HARRISBURG SMILES RESHAPING ACCESS TO CARE IN CAPITAL REGION
By Rob Pugliese , Director of Communications
Sometimes , the most satisfying results are those achieved from overcoming significant challenges . In the continuing efforts to find new opportunities to treat those indigent patients who lack insurance or who may not be eligible for reduced-cost programs , PDA member dentists are always searching for new ways to improve access to care . We all realize that Pennsylvania has been one of the most difficult state environments to enact improvements to the system , with low reimbursement levels and a cumbersome structure . Then there are the patients with emergencies who often have no place to go and dentists who have no place to send them . Purely volunteer efforts are often difficult to maintain . As a result , working toward an access to care plan that will have more long-term sustainability may necessitate starting small and working up to something larger .
What began as just one more promising idea in a local dental society ’ s continuing efforts to improve access to care has now blossomed into a much broader success story that could have long-lasting impact for the underserved population of south central Pennsylvania . Considering the group of dedicated individuals involved , their persistence and success shouldn ’ t really be a surprise .
The Harrisburg Area Dental Society ( HADS ) has a reputation for being one of the more active societies in our state . Its members have achieved tremendous results in numerous initiatives the last several years , including two public relations efforts in 2009 – a 30-minute television program broadcast on ABC27 here in Harrisburg , largely due to the hard work of HADS vice president Dr . Marianna Clougherty , that included a phone bank for patients ; and a special interactive dental exhibit from the National Museum of Dentistry that HADS brought to the Whitaker Science Center in downtown Harrisburg , with then HADS secretary Dr . Ashleigh Lancaster-Fishel coordinating this educational event .
In their latest foray , HADS members have been working for the last two years toward their goal of a comprehensive program to provide better care for the neediest patients in their communities . Developing this access model , and working through all of the kinks , has been anything but easy .
“ We didn ’ t want to do something that was only going to be good for a year ,” said Dr . Andrew Gould , one of the HADS members who spearheaded this process . “ We talked about keeping it functional , long term .” The seeds were planted in 2008 with the creation of HADS ’ Task Force on Access to Care .
Dr . Gould , who was HADS president at the time , said the idea came about , in part , from a desire to change public perception about the good work dentists do in their communities .
“ We were in a HADS meeting and a touchy subject had come up . It had to do with our governor ,” Dr . Gould said . “ He had made a statement in the news about ‘ our health care professionals not giving back to the community .’ We quickly realized that our access to care problems were not only due to the obvious reasons – apathy , lack of funds , initiatives – but also the public ’ s perception of what we as health care providers actually give to the community .”
Dr . Gould and his colleagues decided to launch the HADS Task Force on Access to Care , which has evolved into an official standing committee within the HADS Executive Committee branch ( Committee on Access to Care and Outreach ).
The group ’ s mission statement is , “ To act as a conduit of emergency dental care for the underserved dental populations and help match those dental needs with the available resources in our dental community .”
September / October 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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