Virginia Department of Health Professions

Congratulations to the newly formed and elected Executive Committee for the Dental and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact with The Council of State Governments (CSG).    "Compact privilege" means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from a participating state to practice as a dentist or dental hygienist in a remote state. Compacts help address workforce shortages in a particular health profession. Seven states are required to participate to establish a Compact. The DDH Compact implementation process will take 18 to 24 months to complete.   Pictured from left: Bridgett Anderson LDA, MBA , Vice-Chair (MN), Jamie Sacksteder, Secretary (VA), Corey Schaal, Treasurer (OH), not pictured is Matthew Bistan (WI), Chair 

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month of January to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. The Virginia Board of Medicine supports the Commonwealth’s efforts to combat human trafficking. It believes that healthcare providers are in a unique position to help identify individuals who are being trafficked. To that end, the Board requires 1 hour of continuing education on the topic of human trafficking to enable its licensees to recognize those who are being trafficked and to know the resources to which they should be referred. This hour of continuing education is a condition of renewing one’s license to practice in Virginia. If you see something, or know of someone needing help, call the antitrafficking 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

We celebrate more than 16,000 Virginia-licensed pharmacists in honor of National Pharmacist Day on January 12. Pharmacists are one of the most trusted healthcare professionals. They improve patient quality of life, and help educate both patients and other healthcare professionals. They are also experts on how certain drugs interact, possible side effects, and optimal drug treatment for certain conditions. A day in the life of a pharmacist includes: - reviewing prescriptions for accuracy and appropriateness in treating the patient's medical condition - mitigating the risk of possible drug interactions and allergic reactions - providing drug expertise to other members of the healthcare team - recommending over-the-counter medication - testing patients for certain diseases and initiating drug treatment - administering vaccinations and other medications - filling prescriptions - maintaining records - and managing the pharmacy. Be sure to thank your local pharmacist for their service to our community!  

A new year is a GREAT time to focus on physical health and mental wellness. Did you know that you can verify credentials of a Virginia health practitioner using DHP’s License Lookup? It takes less than 60 seconds. Before making that appointment with a new provider, search the free online tool, located on our Public Resources web page. Search by occupation, provider’s first and last name, and select Virginia here: https://lnkd.in/e-ivkPJg More than 100 licensed occupations are listed. These range from chiropractors, dentists, doctors, and pharmacists, to counselors, funeral directors, nurse aids, and veterinarians.

DHP colleagues serve the public in every season! Employees "adopted" an Angel (local child) or Silver Bell (local senior) and purchased their holiday wish list items. We enjoyed volunteering with The Salvation Army to help organize thousands of donated presents for local families this Christmas.

Exciting day sharing in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s two-year anniversary announcements for Right Help, Right Now. The plan continues to transform mental healthcare in Virginia. As part of the plan, to prioritize the behavioral health workforce, Virginia Department of Health Professions partnered with multiple state agencies to create a digital campaign focused on recruiting behavioral health professionals in the Commonwealth. The campaign is co-led by Executive Director of the Behavioral Science Units Jaime Hoyle and DHP Chief Deputy Director James Jenkins, BS-N, RN, SCRN who also serves as Special Advisor to the Governor for the Healthcare Workforce. Today marks the official launch of BeTheChange.Virginia.gov. The new site features career pathways, educational resources, and job listings in the behavioral and mental health workforce. It targets students and young adults to fill these shortages. Thank you to our amazing partners for their collaboration and dedication to this important work strengthening Virginia's behavioral health workforce. Commonwealth of Virginia VCU Brandcenter Virginia Information Technologies Agency Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Virginia Department of Education Virginia Department of Health Virginia Private Colleges State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Also launching this year, Virginia will implement three new career pathways that include Behavioral Health Technician Assistant, Behavioral Health Technician, and Master’s Psychology Practitioner.

We are seeking a Nursing Education Program Inspector. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e4TveV8K

We thank Governor Glenn Youngkin for presenting a proclamation celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week in Virginia at the VCU School of Nursing. Pictured from left: Executive Director of the Virginia Board of Nursing Claire Morris, RN; Board President Cynthia Swineford, RN; Board Member Dr. Shelly Smith, NP; Governor Glenn Youngkin; Board Member Pamela Davis, LPN; Board Member Carol Cartte, RN; and Board Deputy Director Robin Hills, RN. #NPWeek #VCNP50 #VNA #Nurses