Accepting the award were, from left, Dan Bennett, Director of Operations; Shannon Robbins RN,Community Health Manager; and Dale Kuhnert, VP of the Board of Directors for Waldo County General Hospital.
Waldo County Dental Care was honored April 16 by the Daniel Hanley Center of Health Leadership with an award for Exceptional Leadership and Service in Health Equity and Health Disparities. The presentation of the prestigious Hanley Center Honors was made to four individuals, organizations or collaboratives, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in addressing health disparities and ensuring greater equity here in Maine.
Waldo County Dental Care was introduced as “an innovative collaborative effort of Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH), committed members of its Board of Directors, and private dentists in the Waldo County area to address the health disparity in dental care for low income and uninsured individuals in their community.” Prior to the initiation of this project, WCGH’s Emergency Department reported that for 18-45 year olds the most common reason for emergency care was acute dental pain and infection, which could not be definitively managed in the ED and often led to the need for extraction.
After planning in 2012, the Waldo County Dental Care program began providing services in August 2013. The goal of the collaborative has been to create a self-sustaining and replicable model where a community comes together to take care of its own.
The Registered Dental Hygienist at Waldo County Dental Care does dental cleanings, x-rays, screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, temporary fillings, oral health instruction, and a referral for further care by a dentist, if needed.
To qualify, an individual must:
• not have seen a dentist in the past 12 months;
• live in Waldo County;
• meet federal income guidelines (for family of four that is $41,213); and
• be at least age 18.
Depending on the family’s income level, there is a sliding copay of between $10 and $20.
Also honored at the Hanley Recognition Dinner were the Maine Migrant Health Program, United Somali Women of Maine and Marjorie Withers of the Community Caring Collaborative in Washington County.
The award was presented at a dinner and reception held at the Portland Marriott At Sable Oaks in South Portland.
The Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership is a nonprofit, independent, statewide organization dedicated to supporting the transformation of Maine’s health and healthcare sectors.