Portable Dental Services Kala Smith, DMD Dental Director
Proudly committed to C.A.R.E. O Compassion O Access O Respect O Excellence "Building relationships............... Providing great care"
History O Started in 1995 O Achieved FQHC Status in 1999 O Started portable services in 2012 O Expanded into Joplin School District in 2014 O Dedicated hygienist and front desk staff O Dentists rotate on portable O Assistant from the dentist’s clinic comes with dentist O Upon receiving a grant last year, we were able to buy equipment for a 2 nd unit
Schools We Serve O Joplin School District – serve all 16 schools from Joplin Early Childhood to Joplin High School O McDonald County School District – serve 9 schools including elementary schools and middle schools O Barry County School District – serve 3 schools that serve kindergarten to 12 th grade O Preventative services at a YMCA, Head Start, and UMOS
Percentage of Students on Free/Reduced Lunch 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Number of Students Served 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
Delivery Method O Memorandums of understanding are sent to and signatures obtained from the Superintendents that are valid for 1 school year O Portable units set up at schools yearly for 1 – 2.5 weeks depending on size and need O Nurses are our point of contact at the schools O Initially, letters explaining our services and consents are sent home for preventative services: prophy, exam, fluoride, and sealants O Pending treatment needed and cooperation level, consents are sent home for restorations, extractions, SSCs, pulpotomies
School Responsibilities O Collect information/paperwork from parents including consent forms, medical history, insurance, and treatment authorization. O Transfer Students to and from dental site. O Coordinate with Access Family Care staff for scheduling of the school based dental services. O Provide internet access for ACCESS Family Care computers. O Provide available room space for portable dental equipment, including electric hook-ups.
Portable Services
Transporting Equipment
Treatment O Preventative including sealants O Treatment as allowed by consent and time O Very particular on patients chosen for treatment O Any treatment not done is referred to our clinics O Getting in touch with parents can be difficult O Allow parents to be present that request O Parents also are given cell phone of portable hygienist on forms and the numbers of our clinics
Our Challenges O Huge need with limited resources O Parents are a barrier with returning consent O Wear and tear on equipment O Physically demanding for staff O Non-ideal locations
Key Components O Good relationships with the school nurses O Motivated and flexible staff O iPads
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