Remember to brush |
Each of the 2 clinic days lines of patients grew longer for those awaiting doors to open at Green Bay's KI convention center. Almost 2,000 patient visits resulting in almost $1.5 million dollars of care in the mash like set up set up clinic.
The patient numbers served were a bit lower than last year's clinic in Lake Geneva but this had nothing to do with need. This lower number unfortunately was due to social services not being contacted ( yeah oops) so the first day the lower numbers of patients just insured those present more services. You see each patient goes through triage upon arrival. This means their dental needs are assessed. As each need in order of importance is serviced, the patient restarts
the process waiting in another waiting area- cleaning, fillings, extractions, etc... It's amazing how smoothly it all works.
At 12:30pm on Saturday all the appointment spots had been filled and there were still patients being seen past 5 pm unlike previous years.
No questions are asked regarding need. If they are there, they obviously have a need. There are the employed/ unemployed, some w/wo insurance and some patients who have never seen a dentist.
Dental care instruction is provided in the process and each patient goes home with a tooth brush, tooth paste and floss.
All this happens due to donations of time and supplies. Some
And in the patient's exit survey the question relating to their happiness on a scale of 1 to 5( 5 being the highest) the number 5 is accompanied by stories, the patients are so appreciative. There are tears of joys and heartfelt hugs for being able to leave with a cleaner mouth...
Next year's M.O.M. is already in the planning. Thanks to all the big hearts and I hope that one day all dental needs can be met every day of the year...
Some of our Saturday interpreters, we were kept very busy... |
That must be so fulfilling. It's good to hear that anyone can volunteer even if she can't translate or do the dental exams. I'll have to watch for an opportunity of this sort on our travels.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not all states offer M.O.M.'s annual free dental clinic.
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