Align Technology is implementing a product proficiency program in North America to help ensure that Invisalign-trained doctors have the experience and confidence necessary to achieve high-quality treatment outcomes for Invisalign patients, according to the company.
Align describes the Invisalign system as "an evolving, skill-based procedure that requires regular usage and ongoing education to develop proficiency with the product and technique." Effective June 1, the Invisalign product proficiency program requires every Invisalign provider in North America to start 10 Invisalign cases and complete at least 10 Invisalign-specific continuing education (CE) credits each calendar year to maintain active provider status. Doctors who do not meet the annual case start and CE requirements by the end of each calendar year, starting with December 31, 2009, will be able to continue treating any cases in progress, but they will not be eligible to submit new Invisalign cases or to use Invisalign marketing resources. Doctors can reactivate their provider status by retaking Invisalign Clear Essentials I training and meeting the proficiency requirements during the new calendar year.
"Based on more than a million patients treated to date, we know that a doctor's proficiency levels with Invisalign are a reflection of his or her Invisalign case experience," said Dan Ellis, vice president of North America sales, in a press release. "We are committed to helping our customers gain the product knowledge and confidence they need to achieve high-quality treatment outcomes. In addition, by ensuring a baseline of experience, Align can also better support the needs of Invisalign providers by tailoring programs and services to help doctors build and maintain a working knowledge of Invisalign."
As part of the Invisalign proficiency program, Align has created a Proficiency Pathway to ensure that doctors have the appropriate education tools and support to be successful with Invisalign. The Proficiency Pathway provides clinical educational opportunities to help doctors achieve confidence with case selection and treatment planning, case submission and treatment management, as well as aspects of practice development. The pathway is divided into six milestones, and under each milestone Align has identified courses or content specifically related to increasing a doctor's knowledge and confidence based on his or her current case experience level.
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