Monday, February 15, 2010

Heartland Dental Invades Nevada and Kansas

Heartland Dental invades Kansas and Nevada. Kansas isn't paying attention to who it lets practice dentistry I see. Corporate dentistry is spread like the swine flu these days. The places do NOT deliver the care and treatment you are used to receiving from you local family dentist. Please stay away from them and do your homework before making that appointment. A simple google search for complaints will do the trick.

Here is the latest breaking news Heartland has put out. Take it as a warning.


From HealthNewsDigest.com
Dental
Heartland Dental Care, Inc. Continued Its Growth in 2009 Adding 32 Dental Practices
By
Jan 14, 2010 - 5:59:38 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - EFFINGHAM, Ill., -- Heartland Dental Care, Inc. brought its total number of practices to 253 in 2009 with the acquisition of 27 established practices and the creation of five de novos.

Several of these practices expanded Heartland's presence into two new states -- Nevada and Kansas - increasing the Company's footprint to 14 states.

"We are glad to welcome these practices and team members into the Heartland Dental Care family," said Rick Workman, DMD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heartland Dental Care, Inc. "These acquisitions and new practices strengthen our commitment to provide quality dental care in hometowns all across the United States."

"At the beginning of 2009 we set out to add 25 practices, and that's just what we've done," Workman said. "Plus these practices have brought substantial value to our company especially through the innovative ideas of their team members."

Besides a healthy and managed growth in 2009, the Company also experienced several other major accomplishments:

-- Increase in Same Store Sales over 2008
-- Addition of 96 dentists and an overall reduction in team turnover
-- Expansion of education and clinical training programs into regional
settings
-- Integration of digital x-ray technology and other cutting edge tools
and techniques
-- Substantial cost savings on supplies and laboratory fees
-- Implementation of Patient Satisfaction Surveys

"Everything we do works toward our goal to be a world class company and the leader in dentistry," said Patrick C. Bauer, President and Chief Operations Officer of Heartland Dental Care, Inc. "We will continue to work toward this goal in 2010. We will further this vision by helping our doctors and practices be the best they can be. Whether it's through advanced clinical education or simple communication skills - it's all about giving our patients personal attention and professional excellence."

About Heartland Dental Care

Heartland Dental Care, Inc. is one of the leading dental practice management groups in the United States with more than 250 dental practices located within 14 states. Based in Effingham, Ill., Heartland provides its dentists and team members with continuing professional education and leadership training along with a variety of management services which include staffing, human relations, purchasing, administration, financial, marketing and information technology support. For more information, visit www.HeartlandDentalCare.com.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

From Hartford, CT to Sante Fe, NM-FORBA looking for dentists to work in their Small Smiles clinics

Appears Jenna Kochenberger is on the prowl for dentists as well. Here is an ad from Indeed.com
Jenna and Jacob Kochenberger from Pueblo, CO are hubby and wife. Wonder if they get paid by the 'head'? Wonder what kind of Dentist's their looking for, 'lead' dentists, 'associate' dentists, or dentists who will lend them their licenses and so FORBA can call them 'owner' dentists. Like Dr. Jodi Kuhn. I think her name is on the individual clinic LLC state filings in Ohio and Kentucky. Problem is Kentucky statues say a dentist can only 'own' three clinics and I do believe they have to actually practice in those clinics. Wonder how Jodi does that?

Here's the current ad:

SEEKING DENTISTS in our rewarding work environment nationwide.

Positions currently available in:


Hartford, CT
Syracuse, NY
Worcester, MA
Manchester, NH
Cincinnati, OH
Youngstown, OH
Florence, SC
Dothan, AL
Montgomery, AL
Beaumont, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Greeley, CO
Santa Fe, NM

Offering an excellent guaranteed base salary, promotion opportunities and benefits (including monthly bonus potential, 401(k) retirement with company match, paid vacation & holidays and 100% coverage for health insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, continuing education, dues and fees). Relocation reimbursement offered and licensing assistance provided.

Join our team of professionals providing quality dental care. General Dentists, Pediatric Dentists and new grads are encouraged to apply.

Please call Jenna direct at 719-562-4462 or fax 719-584-7696
or email jlkochenberger@forba.com
or visit www.forba.com

DDS or DMD

EOE

Saturday, February 13, 2010

FORBA Looking for Dentists in the Dothan and Montgomery Alabama Clinics

FORBA looking for dentists for it's Alabama clinics. YIKES! Wonder what has happened to:

Dr. Michelle Nicole Dandridge
Dr. Sabrina Lynn Hinton
Dr. Khaleda Imroz
Dr. Kevin Frank Kingry
Dr. Amber Tennile Bishop
Dr. Katherine Wood Merrill
Dr. Nzingha Harris Stovall
Dr. Keri P Turk
Dr. Adra Gibson Washington

Maybe they have moved on. I'm sure if they aren't with FORBA's Small Smiles clinics any longer, I'll hear from them.

All the above have current licenses in Alabama except Dr. Khaleda Imroz. I guess that's because Dr. Imroz is in Colorado, at 415 N. Grand Street. See Links below. I've checked dental licenses for Dr. Khaleda Imroz in Alabama and Colorado and they are none existent. I always worry when I see the same dentist name in several states. For example, Dr. Randall Ellis, DDS, he has current licenses in more states than I've got fingers.

Link showing Dr. Khaleda Imroz in Alabama

Link showing Dr. Khaleda Imroz in Colorado



They're offering you a sign up bonus and relocation reimbursement. Another big YIKES!! Besides signing your right to breath away when signing their normal contract, my guess is they may want your first and second born child. I know they take your gonads.

They are advertising as far away as Tallahassee City, Florida as you can seen by clicking here.

This ad says it was posted on February 13, 2010. Contact info is our buddy, Jacob Kochenberger. I see the number is the Colorado office number: 719-562-4460

Here is the ad:

Offering a $10,000 Signing Bonus & Licensing and Relocation Reimbursement
Offered!

SEEKING ASSOCIATE DENTISTS in our rewarding work environment! We are
currently searching for skilled and compassionate Dentists for our
state-of-the-art dental centers in:

Montgomery, AL
Dothan, AL

As the nation’s largest and most experienced provider to underserved children
and young adults we offer an excellent guaranteed base salary, promotion
opportunities and benefits (including monthly bonus potential, 401(k) retirement
with company match, paid vacation & holidays and 100% coverage for health
insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, continuing education,
dues and fees). Relocation reimbursement offered and licensing assistance
provided.

Join our team of professionals providing quality dental care. General Dentists,
Pediatric Dentists and new graduates are encouraged to apply.

www.forba.com

DDS or DMD

EOE

HOW TO APPLY:
Please contact Jacob at:
Direct Phone: 719-562-4460
Email: jdkochenberger@forba.com
Fax: 719-584-7697

ATTN: Angie's List Article

Michael Schroeder is writing an article for Angie's List Health
Contact Michael if you have a story to share.
He's on a tight deadline, this week and next so not
must time.

CONTACT:
Michael Schroeder | STAFF WRITER

Angie’s List Health magazine
1030 E. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-396-3942

Email: michaelsc@angieslist.com

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Another Old Keystone Employee at FORBA Holding

If you are going to work for FORBA (Old FORBA) or FORBA Holding (New FORBA) you might as well get used to having your name associated with the company and appearing here. If you don't mind it being on social networks and you are proud of your employer, it shouldn't be a problem, right?

Today our star is
Suzy Seigenthaler

Current
  • Office Manager at FORBA Holdings, LLC
  • Executive Assistant at FORBA Holdings, LLC
Past
  • Billing Manager at Regency Health Services
  • Database Manager/Central Business Office Coordinator at Universal Health Services
  • Senior Billing Coordinator at Keystone Education and Youth Services
Education
  • Nashville Technical Community College

Suzy Seigenthaler’s Experience

  • Office Manager

    FORBA Holdings, LLC

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    November 2009Present (4 months)

  • Executive Assistant

    FORBA Holdings, LLC

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    November 2006Present (3 years 4 months)

  • Billing Manager

    Regency Health Services

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    May 2006November 2006 (7 months)

  • Database Manager/Central Business Office Coordinator

    Universal Health Services

    (Public Company; UHS; Hospital & Health Care industry)

    October 2005May 2006 (8 months)

    Previously owned by Keystone Education and Youth Services, UHS purchased Keystone in October 2005.

  • Senior Billing Coordinator

    Keystone Education and Youth Services

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    January 2000October 2005 (5 years 10 months)


Saturday, February 06, 2010

Dan DeRose Suing Darek Spring

Update:
Here's the deal:
Darek says he worked for some company that had borrowed money from Dan to buy a bank...  The deal fell through as did the company.  Darek worked for this company and ended up like so many during this hard economic times and had to file bankruptcy too.  Dan then went after Darek.  Why  Darek,  I'm not sure, but in the end Dan dropped the suit and ate the $500k. Darek says has never seen nor met Dan DeRose.

Original post:
This is a funny little tidbit of info for my readers. Daniel (Dan) DeRose part of the FORBA DeRose fiasco and owner of DD Marketing is in the middle of an odd lawsuit.

He's suing Darek S. Spring in Colorado, case number 09-25344-HRT. Darek is in the middle of his own Chapert 7 bankruptcy case. Darek is trying to 'discharge' in his bankruptcy, a loan he owed to Dan DeRose. Dan is having a kicking and screaming fit, trying to stop that from happening.

The thing I thought was funny was the loan amount and the reason for the loan. Darek borrowed $500,000.00! Yep, Dan loaned Darek a half a million dollars.

Wonder why Darek needed a half a million dollars.... ?? ... it was to 'buy a bank'! I kid you not!

400 and Still Counting-Bad Reviews for Stephanie Harper, DDS and Alizia Strebe, DDS

I've spent the weekend trying to gather up the names of all the dentists who work of Small Smiles or one of their clinics. It's been extremely time consuming but worth it. I'm at over 400 and not searched New York, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts. Of course I'm sure some are no longer there and some new hires probably haven't been added to the various systems just yet. But I thought 400 at this point was quite impressive!

God, I love the Internet!

So far Ohio is winning at 52 Dentists, with Massachusetts a close second at 42...

Dr. Stephanie Harper, Savannah, GA
.

Dr. Alizia Strebe, Boise, ID

Small Smiles in Florence South Carolina Lead Dentist Dr. Medrina Gilliam




FORBA Holding, LLC the 'owners' of Small Smiles clinics are definitely in defensive mode after agreeing to pay $24 million dollars to State and Federal governments just to settle claims they committed countless amount of fraud, mistreated and overtreated small children in order to line their pockets with taxpayer cash, via state children medicaid programs. The settlement was announced a couple of weeks ago.

Below is Dr. Medrina Gilliam, hitting a morning show, trying to sell her wares. This particular program on the local NBC station in Myrtle Beach, South Carolin. Dr. Gilliam is 'Lead' dentist of the Small Smiles Clinic in Florence, South Carolina.




Additionally, in the past couple of weeks law suits have been filed, one in Ohio-a Class Action suit and one in Colorado-New FORBA v. Old FORBA. New FORBA says it's owned the clinics since September 2006, but all the bad press and fraud charges are a result of problem with the company when Old FORBA was in control. (actually New FORBA still paid Old FORBA to 'manage the dental operations for them, but that's a whole other story).

Here is a comment posted on a website from an mom who had dealings with the very clinic led by Dr. Gilliam who is in the promo above:

User Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
11/12/2009
I took my three year old granddaughter to this clinic and I really regret it. First of all, she was scared, but they didn't think she was scared. I don't know who trained these people, but they expect my baby to just sit still and let them put in five filling while being in a straight jacket and not try to get out.

The child is not use to being tied down. so she didn't handle that well. These days and time, I am glad my child will try to get away for strangers who are making negative comments about her while she is tied down.

I will not recommend this place to any one who has a child that needs work done. Cleaning and just checking, they may be okay, but not to do any work that required a needle. They do not understand when a child is scared and will not call the parent back there if the child is upset. They complained about my child right in front of her.

My baby is very smart and sat through all of her shots at other doctor offices without crying. However, she was terrified with the people at Small Smiles. I think the parent should be allowed to go back there while they are working on the child. If not, the parent should be able to see the child even if the child can't see the parent.

The attitude of some of the staff was negative because the child was upset. I think they acted very stupid in trying to judge a three year old child. By the way, she just turned three. I would not even allow them to recommend her to another dentist if fair of what they would tell the new dentist.

Thanks
I think Dr. Gilliam needs to keep her ass back at the clinic and do a better job of 'leading', don't you! And... New FORBA sucks as bad as Old FORBA!

Thursday, February 04, 2010

New Improved Taste and Less Filling FORBA, I Think Not

Here is a story of how things went in a Small Smiles office just yesterday, February 3, 2010. The child's name was changed for obvious reasons:

This morning the kids and I headed to the Small Smiles dental clinic for Katie's first ever dental visit. We had read some dentist-type books and almost every mom I talked to (or that commented on FB) reassured me of what would happen on the first visit. According to them, the first visit would be a simple tooth-counting and comfort-building chair sitting experience for Katie. And of course a brand new toothbrush to culminate the event. Sounded pretty non-threatening and even sort of fun!

This morning at breakfast, I was giving Katie the expectation run-down again so she'd know exactly what would happen. Katie is a sweetie but she is a girl that doesn't roll with the unexpected well. She needs time to feel comfortable and letting her know exactly what will happen seems to ease her fears.

Anyways, Katie was excited about the dentist visit and said animatedly, "I sure hope I get a new princess toothbrush at the dentist!" She even dressed up her favorite teddy bear in baby clothes and brought him along for the occasion.

As soon as we walked into the clinic door, I had a foreboding feeling. The lobby was VERY crowded and felt more like a daycare center than the comforting low-key lobby experience I had envisioned. Nonetheless, the kiddos settled in to play while I filled out the paperwork. And then we waited. And waited. And waited some more! It was 45 minutes before Katie's name was called.

After a brief introduction, the dental hygienist took us back and instead of asking us anything curtly stated she would start by taking x-rays of Katie's mouth. Sphincter say what?!? I tried not to let my hyper-mommy-alarm bells go crazy and decided instead to go with the flow and see how Katie did. My girl was all smiles until the hygienist shoved the x-ray slide into her mouth. And then Katie lost it -- with good reason too. The hygienist did NOT prepare Katie for what was happening and I tried my best to comfort her from out in the hallway. Needless to say, the x-ray photography session did not happen. Katie kept crying and was obviously scared.

The WORST part was the hygienist's impatience and obvious frustration with Katie's meltdown. She just kept telling Katie to stop crying and to be a good girl or she wouldn't get a toy. Hello?!? What 4 year old is going to stop crying on a dime for a stranger who is doing foreign things and is telling her she's not being good? I was starting to get seriously ticked off. I asked the hygienist to stop and that we'd have to do the x-rays on our next visit.

Moving on, the hygienist brought us to a huge room with about 8 dental chairs all filled with kiddos having various procedures done. Again, the mommy-alarm-bells started ringing like crazy. Talk about a distracting, loud and scary place! Katie, unnerved and whimpering by this point, was not trusting this hygienist chic. It didn't help that the lady lowered Katie in the dentist chair without warning. Katie's tears started again (and so did my tears - I hated seeing my baby girl fall apart) and I quickly saw that wisest course of action was to split. I told the hygienist we were going home and we'd reschedule.

UGH. What a yucky experience! I truly think the worst part of it was the hygienist's use of bribery and her scolding impatient manner. I spent the entire ride home reassuring Katie that I was not mad at her and she was not "bad" for being scared. I think it was perfectly natural and reasonable for Katie to be frightened given the circumstances.

We will NOT be going back to that crazy clinic again. We're taking my little girl's teeth elsewhere!

What have your kids' dental experiences been like?

FORBA has promised before to get it's act together and has failed each time. FORBA has known they were being looked at by Federal and State agencies since 2007 at the minimum. Here it is, 2010 and there are still complaints. Most of the complaints on this website and all the video reports have been since 2007.


Now we have FORBA Holding, (referred to as New FORBA in the legal proceeding filed last week) suing FORBA (referred to as Old FORBA in the legal proceedings), and all I want is one of two things:


1. Their doors locked shut

or

2. A much friendlier, improved taste and less filling FORBA!

Toledo Parent Furious with Small Smiles Dentist and FORBA