USA - Collaboration: Teeth for time
Collaboration: Teeth for time
Elizabeth Huff
The Enquirer
Weak teeth run in Becci Dockum's family. Hers keep breaking, she says, and she has just a dozen or so left.They just charge so much," said Dockum, who has no dental insurance. "I'm not able to afford that."
Many without access to dental care will go to great lengths to avoid ER treatments — even pulling their own teeth.
But a 6-month-old program created by the Regional Health Alliance and administered through Calhoun Health Plan aims to give people like Dockum another alternative: trade community service for free dental care.
Joseph Love of Battle Creek hadn't been to the dentist in more than 36 years and said he covered his mouth when he smiled. At age 52, his teeth needed a major overhaul.He spent eight hours volunteering at the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, for which he got a tooth pulled and some fillings.
"It was an experience for me, because I don't get out much with my disability — and it helped my teeth," he said. "You can't beat that with a stick."
Trading volunteer work for dental care, or for any kind of medical care, has not been done in the United States in at least the past 45 years, said Raymond Higbea, Battle Creek Health System's Emergency Department Quality and Support Coordinator whose dissertation examined the issue.
"I have not seen anything like this," Higbea said. "This is a wonderful example of community collaboration on one problem."
LACK OF INSURANCE
A visit to the emergency department is often the last resort for uninsured people in severe pain because it is expensive. It can mean thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for the individual, and unpaid bills translate to higher insurance premiums for the rest of the population.
Plus, the treatment is only so effective. Staff can treat the pain, but not the cause."We're not dentists here," Higbea said. "Some physicians have suggested not even (giving antibiotics) because their rationale behind that is they won't really get the problem taken care of, which is their tooth."
Battle Creek Health System reports that in 2006, on average more than 100 people a month went to their emergency department for toothaches.
Now when someone comes in with toothache, they are also set up with an appointment at Calhoun Health Plan. People ages 18 to 59 who live under 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, which is about $20,400 an individual, have the option to volunteer for dental care.
After the first two required volunteer hours and dental hygiene class are completed, patients can work an additional hour for every $100 of prescribed dental care.
An estimated 4,700 people in Calhoun County have no dental insurance and would need urgent care in any given year, said Jill Wise, health consultant for the Regional Health Alliance.
"There's probably about 11,750 visits that we need to basically create access for if we really want to address the issue," she said.
A PAINFUL MEMORY
Last year, Dockum, who lives in Emmett Township, went to Dr. L.C. Chilimigras's office when he was offering free extractions to the uninsured. She waited six hours to get a tooth pulled, and was sad to see some people had to be turned away at the end of the day.
Dockum takes care of her elderly mother and grandson and lives close to poverty. But this year she was able to give two hours of community service at the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and spent one hour taking an oral hygiene class. Dr. David Brown of Brown Family Dentistry then agreed to pull a broken tooth.
"He got me in right away because it was so bad," Dockum said.Laughing, she said she loves seeing the dentist now."Isn't it bad? I'm looking forward to getting a tooth pulled," she said.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Since the program began in June, Battle Creek Health System has seen statistically significant reductions in the number of people going to the emergency department for dental pain, said Steve Marzolf, the department's director of patient care services.
For example, the hospital saw 110 people in Oct. 2006 — the number fell to 77 this October.
The hospital also has saved about $5,000 a month from this reduction — a drop in the bucket to the $220 million institution.
"It's not so much the dollar amount, as it is the satisfaction in other patients," Higbea said. "It's loosening up ED (emergency department) space for people who really do need it."
Local nonprofits are feeling good about the program, too, which is getting some people to volunteer for the first time.
"There's never enough volunteers to fill all the possible slots," said Jim Pearl, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek. "I'm just excited that they get exposed to volunteering because it can lead to some skill building, and building their self esteem, and it helps the community, too."
THINKING BIGGER
Calhoun Health Plan's Dentists' Partnership is just one element in an overall vision to provide total access to care for the underinsured poor. So far they have coordinated donated care from dentists and primary care physicians, and they are working on creating a specialist network.
"We've been doing these little silos where the greatest need has been," said Samantha Pearl, Calhoun Health Plan executive director and coincidentally Jim Pearl's wife. "The bigger vision, this community access partnership, is that under one umbrella there would be eye care professionals, dental professionals, primary care physicians, specialist physicians, access to lab and hospitalization."
Calhoun Health Plan would become the county's medical problem solvers by being the hub for donated medical services and patient referrals, with the support of the Regional Health Alliance. The agency is more flexible than others, because it coordinates resources that already exist, she said.
"That model has been successful around the country," Higbea said. "They're on the verge of making themselves an official project access program."
The idea, or the glue that holds everything together, is the belief that everyone has something to give to make the community better for everyone.
"Almost everyone is in a position to do something," Samantha Pearl said.
Thankfully, she's never had to go to the emergency department for the pain, though it has come close.
Nellie Griffin, 38, gave up a lot to come to Battle Creek. She moved from South Carolina recently, giving up her home, job and friends to finally finish her business degree at Kellogg Community College.
Working as a third-shift cashier, she said the health and dental insurance her employer offers costs about half a week's pay — something she can't afford.
But she's already been volunteering for the Nursing Clinic of Battle Creek, so to get a broken tooth fixed in exchange was an easy decision.
"This is cool," she said. "It's helping me get something done that I need done."
Elizabeth Huff can be reached at 966-0684 or ehuff@battlecr.gannett.com.
Battle Creek, Michigan is fluoridated
Elizabeth Huff
The Enquirer
Weak teeth run in Becci Dockum's family. Hers keep breaking, she says, and she has just a dozen or so left.They just charge so much," said Dockum, who has no dental insurance. "I'm not able to afford that."
Many without access to dental care will go to great lengths to avoid ER treatments — even pulling their own teeth.
But a 6-month-old program created by the Regional Health Alliance and administered through Calhoun Health Plan aims to give people like Dockum another alternative: trade community service for free dental care.
Joseph Love of Battle Creek hadn't been to the dentist in more than 36 years and said he covered his mouth when he smiled. At age 52, his teeth needed a major overhaul.He spent eight hours volunteering at the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, for which he got a tooth pulled and some fillings.
"It was an experience for me, because I don't get out much with my disability — and it helped my teeth," he said. "You can't beat that with a stick."
Trading volunteer work for dental care, or for any kind of medical care, has not been done in the United States in at least the past 45 years, said Raymond Higbea, Battle Creek Health System's Emergency Department Quality and Support Coordinator whose dissertation examined the issue.
"I have not seen anything like this," Higbea said. "This is a wonderful example of community collaboration on one problem."
LACK OF INSURANCE
A visit to the emergency department is often the last resort for uninsured people in severe pain because it is expensive. It can mean thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for the individual, and unpaid bills translate to higher insurance premiums for the rest of the population.
Plus, the treatment is only so effective. Staff can treat the pain, but not the cause."We're not dentists here," Higbea said. "Some physicians have suggested not even (giving antibiotics) because their rationale behind that is they won't really get the problem taken care of, which is their tooth."
Battle Creek Health System reports that in 2006, on average more than 100 people a month went to their emergency department for toothaches.
Now when someone comes in with toothache, they are also set up with an appointment at Calhoun Health Plan. People ages 18 to 59 who live under 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, which is about $20,400 an individual, have the option to volunteer for dental care.
After the first two required volunteer hours and dental hygiene class are completed, patients can work an additional hour for every $100 of prescribed dental care.
An estimated 4,700 people in Calhoun County have no dental insurance and would need urgent care in any given year, said Jill Wise, health consultant for the Regional Health Alliance.
"There's probably about 11,750 visits that we need to basically create access for if we really want to address the issue," she said.
A PAINFUL MEMORY
Last year, Dockum, who lives in Emmett Township, went to Dr. L.C. Chilimigras's office when he was offering free extractions to the uninsured. She waited six hours to get a tooth pulled, and was sad to see some people had to be turned away at the end of the day.
Dockum takes care of her elderly mother and grandson and lives close to poverty. But this year she was able to give two hours of community service at the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and spent one hour taking an oral hygiene class. Dr. David Brown of Brown Family Dentistry then agreed to pull a broken tooth.
"He got me in right away because it was so bad," Dockum said.Laughing, she said she loves seeing the dentist now."Isn't it bad? I'm looking forward to getting a tooth pulled," she said.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Since the program began in June, Battle Creek Health System has seen statistically significant reductions in the number of people going to the emergency department for dental pain, said Steve Marzolf, the department's director of patient care services.
For example, the hospital saw 110 people in Oct. 2006 — the number fell to 77 this October.
The hospital also has saved about $5,000 a month from this reduction — a drop in the bucket to the $220 million institution.
"It's not so much the dollar amount, as it is the satisfaction in other patients," Higbea said. "It's loosening up ED (emergency department) space for people who really do need it."
Local nonprofits are feeling good about the program, too, which is getting some people to volunteer for the first time.
"There's never enough volunteers to fill all the possible slots," said Jim Pearl, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek. "I'm just excited that they get exposed to volunteering because it can lead to some skill building, and building their self esteem, and it helps the community, too."
THINKING BIGGER
Calhoun Health Plan's Dentists' Partnership is just one element in an overall vision to provide total access to care for the underinsured poor. So far they have coordinated donated care from dentists and primary care physicians, and they are working on creating a specialist network.
"We've been doing these little silos where the greatest need has been," said Samantha Pearl, Calhoun Health Plan executive director and coincidentally Jim Pearl's wife. "The bigger vision, this community access partnership, is that under one umbrella there would be eye care professionals, dental professionals, primary care physicians, specialist physicians, access to lab and hospitalization."
Calhoun Health Plan would become the county's medical problem solvers by being the hub for donated medical services and patient referrals, with the support of the Regional Health Alliance. The agency is more flexible than others, because it coordinates resources that already exist, she said.
"That model has been successful around the country," Higbea said. "They're on the verge of making themselves an official project access program."
The idea, or the glue that holds everything together, is the belief that everyone has something to give to make the community better for everyone.
"Almost everyone is in a position to do something," Samantha Pearl said.
Thankfully, she's never had to go to the emergency department for the pain, though it has come close.
Nellie Griffin, 38, gave up a lot to come to Battle Creek. She moved from South Carolina recently, giving up her home, job and friends to finally finish her business degree at Kellogg Community College.
Working as a third-shift cashier, she said the health and dental insurance her employer offers costs about half a week's pay — something she can't afford.
But she's already been volunteering for the Nursing Clinic of Battle Creek, so to get a broken tooth fixed in exchange was an easy decision.
"This is cool," she said. "It's helping me get something done that I need done."
Elizabeth Huff can be reached at 966-0684 or ehuff@battlecr.gannett.com.
Battle Creek, Michigan is fluoridated
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