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Dear SCDA Member:
As we close out another week, we want to update you on many items the SCDA has been working on. First and foremost, the SCDA and six other South Carolina dental organizations joined together to send the Governor a letter addressing three critical points: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply, COVID-19 Testing for dental offices, and including SCDA representation in healthcare policy discussions within our state.
Although not all dentists will be interested in offering COVID-19 tests in their offices, we want dentists to be given the option. The ADA has already developed CDT codes for the antigen and the antibody tests.
The Governor's office is strongly endorsing the SCCOVID19 website
which South Carolina has developed to assist healthcare providers in our state to purchase PPE supplies. The SCDA has researched this portal extensively. Most of the businesses listed within the portal are not set up for small business purchases. We are continuing to contact businesses on the lists to advocate for small business purchase options. Click here to access directions and password the SCCOVID19 website. However, if you have a large study group that has discussed using collective purchasing power to buy PPE, then this portal may work very well for you. We are not trying to discourage anyone from looking at this and investigating the options, but we want you to be aware this is not an easy button before you dive in.
The
SCDA PPE Work Group has chased down over 100 items, some of which are on the SCCovid19 portal, for the important details of authenticity, product reliability, company credibility, price point, MOQ and method of distribution. Most of the time the possible products turn out to be either counterfeit or only available in a massive purchase with no means to distribute the product. With persistence, the Work Group recently identified a few very good products which we will continue to pass onto you in the coming weeks. A few of the vendors are not set up for e-commerce and are busy developing their websites to be able to do business for our members individually. In addition to the Goodwood we released earlier this week
, we have located another sound face shield company, ZVerse. They are located in Columbia. SCDA member Andrew Gambrell and some members of the PPE Work Group recently purchased face shields from this company and were pleased with the product they received. You can see actual pictures of the face shields, descriptions, pricing, and how to order, by accessing this
Zverse link.
For product or ordering questions, please reach out to Steve Cloud with Zverse at Steve.cloud@zverse.com or via phone at 803-767-2948.
The SCDA has also found verified authentic KN95 masks through Munnerlyn and Company, a local company in Greenwood, SC. SCDA member Chris Griffin and others in the area have helped make this a great resource for South Carolina dentists. When you go to the
Munnerlyn and Company
you will see in the upper right to enter the store using this private password which is PPESC20 (case sensitive). Once you enter the store you will find masks, thermometers and a few other PPE items. The SCDA would highly advise you to PLEASE not pass this along to dentists outside South Carolina as this program was set up for our dentists.
The PPE procedure code D1999 and fees continue to be discussed on the national level. We have heard from one South Carolina insurance company that is considering reimbursement for the procedure. We have also heard that many other 3rd party payers are pushing back, so this will continue to be a subject of discussion over the coming months.
Our final PPE topic this week relates to reusing N95 masks. The
Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System for N95 Masks is now available. This system is free of charge to any SC healthcare provider and uses vapor phase hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate compatible N95 masks. For contacts and information on how to utilize this valuable service, please review the process
here
.
A big subject on many of our minds is HR questions related to bringing employees back to work under the coronavirus conditions. The
Employment and Personnel Management issues are more complicated than ever with the CARES Act and childcare issues among other things. Many of you have probably heard of the HR Base Camp Face Book group and the HR Vault hosted by CEDR HR Solutions. The SCDA has arranged for Paul Edwards, their CEO, to provide an exclusive 'Ask Me Anything' session including specifics for South Carolina.
Bring 'Em Back: A Guide to Addressing The New HR Challenges
When Reopening Your Practice
Wednesday, May 27th | 5:30pm EDT
In closing, I will say that South Carolina dentists are a remarkably resilient and tenacious group of people. I have heard from many of you. The challenges we face have inspired some dentists to tap into their creative sides. "Necessity is the mother of invention." I have seen some impressive and innovative solutions. This week I am featuring a video by Dr. Ken Johnson from Charleston. I think he did a great job connecting with his patients. Ken gave me permission to share this with you. I was inspired and made a similar video for my patients. Take a look at
Dr. Johnson's Welcome Back Video
. If you have a great solution or idea that you want to share with your fellow SCDA members, please send it to us.
You have worked very hard this week. I hope you are able to take time to enjoy the Memorial Holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Julia Mikell
SCDA President
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