CQI – What Is It?

CQI...what is it? Is it just another acronym to go along with so many others we see and hear every day? DDS, DMD, UDA, ADA, DOPL, JADA, HOD, GOAT, FYI, FOMO, LOL, GIF, JPEG, DIY, POTUS, HIPAA, HSA, HRSA, ERISA, PIN, SBA, ..... and the list goes on and on and on. As long as there are letters in the alphabet (ABC’s), there will be acronyms created.

The letters CQI stand for “Continuous Quality Improvement”, and those words have been the basis and purpose behind the annual CQI Visits made throughout the state every year between August and November by various officers of the UDA (Utah Dental Association), and other guest presenters. UDA officers and presenters have traditionally made rounds through the state to visit the local component districts, bringing information and continuing education to dentists in their own communities, and in a more intimate setting than the annual UDA Convention, or some other larger gathering. This has provided a wonderful opportunity for UDA leadership to become better acquainted with dentists and other dental professionals from all corners of the state, and also provides for open communication and connection to the UDA leadership.

CQI meetings were established in 1997 to provide instruction and information, and fulfill requirements for dental licensure in the state, as established by DOPL (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing). The licensing board felt it was important that there should be a continuous improvement in quality of practice amongst the dental professionals throughout the state. Although no longer a requirement for licensure, the annual CQI meetings are still a very important part of keeping up to date, informed and educated, especially in those things pertaining to the Dental Practice Act. I personally still view the CQI meetings as a requirement to me for my own dental license.

Formerly these meetings were simply referred to as “state visits”. In the earlier days of my career I learned to look forward to the annual state visits and being able to personally meet the UDA officers, executive director, and others who accompanied them to present CE (continuing education) information, and updates about state and national dental laws and regulations. I thought it was about the best way there was of learning things that would affect and could impact my growing practice. But perhaps the best part of the meeting for me was being able to visit with my local colleagues, and with the state officers, and realize I was not alone in facing many of the challenges and ups and downs of my day to day practice. It’s nice and comforting to learn that someone else has also fractured a root during an extraction, or had to calm a screaming child, or had to calm a nervous parent, or had to send someone to collections. We all share some commonality in our experiences, and can learn from and strengthen one another in our professional lives and practices by sharing the different things we learn through our individual practice experiences. We take practice pearls back to our offices and are able to measure the impact they make through increased production, or improved quality of care, or more efficient practice methods we learn from others.

But I have found that even more important than the nuts and bolts of dentistry that I learn from others and carry back to my practice, are the more personal stories of success I have observed of those who strive to find the right blend of personal and professional life. There was a young dentist serving as a district officer and trying to find that right balance of professional and personal life. When I called to see if he needed help with making meeting arrangements, he apologized for not getting things done sooner, and then confessed that his wife had just had a new baby a week or two earlier. I congratulated him and reassured him that his family and new baby absolutely came first! I hoped he felt supported in putting first things first. And, by the way, he went on to do a great job in helping get the meeting organized!

Another observation came when learning of a colleague’s devotion to his dear spouse, spending time with her every day in the care center where she resides, due to early onset dementia. He said that she doesn’t go to bed until he comes to see her each day, every day. I am not a counselor, but I remember my dad reminding me that I have two ears and one mouth, so I should listen at least twice as much as I speak. As I listened I could tell that even though the circumstances were hard, the best part of this great man’s day was not what he accomplished at the office, but the precious time spent with his sweet wife at the end of each day. Such examples of others are the things that bring to me perhaps the best continuous quality improvements in my life.

So, look forward to the annual CQI meetings! Attend them with an attitude of learning and sharing. Don’t find yourself obsessed with FOMO (fear of missing out) by missing one of these great meetings. Maybe you’ll gain something that will make you feel like the GOAT (greatest of all time)! And, as another important benefit of membership in the UDA, you’ll also receive two hours of free CE credit along the way!

Dr Kay Christensen UDA President