Sustainability: the key to Saint Mary’s mobile dental program
When Michael Johnson eases back in his chair to think about the one main ingredient to their successful mobile programs, he calmly states, “You can’t live off a good idea. Before starting a mobile dental service, you have to know how you are going to sustain it,”
Mr. Johnson, director of mission outreach and community benefit for Saint Mary’s Health Network in Reno, emphasizes the importance of planning an ongoing mobile outreach program. “Planning for sustainability is the key to the success of Saint Mary’s mobile dental program.”
Saint Mary’s Health Network in Reno is in its fourth year of delivering outreach dental services to low-income residents of the northwestern part of the state. The program started because few Nevada dentists take uninsured patients. The hospital operates two mobile dental programs: preventive and restorative. Both programs are aimed primarily at children on State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid, with twenty percent of patients as private pay adults.
“Take Care-A-Van” is a 40-foot long mobile dental unit that concentrates on providing sealants and preventive education. The outreach van visits designated schools within a 90-mile radius of Reno. The State of Nevada helped fund the program with an oral health initiative grant.
A 53 foot mobile outreach unit delivers the general dentistry restorative program.
Ohio-based specialty vehicle manufacturer, LifeLine Mobile Inc., built both units. “We chose LifeLine because we’ve had such good experience with them. Saint Mary’s operates four LifeLine mobile units,” said Mr. Johnson.
According to Mr. Johnson, Saint Mary’s takes a comprehensive approach with three levels of care: prevention, restoration, and major dental surgery. Children needing more than prevention are referred to the mobile restorative program. For occasional major dental surgery, Saint Mary’s operates a fixed site where general anesthetic can be used instead of subjecting a child to a series of taxing procedures.
“While many programs start because of a generous donation or a need, this is not enough to keep them going,” said Mr. Johnson. On the subject of funding, he adds, “It’s a mistake to put all your eggs in one basket. All funding sources change. Grants and donations come and they go.”
Sustainability preparation is a constant activity.
cr @ March 24, 2006