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V O L . X X V N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 9 24 H E A LT H C A R E F O C U S It's about the numbers Monson, with about 700 residents, is in Maine's least populous county, Piscataquis, with 17,000 people. While there are some health care providers in the area, the closest large service center is Bangor, 60 miles away. "e issue is to set up a clinic with the number of patients needed," he says. "And then, to actually get providers into clinics long-term if they're not from that geographic location." He says that it's difficult to fully staff the organization's locations in more popu- lous areas, and recruiting for the remote areas can often take up to a year. e dental clinic will be primarily staffed by an independent practice hygienist, who in Maine can take radiographs, perform cleanings, apply fluoride and place temporary restorations without direct supervision of a dentist. He says the independent practice hygien- ist, who will work closely with Community Dental's dentists and staff, is key to the project. e clinic will use teledentistry to remotely review the hygienists radiographs, photographs and notes to develop treatment plans and schedule dentists within their own network to provide care at the Monson center. Craig Denekas, CEO of the Libra Foundation, says the former elementary school is a good fit for the health clinic. It already conforms to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, is on one floor, and has plenty of parking and space. "When you look at the basic fabric of any commu- nity, it's schools and hospitals," Denekas says. e town's library has also moved to the build- ing, making it a community center. "And it brings more people into town," he says. Part of the Libra Foundation's goal as it bought and renovated buildings in town, and created the Monson Arts residency and arts program, was to provide meaningful industry, Denekas says. He and Bates both say the clinic not only provides a needed service, but also an economic and jobs boost. "It's not only about access to health care," Bates says. Bates, now vice dean at Tufts Medical Center in Massachusetts, says the Monson model is one that could be used to address similar issues in other parts of the state. "Monson is a little unique, but it's scalable." Inroads to access Community Dental has made inroads to access in areas that aren't just dictated by geography. e organization runs a free ursday afternoon clinic at the Learning Collaborative in Portland's Preble Street neighborhood in partnership with MaineHealth and Preble Street Resource Center to reach some of the most vulnerable and under- served populations. Many of the collaborative's patients weren't receiv- ing dental care and have a bad diet, which contributes to poor oral health. People living in poverty or with addiction issues "often eat food and drinks that are bad for their teeth," Walawender says. Sugary food is a major contributor to cavities, "even for people who brush their teeth." Community Dental has also expanded service in its Portland center to include sedation services, orthodon- tics and root canals. ey found that when they referred their patients to a specialist's office the no-show rate was around 50%. Once they started providing some of the services within their clinics, it dropped to 10% to 15%. Overall, Community Dental has 17,000 patients and 42,000 visits a year. Walawender says the organization hopes that nonprofit dental care providers in the state can form a consortium of clinics that can tackle some of the state's oral health issues, and help create a comprehensive dental care benefit to low-income adults that provides more than just emergency coverage. "e hope is we can work together, and get a better support network to care for the oral health needs of the state." » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 2 2 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 6 » For people living below the poverty level, oral health disease is not only devastating but tremendously expensive, and not just for the patient, but for the system, too. — Jeff Walawender Community Dental executive director and chief dental officer www.GawronTurgeon.com Family Chiropractic Associates, Scarborough ü Owner's Representative / Owner's Project Manager (OPM) ü Plan and Cost Evaluations ü Construction Loan Monitoring ü Property Condition Assessments ü Construction Workout Solutions for Distressed Projects we don't just deliver solutions | we lead them ™ 207.236.9970 cordjiacapitalprojects.com Construction Risk Management Services Cordjia's founders have vast experience on multiple project types and have successfully delivered more than 20 million square feet of projects, totaling over $4 billion over the last three decades. Regardless of the project size or scope, Cordjia's goal is to provide our clients with innovative solutions to their most complex problems.

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