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Why on earth Private Equity Firm- American Securities-would even consider contaminating themselves by purchases these shit hole clinics is beyond me. They must be sadistic bastards is all I can think of, and enjoy torturing America’s low income children. I would call the review below "glowing” and the child lucky. After all they didn’t leave with bruises and permanent emotional trauma as most children. Friedman Fleischer & Lowe are trying to unload these before they go down like ENRON.
I was just told this week, they had cut staff to the bare minimum to increase the profits getting ready for the big “sale”. In my opinion, until the staff is cut to zero there are too many employed.
October 25, 2010
I was very excited to take my son to this dental office. The website makes it look so fun and kid centered. From the moment I walked in I did not have a good feeling about it. This was confirmed once we were taken to the dental work room. It was a room with 8 dental chairs all together. The Dr came out to talk with us. He didn't shake my hand or introduce himself to my son or even ask my name. I don't even think he smiled. The other dentists/hygienists were talking badly about one of the other dentist/hygienists every time she would leave the room. There were two other young boys laying back in the chairs and no one was paying any attention to them or talking to them at all. For a business that markets themselves as kid friendly, they really failed at being friendly at all! We sat around for 20 minutes being ignored after the doctor did his exam, just waiting for the fluoride. We're all in the same room and they just ignored us. No one treated my son as a patient or gave him any attention. Then....the only prizes they had for my 5 year old was a rubber lizard or a broken pair of sun glasses. Oh fun. Made my other son an appt elsewhere. We will not be returning.
In 2010, I think Albany, New York (shocker) and Louisville, Kentucky are the clinics your child is the least likely to be tied up in that straight jacket type device. Not that I recommend ANY of these dental mills!
October 20, 2010
Assistant AG Tony West delivered the Keynote Address to the Pharmaceutical Regulatory and Compliance Congress and Best Practices Forum today at the Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC.
Read his full statement here
Excerpts:
Since January 2009, we’ve commenced more health care fraud investigations, secured larger fines and judgments, and recovered more taxpayer dollars lost to health care fraud than in any other two-year period. During that period, our civil fraud attorneys in the Civil Division have used the False Claims Act – a powerful tool that provides for treble damages – to recover about $4.2 billion lost to fraud against government health care programs…
…strongly encouraged Civil Division and United States Attorneys throughout the country to be appropriately aggressive in their use of the wide array of affirmative civil enforcement tools at their disposal. Tools like Civil Investigative Demands, or “CIDs,” which allow law enforcement to speed up civil investigations by obtaining documents and testimony quickly and under oath. The authority to issue CIDs once rested only with the Attorney General, but amendments to the False Claims Act last year allowed the Attorney General to delegate that authority to me as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. I, in turn, have re-delegated much of that authority to U.S. Attorneys around the country so that they will be able to use this powerful investigative tool properly and effectively…
…And then there are those cases we pursue because they cut to the core of protecting both patient safety and the integrity of our public health care programs. Cases like Small Smiles. You may have heard about this case. It involved a nationwide network of dental clinics that provided unnecessary dental services to needy children on Medicaid in order to maximize the company’s Medicaid reimbursements…
…And the stories we learned about during the course of our investigation were horrific: unnecessary tooth extractions performed on children where healthy teeth were pulled; unnecessary dental surgery such as needless crowns; and excessive baby root canals – one child had 16 root canals in a one sitting…
In that case we not only obtained a $24 million settlement, but more importantly, important reforms to Small Smiles’ practices under new management, as well as the company’s cooperation in our ongoing investigation into individual dentists..
That last point—working cooperatively with companies—is an important one. To be clear, no company is required to cooperate in the context of a civil or criminal case. Yet when a company acts responsibly by timely and voluntarily disclosing unlawful conduct, it is the case that the Department may consider such cooperation in deciding whether or how to charge a corporation or to resolve a case, and indeed, it has been my practice to encourage that in appropriate cases. In addition, when a company cooperates fully with an investigation, the Civil Division typically informs the HHS Inspector General’s office about the assistance the company provided…
It almost sounds like FORBA's Small Smiles clinics are getting a big pat on the back doesn't it. Since they are "working cooperatively" and all. They are still using the BIOB (Blame It On Bush) excuse saying all these terrible things happened with the DeRose family owned the clinics. Never mentioning that one of their top VP's was with the company while under DeRose rule since 2003!
I bet if they really took a look at the practices of the company just in 2010 they would find 'shocking' things still happening.
As recently as October 5th (yes, 15 days ago) one child received 12 stainless steel crowns 3 fillings and 11 pulopotomies all in one session. Mom outraged.
On the same day another child received 3 fillings, 3 pulpotomies, 1 seal, 1 extraction and 5 stainless steel crowns.
The very next day on parent was told their child needed 8 stainless steel crowns and wanted to do them asap.
That what you will be if you take a job with these dental mills. Stay away. Keep your dignity.
New Small Smiles Clinics Opening Soon:
Muncie Indiana
Washington DC II
Mission, Texas
Don’t bee fool enough to sign any contract and commit yourself for years with any of these dental mills.
Ad are out all over the Internet looking for employees. Do Not be a fool. Don’t do it.
I’m wondering what foolish insurance company is covering these clinics and the dentists and other professionals in them.
By Cristina Alesci, Jeffrey McCracken and Jason KellyOct. 4 (Bloomberg) -- American Securities LLC, a New York- based private-equity firm, is the leading bidder for a U.S. chain of dental clinics owned by Friedman Fleischer & Lowe LLC with an offer of about $700 million, according to people with knowledge of the auction.
Friedman Fleischer owns two companies, NCDR LLC and DPMS Inc., that provide facilities and support staff to dental groups operating under the Kool Smiles brand, according to the San Francisco-based firm’s website. TPG Capital also submitted an offer in the final round of bidding, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deal hasn’t been completed.Rajat Duggal, a managing director at Friedman Fleischer, couldn’t be reached for comment. Officials for American Securities and TPG declined to comment.Private-equity firms have resumed dealmaking after a two- year lull following the global financial crisis that started in mid-2007, freezing credit markets and ending the biggest leveraged-buyout boom in history. There were $59 billion in deals in the third quarter, more than triple the amount a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
American Securities, which was founded in 1947 by a Sears Roebuck & Co. heir, has invested in companies including vacuum- cleaner maker Oreck Corp. and the El Pollo Loco chain of chicken restaurants, according to its website. The firm was a runner-up at the recent sales of Air Medical Group Holdings Inc. and Aspen Dental Management Inc., both owned by private-equity firms, according to a person with knowledge of the sales.
Air Medical, Aspen DentalLeonard Green & Partners, the Los Angeles-based private- equity firm, is buying Aspen Dental from Ares Management LLC. Bain Capital LLC, the Boston-based leveraged buyout-fund manager, is acquiring Air Medical from Brockway Moran & Partners Inc. and MVP Capital Partners.
Kool Smiles caters to children enrolled in Medicaid, a federal-state health insurance program for the poor, and other state health insurance plans, according to Friedman Fleischer’s website. Some firms that looked at Kool Smiles were concerned that it was too reliant on Medicaid payments as governments face deficits, said one person familiar with the auction.
Private-equity firms are increasingly buying companies from each other as more than half the companies that submitted plans for U.S. IPOs in 2010 have yet to complete them. Sales among buyout firms allow the seller to return cash to investors, while the acquirer is able to deploy unused capital that was raised during the boom. Clients saw distributions last year fall to the lowest level since at least 2000, according to London-based research firm Preqin.
Opening ClinicsSmile Brands Group Inc., a separate dental chain backed by private-equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co., scrapped an initial public offering in May. The company, which relies on patients with private insurance for most of its revenue, is now shopping itself in a sale process that is still in early stages, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
American Securities plans to expand Kool Smiles’ main business of opening clinics in places where access to dentists and other medical services is limited, the person said.
TPG has been pursuing deals. The Fort Worth, Texas-based firm and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s buyout arm agreed in July to purchase Belgian diaper-maker Ontex NV for $1.55 billion from London-based private-equity firm Candover Investments Plc. TPG also acquired a 35 percent stake in Creative Artists Agency for an undisclosed amount in a deal announced Oct. 1.
Friedman Fleischer has more than $2 billion under management, according to its website. Its holdings include Korn/Ferry International, the executive-recruiting firm, and Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based property reinsurance company.
--Editors: Elizabeth Wollman, Larry Edelman
To contact the reporters on this story: Cristina Alesci in New York at Calesci2@bloomberg.net; Jeffrey McCracken in New York at jmccracken3@bloomberg.net; Jason Kelly in New York at jkelly14@bloomberg.net.
Case Number 3:10-0743 filed in United States Federal District Court Middle District of Tennessee – Nashville Division
Small Smiles Holding Answer to the Complaint filed by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg. NUFIC is a Subsidiary of disgraced AIG, American International Group.
Judge Joe Brown recused himself; no reason was given.
Order after Judge Brown recused himself, by Judge Juliet Griffin
Small Smiles Corporate Disclosure Statement- It has no parent company and American Capital Strategies, LTD owns more than 10%. Small Smiles Holding is the parent company of FORBA Holding, LLC.
Joint Case Management Order – This document states an over view of both sides of the case as well as the court's calendar.
November 9, 2010 – Deadline for Small Smiles Holding to file a Counterclaim against National Union Fire (AIG)
January 31, 2011 – Deadline for Small Smiles Holding Company to file third-party claims under Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure 13. Join additional parties under rule 14. Join additional parties under rule 19 or 20.
January 31, 2011 – Last chance to amend pleadings under Rule 15.
Discovery Schedule:
October 15, 2010– AIG's National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh and Small Smiles Holding Company to make initial disclosures of their respective evidence.
February 18, 2011 - Discovery related to motions, except those dealing with "experts"
March 18, 2011 - All Fact Discovery and Discovery related motions are to be completed, except those related to experts. AIG's National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh and Small Smiles Holding Company may each serve 50 Interrogatories, which includes all subparts questions. If they need more, they mutually must agree.
March 30, 2011 – Deadline to ask the court for a Settlement Conference if they decide on an attempt at a settlement in the case (and the FORBA bunch usually settle or dismiss.
April 15, 2011 - AIG's National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh must disclose their expert witnesses and any reports from the experts.
May 16, 2011 – Small Smiles Holding Company has to disclose their expert witnesses and reports from those expert witnesses.
June 30,2011- Depositions of the "experts" must be completed.
July 29, 2011 – Deadline for Motions/Objections to be filed by either party in relation to the depositions taken and the opposing party has 45 days to respond to any Motions/Objections. Parties have the option to file briefs within 29 days of any response.
Monthly case management conferences are scheduled to address issues National Union Fire Insurance (AIG) and Small Smiles Holding Company are unable to resolve among themselves.
January 9, 2012 – Deadline for parties to file objections to expert testimony and motions in limine.
Trial by Jury Date Set for January 31, 2012 by Judge Todd Campbell; it is slated to last 10-14 days.
For Reference – Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.)
ACCESS WEST DENTAL (Asheville, NC) - Great opportunity to live, work, and play in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina in the progressive Asheville area, earn a great salary with no administration responsibilities, and to dedicate your skills to making a real difference! Join Access West Dental opening soon in Asheville, North Carolina. The newly formed Access West Dental is a private group general dental practice that will concentrate on providing much needed access to quality dental care for the under served children and young adults of western North Carolina. The new state of the art 10,000 sq foot office is presently under construction in west Asheville and will boast a beautiful professionally designed spacious interior, 8 chair fully computerized open hygiene bay, digital radiography throughout with intra-oral cameras, and 10 fully computerized ops to also support the “paperless” office model. In addition, there will be a central sterilization area, 4 private consultation rooms for discreet and informed doctor/patient communications, and a full complement of trained support staff that will consist of 4-5 RDHs, 10 DAs, 5 front desk staff (2 bilingual), plus and office manager and a director of operations. The practice will be open Monday -Thursday, closed a full day on Friday and offers a very competitive guaranteed salary and full benefits package for only a four day work week. New graduates encouraged to apply! Please contact Dr. Tish Ballance at 828-665-4410 or accesswest@gmail.com for more information on this practice opportunity.
Thousands of complaints made on Internet "message" and "review" boards.
Hundreds of legitimate complaints filed.
At least 8 lawsuits.
Ten Million dollars ($10M) in restitution to the government for fraud.
Under observation since 2003.
Under my watchful eye since 2007.
Name changes of the facilities.
North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners spending hundreds of hours reviewing complaints on former owners, current owners, past employees, current employees.
Warning after warning issued, Consent Orders for Disciplinary Actions passed out like programs at a school play.
Surprise inspections from state and federal agencies.
It is almost October 2010 and we still we have Elysa Bailey de Morias, DDS.
Elysa may well be a very nice person, there are a lot of people who are stupid and/or crooks.
Here is the Compliant and Consent Order for Dr. DeMorias
Highlights
Practicing at Smiles Starters in Greensboro, North Carolina
A three year old girl was seen by Dr. Elysa on November 3, 2008, we will call the child HW.
Dr. Elysa “was unable to conduct an adequate visual clinical exam or take sufficient radiographs to support her treatment plan.
Dr. Elysa decided to develop a treatment plan anyway that consisted of restoration of 6 of HW’s teeth, “with possible stainless steel crowns on three of her teeth.”
Dr. Elysa placed “watches” on six of HW’s other teeth. That should be about all the three year old had in her mouth. Looks like Dr. Elysa was going to get at least ½ of them.
HW’s mother felt this was not right and took her child to a second dentist the very same month.
The second dentist wasn’t able to perform a through examination on HW.
In June 2009, 7 months later, HW’s mom took her to the second opinion dentist again who then was able to perform a full and comprehensive assessment.
All the second dentist found, 7 months after Elysa de Morias of Smile Starters saw this child, was a discoloration on tooth A and a minor fracture in the enamel of tooth N. He found NO decay on ANY of the teeth Dr. Elysa de Morias has supposedly found 7 months earlier.
In November 2009, more than a year after Dr. Elysa de Morias wanted to drill away and put stainless steel crowns on 6 of HW’s teeth, HW was seen by yet a third dentist. Dentist three found the very beginning decay on tooth A which he felt probably was not there a year earlier when Dr. Elysa laid claim to a mouth full of restoration needed, but found no other tooth problems what so ever.
All the Board nailed Dr. Elysa for was “violating the standard of care for dentists licensed to practice dentistry in North Carolina by proposing a definitive treatment plan without having conducted an adequate clinical examination and sufficient radiographs.”
Dr. Elysa de Morias agreed that there was sufficient evidence against her, but did not admit any wrong doing but decided not to oppose the allegations and agreed to whatever the Board decided to hand out as punishment.
Elysa Bailey de Morias, DDS has her dental license suspended for 30 days. For the next 2 years she must:
Not do that anymore
Not direct her employees to do that anymore
Allow random inspections and interviews
Complete continuing education designed especially for her at the North Carolina School of Dentistry
Reimburse the board $650.00 for their time and trouble.
Have her name reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (which is no big deal these days). Former owner and rumored to be current financier, Dr. Michael DeRose was put on that list many years ago and kept his licenses until 2009! As did his partner in crime, Dr. Tish Ballance-she is still practicing.
Dr. Elysa Bailey de Morias has been in operation in North Carolina since September 2007! Imagine the number of underserved she has overserved.
The Possibilities
I'm sure I've missed some billing codes and this isn't exact, but it sure is close.
North Carolina Reimbursement rates:
D0150 – Comp oral evaluation - $44.61
D1120 Prophylaxis (aka cleaning)- $27.21
D0210 Intraoral-complete series w/bitewings $71.79
D1203 Fluoride $16.04
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D3220 Therapeutic pulpotomy - $81.09
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2950 Core Buildup, including pins $98.25
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2930 Prefab stainless steel crowns –primary tooth $144.28
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
D2940 Sedative filling $39.77
Total - $2339.99
If the procedures was upcoded to the D3230/D3240 it would be an additional $50 per tooth totaling just over $2600.00.
It's not uncommon to upcode the pulpotomies (D3220) to pulpal therapy (D3230/D3240).
D3220 - Pulpotomies are performed on vital teeth, while pulpal therapy (D3230/D3240) is performed on necrotic primary teeth, with resorbable medicament placed down the canals.
Conclusion
The only conclusion I can come to is Dr. Elysa de Morias unnecessarily tortures and mutilates children, defrauds the medicaid system and got caught this one time.
However, all that happened was a slap on the greedy little hand and back to work.
Nothing was mentioned about the full extent of her attempts, just the actions; “violating the standard of care for dentists licensed to practice dentistry in North Carolina by proposing a definitive treatment plan without having conducted an adequate clinical examination and sufficient radiographs.
Questions
As with all of these cases, we have to ask what caused a person who spent thousands of dollars for her education to attempt not only fraud, but needless suffering of a 3 year old child, and to do it as casually as taking her next breath.
How many patients does she see in a week, a month, that she tries and succeeds in this exact scam?
Why are dentist caught doing this not prosecuted? Doing an investigation, slapping a seeming large fine on them, but letting them keep right on is doing nothing to stop it. So I have to assume the powers that be support.
Why do support staff not report this?
Does it make those in the office who turn their head just as guilty?
FYI
This term gets thrown around a lot in connection with Small Smiles and the other dental mills, but it's not correct. It is not what they are doing to the children.
It is really a Pulpotomy! In short the deciduous (primary/baby) tooth is drilled out, the pulp removed, leaving a chamber. The tissue within the canals of the baby tooth that was connected to the pulp in allowed to remain.
The chamber is then filled with "resorbable" material. As the succedaneous (Permanent) tooth behind erupts and pushes out the primary tooth. The pressure caused by the eruption causes cells to eat up the primary tooth roots, it loosens and falls out. The roots of the baby teeth pretty much dissolve, and are absorbed into the body. Remember the tooth you left for the tooth fairy, they didn't have roots.
Without getting into the pro's and con's of various materials poured into the chamber most include zinc oxide and eugenol (clove oil), iodoform paste, and calcium hydroxide.
So when you go looking for root canal on your medical records, you won't find it. Look for pulpotomy, pulpotomy therapy, or code D3220, D3230 and D3240.
Speaking of the coding, the ADA standard billing codes are used.
In Texas code D3220 will earn a dentist $87.96
In North Carolina D3220 will earn a dentist $81.09
In Kentucky it will get the dentist $67.60
In Alabama only $49.00
Looking at the reimbursement fees, I would think being paid by FORBA on a production/billing basis is going to vary widely. Dentists will be fighting over what state they get, won't they.
Just caught the new Kool Smiles ad. It's lovely, and you know I'm puking and gagging.
Apparently since Kool Smiles is involved in multiple lawsuits for abusing children, and they are trying to unload this company to some Private Equity firms, they have decided to put out updated propaganda.
The two little happy face o's jump out of the Kool Smiles logo and take you one a whirl-a-way adventure through a Kool Smiles clinic.
"Fun way to keep your family's teeth healthy"
"Our office is built for the whole family, especially kids." as children slide down an indoor slide and climb all over a play yard.
"Plus, everyone is friendly, not just us. (speaking of themselves, those jolly little o's) If you want mommy can come back with you or watch through a window," showing the tiny port hole only allowing direct sight of children in they hygiene area.
Do you want strangers gawking at you through a window while you get your medical treatment done? Hell NO!
"We see everyone in the family, even kids as young as one," they boast.
Yes, those one year olds where they drill and cap all 8 teeth they have just in case they might get some decay between 1 and 6. Prevention you know.
"If you want quality dental care, in a clean, safe and fun environment, come to Kool Smiles."
It's just an ad folks, still stay far far away.
Last week I shot off an email to a state dental board bringing to their attention and looking to filing a complaint about a dental facility whose licenses had expired over 2 years ago. The facility has been in operation for years. Its doors have never closed, and they are treating patients as I write this post.
Here is the response I got:
"You are correct in that the facility license has expired and we therefore do not have jurisdiction over this facility.
Can you believe it. If the state dental board does not have jurisdiction after a licenses expires then WHO THE HELL DOES! (I'm not just yelling, I'm screaming!!!!)
So if a dentists license expires, and he/she continues to practice dentistry, no worries in this particular state. You're good to go!
What a screwed up mess!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the state dental boards are there to protect you! As is evident in the letter I mailed (snail mail) to the Kentucky Dental Board in April and have not heard one word, not had one question answered! Kentucky state legislators don't give a shit either, I didn't get a response from any of them either.
Yet these lawmakers will sure show up to a grand opening for a photo opt at a dental mill who abuses children won't they? This happened just months ago in Louisville, KY and in less then two months complaints were coming in, and law suits have been filed.
Where are those lawmakers now? Hiding, that's where!
"our rewarding work environment!".
"We offer excellent earning potential based on collections with a guaranteed minimum income"" We also offer a benefits package that is hard to beat (including 401(k) retirement with company match and 100% coverage for health insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, continuing education, dues and fees). Relocation reimbursement offered and licensing assistance provided."
Please contact Jacob at:Direct Phone: 719-562-4460Email: jdkochenberger@forba.comFax: 719-584-7697
As a dentist who just ended their contract with Forba recently, I would agree with you on many points here. The worst part about the 'percentage' contract is how low it is.
For example, any private practice employer would pay between 25-30% of collections. I received a printout of the breakdown for the percentage from Forba even though I only had a few weeks left on my contract and I was only a part time hourly doctor.
Needless to say, the amount of treatment that needs to be conducted in order for a doctor to meet their minimum salary based on the old contract, is about $3000 a day collections (including personal, ancillary, and clinic contributions to overall collections).
Under my contract with another private practice, I would only need to collect $2000 a day. What this means is that a doctor would have to collect 1.5x as much as I would to make the same amount of money, and that doesn't include the salary lost with PTO, vacation, and paid holidays.
This also means that doctors may be more inclined to 'find' cavities than they were when they were on a set salary and could concentrate more on proper treatment and behavior management; now it means that a doctor might be quicker to use a papoose or more aggressive with treatment planning than with the prior contract, just to make the same amount of money.
Hello, my name is William and it is my belief that the Small Smiles dentistry clinic in Dothan Alabama abused my four year old daughter.
She went in for a "small" filling and was tied to a board, blindfolded with a rag and given two root canals and crowns in under twenty minutes.
This was three weeks ago on the 9th of August.
It wasn't until after a couple of days of ranting and raving before I discovered that I wasn't alone. I came across the 20/20 news report and SNAPPED I could not believe that not even a year after a federal suit they are still treating babies the same way.
I never would have taken my babies there had I known that they are the McDonald of dentistry. We trusted the recommendation of our local school system.
I have since learned of several other families who have treated the same way.
Thank you for your concern
William
smallsmilesabuse.com
Raven Marie Blanco was killed by an overdose of drugs at the dental office of Dr. Michael Hechtkopf on March 7, 2007. She left behind a grieving family who have taken their grief and are using it to awaken the dental community, who have been sleeping at the wheel.
Children are dying, one a month since April 2010. The RMBF is asking the ADA and other Dental Organization to take a stronger look at the reasons children are dying in droves. The RMBF has created common sense solutions that will saves lives in the future.
So far the American Dental Association has failed in protecting citizens, especially children, from deaths at the hands of dentists here in the United States.
*********************
From The Raven Marie Blanco Foundation:
The recent rise in pediatric deaths due to dental visit complications is absolutely getting out of control!
RMBF needs your support now more than ever.
We are partnering with Dr. Larry Sangrik, DDS to bring a Continuing Education Memorial Lecture on the "Six Links of Survival" to the dental community in an effort to better prepare them to handle Medical Emergencies.
To honor Raven’s life and perpetuate her memory, we established RMBF. The mission of RMBF is two-fold. Financially, we seek to raise funds for causes which directly impact children.
Our 5-year plan calls for us to place 5000 automatic electronic defibrillators (AEDs) in areas of need across the country, give a grant to assist the dental health needs of underserved children and provide financial assistance for a building project to a South African orphanage.
The second mission of RMBF is to raise awareness within the dental profession about the need for medical emergency preparedness in dental offices. That objective has proved to be even more challenging than raising funds.
When RMBF began, our initial goal was to get dentists to purchase an AED for their office. As we have become more knowledgeable about medical emergency preparedness, we have learned that many of the leading authorities base dental office preparations around a concept called the Six Links of Survival. The Six Links of Survival was developed the Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness [IMEP] as a medical emergency preparedness program and teaching tool for dentists.
RMBF partnered with Dr. Larry Sangrik to bring a Continuing Education Memorial Lecture on the Six Links of Survival to the dental community in hopes of reducing the amount of unprepared reactions to medical emergencies.
Dr. Sangrik is a nationally renowned speaker, who has lectured to over 7500 dental professionals on this topic.
Raven Marie Blanco Foundation on Facebook - Keep up with the progress
Raven Marie Blanco Foundation Website - You can help protect pediatric dental patients.
*********************
More children have died since the government has included dental care under Medicaid/SCHIP programs. Of course this will be explained away as due to the increase in dental care.
If we are going to have those programs, of course dental as well as vision care should be included in Medicaid/SCHIP programs.
The argument to include dental care was that one child had died due to infection.
Take a minute and meet the children who are now dead. Many could have been prevented had common sense precautions been taken.
The ADA has not updated their guidelines since 2002! With the increase in pediatric treatments and skyrocketing deaths this is just unacceptable.
It is hard to believe this foundation needs to exist, but the dental community is resisting adding lifesaving equipment, as an Automatic Electronic Defibrillators (AED) to their repertoire.
Illinois and Florida have had to pass laws requiring AED's in dental offices, which cost between $1200 - $1800. However, many dentists are not maintaining or inspecting them on a regular basis, nor is the training in their use sufficient. Read more here.
As a side note here: Papoose boards range from $300 - $500 each.
Here is a comment from a dental forum regarding AED's:
I don't agree with making AEDs mandatory in ALL dental offices. When was the last time you went to a general practitioner MD's office and he had an AED on hand? It's ludicrous. Now, if you're doing sedation procedures, as this dentist was, then, you are a FOOL to not have such equipment, along with a pulse oximeter. I can't believe he didn't have one. He obviously didn't know how to titrate his dosage properly either, seeing that her blood levels were 3 times the level considered safe for a child her weight. Does the board in his state not regulate who can and who cannot practice sedation??? Here, in Louisiana, we can't even write for Valium for oral sedation as of a couple of years ago without first being re-certified in oral conscious sedation, regardless of how long you have been in practice and doing so.
In Illinois, the law will not apply to dentists who use only local anesthetics such as lidocaine or articaine. The original legislation included ALL office, but thanks to the Illinois State Dental Society, it was amended. Thank you so much ISDS. (sarcasm) Read more here.
Dental office can purchase one through the drive-thru sedation training called DOCS.
The New York Post
The private-equity barbarians may soon be running a dental office near you.
In recent weeks private-equity firms have been bidding for two of the largest national chains of dentists' offices as they drill further into the space.
In fact, a PE firm is close to winning the auction for Syracuse-based Aspen Dental with a winning bid likely to stretch past $500 million. A separate auction for the slightly larger Kool Smiles chain is well underway, sources said.
Aspen, with its nearly 300 branches, is working with investment bank Moelis & Co. to sell itself. Kool Smiles, which generates $80 million in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), has hired investment bank Harris Williams, The Post has learned.
Financially, dental is the old-fashioned piece of the healthcare industry. Most practitioners still work outside a management practice and more than 80 percent work with, at most, one other dentist. Most importantly to private-equity firms, it is one of healthcare's last bastions of fee-based services, according to the American Dental Association.
Financial consultant Tom Climo said 89 percent of dental services, including preventative care, are covered by insurance, with patients only paying for oral and cosmetic surgery. Healthcare reform that is cutting into reimbursement for medical doctors is not affecting dentists, he said.
An investment banker said private-equity firms like dental offices because they sell for low valuations and one can borrow a fair amount of money against them because of reliable cash flow.
The downside, Climo said, is private-equity firms are likely to work dentists longer once they take over practices to boost profits and that could lead to worse service.
Private equity firms already own the Forba and Bright Now! dental chains. Kool Smiles did not return calls for comment.