review by a team of clinicians who are members of The Journal's newly formed Readers Panel. Dr. Meskin said the new section also could be an outlet for table clinic participants to present their material to a larger dental audience. "We would welcome table clinic materials and encourage participants to submit their presentations," he said. Manuscripts for Clinical Directions are strictly limited to two double-spaced pages, accompanied by no more than one illustration. Items should be addressed to Clinical Directions, ADA Publishing Co., 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.
rience.
"This section will give clinicians a chance to share their practical knowledge with colleagues," said Dr. Meskin. "In the daily practice of dentistry, practitioners often 'discover' some new ways of doing things that could benefit the entire profession. That's the kind of thing we're looking for to include in this new section." He said that in the past, JADA would often receive the sort of material the new section will contain, "but we couldn't use it because it didn't fit The Journal's existing format." The supply of such items, he said, quickly dried up when clinicians realized that the material didn't lend itself to the lengthier research treatment common to dental journals. "Now," Dr. Meskin said, "we've carved out a place in The
MEETINGS
- The 1996 Hinman Dental Meeting will convene March 2124 in Atlanta. For information, contact the Hinman Dental Society, 60 Lenox Point, Atlanta 30324-3170; phone 1-404-2311663; fax 1-404-231-9638. - The 8th Annual National Conference on Special Care Issues in Dentistry will convene April 19-21 in Chicago. For information, contact the Federation of Special Care Organizations in Dentistry, 211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 948, Chicago 60611; phone 1-312440-2660. - The American Association of Dental Schools will hold its annual session March 15-19 in San Francisco. For information, contact the AADS, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-2212;