Dental teams are champions for community health! | |
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Throughout Washington state, dental providers like you give their time and talents back to their communities. Whether you accept Apple Health (Medicaid), mentor the next generation of oral health champions, and/or volunteer to provide care at local free clinics, you play a key role in making our state become a healthier, more equitable place.
From all of us at Arcora, we wish your whole team a happy National Dentist Day! Thank you for bettering the oral and overall health of your community, with no one left behind.
Explore this quarter’s newsletter to meet the programs and people working to bend the arc of oral health toward equity. And scroll to the end of this email to find National Dentist Day posts your office can share on social media for the big day next Monday.
Thank you for making a difference,
The Arcora Foundation team
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Free culturally appropriate care training coming soon | |
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Arcora is launching a new course to help dental teams create a safe and comfortable environment for all patients. Care, Compassion, and Connection: Delivering Culturally Appropriate Care in the Dental Office began as a pilot in 2022, and all pilot courses were booked within days of their announcement. Course participants appreciated learning how to improve health through awareness, good communication, and trust. Thank you to Douglass Jackson, DDS, and Ginlin Woo for creating this training and leading the charge for culturally appropriate dental care.
Our free continuing education program would not be possible without your ongoing support and engagement. Subscribe to our CDE newsletter to be notified when new sessions of this and other courses become available.
Karen Lewis
KLewis@ArcoraFoundation.org
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“This course is a foundational resource for oral health care practitioners to share culturally appropriate principles and best practices for patient satisfaction and optimal care.”
Ginlin Woo
Founding Partner, F.A.C.E. (Facilitating Awareness and Change for Equity)
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ABCD rates at highest levels yet thanks to provider advocacy | |
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The ABCD program wouldn’t be possible without our statewide network of certified providers and champions. Nearly 4,000 dental professionals—including dentists and dental hygienists—are ABCD certified and work to ensure children from lower-income households receive the same compassionate, attentive care as any other child.
In the 2022 legislative session, the state recognized their invaluable work through a $21.1 million investment in fee-for-service pediatric Apple Health (Medicaid) rates. These new Medicaid rates in turn helped support the highest ABCD reimbursement rates ever. Contact your local ABCD program to receive the full list of 2023 rates.
Follow ABCD on Facebook to celebrate our ABCD Champions on National Dentist Day!
Heather Gallagher
HGallagher@ArcoraFoundation.org
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"Since 1995, the ABCD program has set the national standard for how very young children can be well cared for by dentists who are willing to try. It has been immensely rewarding to care for the little ones through this excellent program. The learning curve is gentle and the rewards cannot be described; for you are influencing the lives of children and their families."
Dr. Ron Hsu
Clark County ABCD Champion, Storybook Dental
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Opportunity to improve the Apple Health (Medicaid) dental program | |
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DentistLink’s Apple Health (Medicaid) provider outreach team is comprised of seven incredible, community-mind providers: four dentists, two registered dental hygienists, and a denturist. Who’s missing from this group? You!
Members of the Dental Access Improvement Team (DAIT) serve one-year terms to promote and support colleagues in accepting Apple Health. The DAIT peer-to-peer recruitment model acts as a network of experts in serving Apple Health-enrolled Washingtonians. They lean upon one another’s expertise to improve processes, understand needs, and help reduce barriers to care statewide.
Hear from two of our inaugural DAIT members:
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“I am truly excited to help our underserved populations gain access to much-needed dental care!”
Miriam Pease, RDH, MBA
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"As a longtime Medicaid provider, I'm so pleased to be a part of an effort to increase both dental provider satisfaction and community access to care with Apple Health (Medicaid)."
LaVonne Hammelman, DDS
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Apple Health providers are at the cornerstone of improving access to care. We thank you for your dedication to reducing oral health disparities among lower-income community members.
Interested in joining fellow Apple Health providers as the newest member of DAIT? Email us at Providers@DentistLink.org.
Carl George
CGeorge@ArcoraFoundation.org
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Upcoming SmileMobile schedule | |
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Volunteer providers saw more than 1,400 patients at 35 SmileMobile clinics and four events in 19 counties. At each clinic, the dental team not only provides high-quality care, but also calms nerves and makes all patients feel welcome—from babies’ first dental visits to pregnant people caring for the health of two.
Earn CDE credits by volunteering at the SmileMobile—up to 7 credits for dentists and up to 5 credits for hygienists. Half-day and full-day volunteer slots are available at all clinics.
To learn more about opportunities on the SmileMobile, contact Karri Amundson at KAmundson@ArcoraFoundation.org.
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| Date | Clinic Location | | March 6 - 10 | Kent | | March 13 - 17 | Brinnon | | March 20 - 24 | Forks | | March 27 - 31 | Ocean Shores | | April 3 - 7 | TBD | | April 10 - 14 | Orcas Island | | April 17 - 21 | Langley | | April 26 - 30 | Seattle/King County Clinic | | May 3 - 5 | Kent / White Salmon | | May 8 – 12 | Nespelem | | May 15 -19 | Omak | | |
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“Great group of people trying to serve their community. Highly recommend them.”
SmileMobile patient, Tri-Cities
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Explore our calendar of 2023 events | |
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March 27-29 | Spokane
Northwest Rural Health Conference
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Arcora is proud to be a part of this year's Northwest Rural Health Conference, which brings together rural healthcare professionals and subject matter experts from the field to collaborate, educate, and brainstorm innovative ways to bring quality care to our rural communities.
This conference is made possible by the DOH State Office of Rural Health, the WWAMI AHEC Programs, the Washington Rural Health Association, and the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington.
Learn more: NW Rural Health Conference.
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March 17 | Seattle
Seattle Stand Down
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The 2023 Mini Stand Down will provide a variety of free services—including dental care—to local military veterans. This is the organization's first service fair since 2020.
There are still volunteer slots available for setup, attendee support, and tear down.
Learn more: The Seattle Stand Down.
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April 27-30 | Seattle
Seattle/King County Clinic
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Dental volunteers are still in high demand for this year's Seattle/King County Clinic (SKCC). SKCC brings together health care organizations, civic agencies, non-profits, private businesses, and volunteers from across Washington state to produce a giant free health clinic at Seattle Center.
Join Arcora's SmileMobile in providing free and essential dental care to the greater Seattle community.
Sign up to volunteer: Seattle/King County Clinic.
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May 11-12 | Spokane
Inland Northwest Dental Conference
| Join the Spokane District Dental Society for two days of CE, exhibits, entertainment, and networking. Whether you are a dentist, hygienist, dental assistant, or office staff member, you will find applicable courses and hands-on workshops to fill your CE requirements and further your education. | | |
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May 19 | Lacey
Thurston-Mason County Dental Society (TMCDS) Charity Golf Tournament
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DentistLink is proud to sponsor the 12th annual TMCDS golf tournament!
All proceeds from this event will go to the Olympia Union Gospel Mission and Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center.
Learn more: Thurston Mason County Dental Society.
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June 15-17 | Seattle
Pacific Northwest Dental Conference
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PNDC is returning to its summer slot! Join thousands of dental professionals for high-quality, affordable dental CEs, a dental exhibit hall, and more at Washington's dental event of the year.
The Arcora Foundation team looks forward to seeing you there!
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Congrats on making it to the end of Brush Up! Click below to download National Dentist Day posts for your office. Thank you for supporting the health of your community. | |
Visit our programs and resources online: | |
Follow Arcora Foundation on social media: | |
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Know others who may benefit from this newsletter? They can join our mailing list here. If you have ideas on how our communications can better serve you and your team, email us at info@arcorafoundation.org.
You are receiving this email because you previously joined us in our efforts to bend the arc of oral health toward equity or opted in via our website. We thank you for your valued partnership.
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Our mission: Bending the arc of oral health toward equity.
Our vision: All people enjoy good oral and overall health with no one left behind.
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