State News
Noteworthy News
There are 4 new proprietary programs opening in Florida and they have already sought initial accreditation from ADACODA. Sanford Brown in Jacksonville, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando.
An important positive note for the new year is the start of an expansion at the Robert E. Speir Healthcare Education Center on the Grand Strand campus of Horry-Georgetown Technical College on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The $7.4 million addition is a triple play for the area. First, there is the construction itself, expected to start about midyear and continue for 15 or more months.
The 22,000-square-foot addition will provide more space for the growing health care programs - still a hot employment market - and a new low-cost dental program. The expansion recently cleared a hurdle with the S.C. Budget and Control Board, which allows the college to finish construction design work and seek bids.
Make no mistake, this addition is a milestone for HGTC's health education programs and for indigent dental services for the community. Phil Render, HGTC assistant vice president and dean of academic affairs explained the significance of the expansion in a recent report in The Sun News.
Read More.
Florida Lawsuit Alleges Inadequate Medicaid for Children
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Opening arguments are expected today in a class-action lawsuit whichclaims that Florida is violating federal Medicaid requirements byfailing to provide adequate medical and dental care to about 1 million children statewide.
The suit was filed in 2005 on behalf of the Florida Pediatric Society, Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and state residents under the age of 21 who are eligible for Medicaid, the Miami Herald reports.
According to court documents, the state's reimbursement rates are so low that less than 9 percent of Florida dentists are currently Medicaid providers. The lack of access allegedly left more than 750,000 without dental care in 2007, according to the Tampa Tribune.
"There are many counties where there are only one or two dentists willing to receive Medicaid patients and then they limit the number of Medicaid patients they actually do see," the plaintiffs' attorney Stuart Singer told the news provider.
Currently, Medicaid pays $15 for a dental exam in Florida, compared to $25 in Tennessee which ranks among the country's best dental health programs.
The Herald reports the state has already spent about $2 million
defending themselves in the case.
http://www.avvo.com/news/florida-lawsuit-alleges-inadequate-medicaid-for-children-581.html
A Reason to Smile: UCF's New Dentist and Hygienist to Begin Seeing Patients
UCF's new dentist, Joseph Chasko, hopes students, faculty and staff will make a new year's resolution to come see him soon.
He will begin seeing patients Dec. 14, when UCF Health Services opens its new high-tech dental center on campus and becomes the only Florida university with an on-site dental center that serves students, faculty and staff.
Florida Atlantic University has an on-campus dental clinic, but it accepts only students. Fewer than 15 university dental clinics exist nationwide.
Chasko comes to UCF after working in a large group practice for three years in Orlando and owning a dental practice in Fort Lauderdale for 12 years. He earned his Doctor of Dentistry from the University of Florida and completed his residency at Louisiana State University.
"The best part of UCF's new dental center is the integration of all of the latest technologies in one system," Chasko said. "Private practice clinics usually have some, but not all, of these technologies."
Read more.
2009 HYGIENIST HERO
HYGIENIST HERO^® Recognition Program from the American Dental
Hygienists' Association and Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products
Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Linda Meeuwenberg, RDH, MA, MA
Winter Park, FL
Being launched into early retirement by a disability has only fueled Linda's passion for educating people about oral health. Her 25 years of working with the Shelby Michigan Migrant Health Services taught Linda the impact that oral health education has on the lives of the children she encountered. For the past 3 years, she has devoted herself to presenting oral healthcare programs for a wide variety of organizations in both Michigan and Florida. One of the most rewarding projects of her career was beginning an oral screening and education program for children of the working poor at the Orlando Compassion Center & Food Bank. The center now has a dental treatment room and a volunteer medical staff. Linda's dream of taking her educational mission to other countries will be coming true later this year when she'll volunteer with healthcare and dental professionals in South Africa and Haiti.
____________________________
The following Board of Dentistry rule changes will be effective July 20, 2009
1) Dental Hygienists can apply fluoride varnishes without supervision
2) Dental Hygienists can apply dental sealants under general supervision
Florida Dental Hygiene Association
Tami Miller, Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : May 1, 2009
Contact: DOH Communications
(850) 245-4111
THE STATE OF FLORIDA OPENS TOLL FREE SERVICE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON SWINE FLU
The Florida Flu Information Line is 800-342-3557
TALLAHASSEE—As of 11 a.m. today, the State of Florida has opened a toll-free telephone service where residents and visitors can call to receive health information about swine flu.
The number for Florida residents to call is 1-800-342-3557.
The line will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice. After hours calls will be handled by an automated service.
As Florida responds to swine flu, the Florida Department of Health offers the following recommendations:
- People with respiratory illness or fever should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community. .
- Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
- Symptoms of swine flu are rapid onset fever, cough, fatigue and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea.
- If you think you have the flu, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office or an emergency department, or stay home.
Swine flu is not transmitted by food and you cannot get swine flu from eating pork products.
The State of Florida is receiving frequent updates from the CDC, and working with local health departments to monitor the situation and immediately follow up on suspected cases. The Florida Department of Health has created a webpage with information at www.doh.state.fl.us, and the CDC has a web page at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
