"We're all in this together", is the going theme these days. I hope you and your families are doing well, and heeding the CDC recommendations. Take extra precautions as you venture to see emergency patients at the office, shopping, etc.
If any member knows of any organization needing PPE supplies, please let us know and we can share the request with membership.
As all of you are aware, we are unsure of when things will get back to normal! My family has been practicing social distancing to the point that we haven't been able to go see our 1 and 3 year old grandchildren for over a month already - only virtually. We haven't hugged and kissed our kids in quite some time now as they are afraid of getting us old folks sick. Being an Italian family - we live for hugs and kisses! But I guess, we all have to do our part and be patient and pray for the best.
Please keep checking your emails from the ADA, FDA, WCDDA and PCDA to stay on top of pertinent COVID - 19 news and developments which may be helpful to you, health wise and financially.
Stay safe!
Dr. Gabriele Spinuso
PCDA President
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The FDA released a toolkit for dentists to communicate with patients and staff, as well as a business toolkit with HR, insurance and financial FAQs to stay in the know about COVID-19.
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For more information on HR issues, coding, billing, PPE resources, please visit the
FDA's COVID-19 webpage
.The FDA is working to be a go-to source for members and will regularly update its COVID-19 webpage and other resources to ensure they’re as current as possible in this rapidly changing environment.
As this is an evolving situation, Florida dentists and patients seeking news and updates should visit:
The Florida DOH has a dedicated COVID-19 Call Center at 866.779.6121, available 24 hours a day, for any questions. You also can email
COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
The state surgeon general is holding weekly conference calls for health care providers every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The call-in information is below:
Date: Tuesday
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Call-in Number: 888.585.9008
Conference Room ID: 208.305.233
Along with the ADA, we will continue to provide you with important updates and information through our communications channels. Again, we ask you to read all communications from the FDA and ADA.
We urge all members to exercise your best judgement and caution during this time and to reach out to the FDA or ADA with any questions or concerns. We thank you for your commitment to providing the highest level of care for Florida’s patients and dental profession. As this situation is continually evolving, our recommendations could evolve as new information is brought forward. The FDA will continue to share updates and communications with our members.
If you have questions that are not answered on the FDA’s website, please email
fda@floridadental.org
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How Can We Help Our Patients and Our Communities Now?
, by Dr. Debbie Lowry
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All of us have given away free dentistry to help someone in need. Undoubtedly, we show compassion to our patents every day. Dentists are experiencing an unprecedented time with the closure of our offices due to COVD-19.
How can we help our patients?
Our patients are feeling the stress of the COVID-19 business closures and stay-at-home orders. Patients in pain will certainly reach out to our offices, but what about our other existing patients? They may benefit and find peace in knowing that you are still available to them, despite the mandated office closure. Many patients would love a personal phone call from their dentist, especially patients that recently had procedures
done. We could thank our long term patients and let them know how important they are
to us. We can check on our elderly patients in case they need anything. Consider
setting time aside each day to build your relationships with your long-term patients and
to follow up with patients that recently had recommended treatment. Although we are limited to seeing emergencies, tele-dentistry is an evolving method of providing dental care with technology. We can consult with patients while not physically being with them. We can take the time to educate our patients, provide free consults, or answer their questions about the dentistry we want to do when our doors reopen. Due to our dental office closures, our periodontal maintenance patients are missing their recall appointments. Our hygienists could reach out and review oral hygiene instructions
with patients and remind them of how important preventative care is in stressful times.
Think positivity and how we can build up our patients and thus our practices!
How can we give back to our community?
Our community is feeling the stress of COVID-19. Consider giving back to your elderly
neighbors by offering to pick up groceries for them. Donate to a local food bank to
serve the increased number of people eating there. We can prepay for future
appointments that we usually have for self care. We can buy gift cards to our favorite
local restaurants and coffee shops. We can donate blood. With this unprecedented
time, we have more time than we ever have with our families, at home, and in our
neighborhoods. It’s in all of us to build our practices, to help our communities and to
show compassion to our neighbors. The options are endless, and we will get through
this together!
At the very least, enjoy eating garlic and wearing pajamas.
Dr. Debbie Lowry
PCDA Secretary
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The PCDA would like to welcome two new members to the association - welcome,
Dr. Simha Kukunooru and Dr. Jose Lazaro!
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WCDDA Webinar Series - Thursday, April 16 @ 1PM
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COVID 19:
Investment Portfolio Positioning During Volatile Times with Greg Mitro, MBA, AAMS
Webinar - Thursday, April 16th at 1:00PM Eastern
Topic Description:
Please join a free webinar featuring financial advisor Greg Mitro, regarding timely financial and economic updates that you can apply to your specific situation. He will be discussing actionable strategies to optimize your overall financial plan during these volatile times. We’re excited to have him share his expertise given the current state of the economy and the many challenges and opportunities surrounding us all.
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2020
Time: 1:00PM Eastern
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Be sure to save the confirmation email for login instructions.
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Important Dates
June 12-13, 2020
FDA House of Delegates
Gaylord Palms
August 7-9, 2020
WCDDA 33rd Summer Meeting
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
October 15-17, 2020
America's Dental Meeting & FDA
Orlando
January 29, 2021
WCDDA 99th Annual Meeting
CAMLS Tampa
June 24-26, 2021
Florida Dental Convention
Orlando
August 6-8, 2021
WCDDA 34th Summer Meeting
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
October 11-15, 2021
America's Dental Meeting
Las Vegas
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Would it make your life easier to receive text notifications from PCDA? We encourage you to subscribe and text the word
PCDA
to
33222
.
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A Piece of Pinellas County History
One hundred and fifty years of Pinellas County (Hillsborough until 1912) Dentistry is now a book “From Rocking Chairs to Robotics” by Jon Wilson, a historical journalist who captures the passion, talent, personalities and determination of a wide variety of dentists. Dentists who forged a primitive reaction to suffering into a noble profession with the highest ethical standards to achieve community oral health. Time has proven that as the mouth is healthy so is the body. Dentists are Medical Specialists and their civic efforts to improve physical health are unequaled in the medical field, which has too long ignored the contribution of dentistry to the science of health. Hopefully, our new generation of dentists will relish the stories and be inspired by ‘the old guard’ on our “founding fathers” who sacrificed monetary gain and fame for integrity in being an advocate for their patients in the face of the economic pressures. The book will make you proud you are a dentist, belonging to an
unusually gifted association. The battles that have been fought will be fought again to keep commercialism, and industry control at bay while at the same time preventing government intrusion that impairs doctor/patient relationships. The book will equip our grandchildren dentists with the knowledge and fortitude to take dentistry into a desirable intentional future. Our great history should be a sellout. Hope everyone of us will want the pride of our profession on our office bookshelf.
Dr. John Harrison with the spirit of Dr. Chuck Martin.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy, contact the Pinellas County Dental Association at
smilepinellas@gmail.com
or call (727) 342-0374.
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Pro Bono Reporting:
Do you volunteer your time and skills or
donate dentistry in your office or away from the office? The Florida Dental Association Foundation is tracking charitable care provided by our members. Please complete the following questions about volunteer hours and the services you provided this quarter.The form is brief, concise and the amount of hours donated can be used as a powerful tool when speaking to legislators.
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For Sale:
Dental DSLR Macro System - very good condition. Canon 10MP XTi body with charger, Canon MR-14EX ring flash, Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di SP 1:1 macro lens. Boxes and papers for all of this. Camera uses CF memory card. Has worked well
for me many years. Great color quality and detail resolution for patient presentations and lab instructions. Please contact Mike Podlusky at 727-584-2660 or
mikedent@juno.com
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Executive Board & Committees 2019-2020
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Gabriele Spinuso, DDS
President and Delegate
Kristie Johnson, DMD
President-Elect and Delegate
Brent Mayer, DMD
Vice President and Alternate Delegate
Deborah Lowry, DMD
Secretary and Alternate Delegate
Devin Gapstur, DMD
Council Chair-At-Large and Alternate Delegate
Kenneth Grundset, DDS
Executive Treasurer
Charles Ford, DMD
Ethics Chairman
Luis Martinez, DMD, PA
Peer Review Chairman
Gregory Langston, DMD
Delegate
Amy Anderson, DMD
Delegate
Rita Hurst, DMD
Editor
Jeff Scott, DMD
Immediate Past President and Alternate Delegate
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