1. There is pressure on NCDR & Kool Smiles to ditch the traveling trainers. 2. Strapped for cash and need to increase the bottom line in hopes of a sale. 3. Planning to hang the clinical leaders out to dry. 4. All of the above
Friday December 7, 2012 Dear NCDR, Kool Smiles and Resolution Dental colleagues:
We continue to make great progress toward our dream of creating a world of happy, healthy smiles through access to quality dental care.
In the middle of this year, we launched a cultural initiative, developed with your constructive input during 2011, to create balance within our offices. To that end, our Kool Smiles and NCDR employees worked together to create an action plan for their vision of their office, or department. As you have seen for the last year, we have made many big steps toward achieving that vision, which include:
The roll out of SmileOn, our new dream, mission and the Priority Pledge;
Improved office level decision tools and responsibility; and
Stronger focus on patient satisfaction and retention.
Today, we are announcing that NCDR is reorganizing its field leadership team to better support the evolving needs of the Kool Smiles and Resolution dental offices.
Effective January 14, 2013, the Kool Smiles and Resolution Dental clinical leaders will assume additional responsibilities over their respective offices. These changes will unify field leadership into a single structure in an effort to improve communication and local accountability for your offices.
The Ontario Teachers Union is to Heartland Dental as the Teamsters Union was to the Mob - bankrolling illegal business.
Actually if you think about it the DSO is modeled much like a mafia organization. They steam roll over your business, telling the people, the state agencies, the dental associations and the dentist exactly what they want to hear. But as soon as they have infiltrated, it's their way or the highway. Laws? What laws? They are the Mob.
This is the Dental Service Organization! This IS the DSO!
The DSO model mostly originated in Pueblo, Colorado; rich is mafia bloodlines and history. So what else should be expected?
I realize it’s hard to believe someone, i.e. R. Kirk Huntsman, convinced Morgan Stanley that driving up to schools, sending criminally incompetent dentists and employees inside to zap them with as much radiation as possible, restrain children and perform dental procedures with or without consent, then bill the taxpayer was a great idea. But it happened.
Below is an update on the lawsuit filed by Darren and Stacey Gagnon on behalf of their son, who was traumatized by Reachout Healthcare mobile dental clinic employees in Arizona. Imagine the stuff that was too “hot” to include in the following piece.
As we first reported back in June, a mobile dentistry operation is being sued by an Arizona family. They allege their special needs son received unnecessary dental work at school.
Tonight, we revisit the Gagnons, to see how their son Isaac is doing, and update a case that may have already forced the state to make changes in the way dentists do business.
The first time we met the Gagnons, Isaac was kept from our cameras because they might scare him.
This time, we got a chance to watch Isaac color a picture for his friend's birthday party.
Isaac gets night terrors after what happened to him.
"He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder… he was a very fragile emotionally child in the first place," says mom Stacey Gagnon.
Fragile in the first place because Isaac was adopted after surviving severe shaken baby syndrome.
"He was horribly injured as an infant including five skull fractures."
But Isaac had come a long way with the Gagnons.
"We saw this little boy emerge who loved tractor trucks and run and play in the dirt."
That ended about a year ago.
"October 4th, Isaac was seen by a dentist at school," says dad Darren Gagnon.
A dentist from Big Smiles, a part of Reachout Healthcare America, treated Isaac inside his school's art room.
"He says you know the dentist man got me… we didn't know what had happened."
Reachout paperwork in Isaac's backpack showed the boy had been given two pulpotomies - or baby root canals - and 10 X-rays. Something his parents say they never approved. Isaac's mother called Reachout for an explanation.
"They told me it was a training error on their part," says Stacey.
Everything the Gagnons allege is part of this lawsuit they filed against Reachout, Big Smiles, and two dentists.
It alleges among other things, battery, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and racketeering.
"We found out from the school they had actually held Isaac down for somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 to 45 minutes, that they physically restrained him to do the work on him because obviously he was in a lot of pain," says Darren.
The two dentists named in the lawsuit include Doctor Ralph Green who works at Reachout Corporate offices in north Phoenix -- and Doctor Alvin J. Coon, who performed the work on Isaac.
Bet’cha some these folks used to (or still does!) work for Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Ocean Dental maybe… or one of the other Medicaid dental mills?
At least in Georgia, the police departments are using the tools in their toolbox. -O.C.G.A. Title 16, Section 16-5-70, Cruelty to Children. #dentalboardsareuselessinprotectingpatients
After numerous allegations of child abuse and fraudulent activity flooded the Rome Police Department over the weekend, detectives are continuing their criminal investigation into Children’s Dentistry of Rome, officials said on Monday.
According to the search warrant affidavit filed in Floyd County Superior Court, MCG Management Inc., doing business as Children’s Dentistry of Rome, billed more than $13 million in Medicaid claims since 2008, and some victims and other dentists alleged that dental work provided by the doctors and hygienists was unnecessary.
Employees from the dentist office issued the following statement on Monday evening: “The dentists operating their practice at the MCG facility care about patients and provide quality care. Dental visits are not always pleasant, but we believe that the practitioners will be able to show they exercised sound judgment and compassion when treating young patients with significant dental problems.”
Following complaints of improper use of restraints and improper or unnecessary performance of dental work on children, agents with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and Rome Police Department investigators executed a warrant on Thursday and searched the office for billing and medical records pertinent to the criminal investigation. No arrests have been made in the case and Rome police Lt. Gary Clayton declined to comment on the number of reports the detectives division has received.
The affidavit listed more than 300 patients with Medicaid whose records are being thoroughly investigated.
Medicaid claims The affidavit, written by detective Joe Costolnick, lists 11 reports of excessive dentistry work performed on 14 children that resulted in serious medical problems and trauma. Reports recounted that children left the office traumatized, scratched and bruised.
Some children were allegedly tied down on papoose boards for unnecessary dental work, and some children needed additional medical attention for improperly done dental work they received at Children’s Dentistry of Rome.
Costolnick, who is specially trained with regard investigating criminal violations relating to cruelty and abuse to children, is working with Special Agent Connie Murray with the Department of Health and Human Services who investigates Health Care fraud.
Murray obtained a summary of the dental office’s Medicaid claims data from January 2008 to August 2012, the affidavit reported.
The Georgia Medicaid program provides health services to beneficiaries who qualify based on financial need or other circumstances.
In providers’ contracts, the provider agrees to abide by state and federal laws when submitting claims and the Medicaid program requires that providers not bill for services not performed or delivered, and not to submit false or inaccurate claims.
Providers must maintain records to fully disclose the extent of services provided to members for a minimum of five years and the records must also explain the medical necessity for the services provided.
Since 2008, the company billed Medicaid for a total of $13,407,134.34.
$3,146,084.38 in 2008,
$3,215,831.81 in 2009,
$2,908,993.61 in 2010,
$2,395,811.79 in 2011
$1,740,412.75 as of August of 2012
Unnecessary dental work? In the affidavit, some reports by parents of children who received dental work at Children’s Dentistry of Rome claimed that children went in to the office for routine checkups but left having had more dental work performed, as well as traumatized and in tears.
ROME, Ga. - Police are investigating allegations of abuse at a children's dental office in Rome. Authorities say that MCG Management, Inc., doing business as Children's Dentistry in Rome, is under criminal investigation.
According to the district's attorney's office, the investigation began with allegations of Medicaid fraud. The Rome Police Department executed a search warrant last Thursday based on the criminal investigation, as well as complaints from parents that their children may have been improperly restrained. There were also allegations that some of the children they have had improper, if not necessary, dental work done.
Police seized several crates and boxes from the office in the raid. One woman told FOX 5's Patty Pan that she wasn't surprised to hear of the Medicaid allegations. "I took my daughter to the dentist office and they basically told me that she had one cavity. And took her back four days later to have her one cavity filled and they billed her insurance for nine cavities total," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
Mary Bodkin, whose grandkids have been going to the dentist office for years, said that she doesn't believe the accusations. "It breaks my heart because they take wonderful care of both my granddaughter and a lot of other people. This is wrong," said Bodkin. Authorities say that no criminal charges have been filed. They say it is an ongoing going investigation. Anyone with claims is urged to download a form from the Rome News Tribune website, fill it out and bring it to the Rome Police Department.
Website Children’s Dentistry of Rome 204 Redmond Rd NW, Rome, GA 30165 Ph: 706 291-2550 - Fax: 706 291-8349
Dr. Maheshvar Patel DDS Bio from website
“Truly it is a privilege and honor to educate my community about oral health. Along with improving oral health, it is essential that my patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to our office. In today’s society a clean, healthy smile gives us more confidence. My motto is to live life to the fullest… Carpe Diem.“
Dr. Patel, a Georgia native, raised in Cartersville, Ga and graduated Cass High School in 2002. His scholastic abilities earned him the Etowah Foundation and Mercer University scholarship. He was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Mercer University in 2006. Then he continued on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University in 2010. Dr. Patel was in the Honors program for Orofacial Pain/TMD Management clinic for two consecutive years at New York University. This experience allowed him to receive an award from the Academy of Orofacial Pain for providing excellence in the diagnostic and treatment aspects of orofacial pain. Along with his scholastic achievements he was a great leader among his peers. Dr. Patel served as President for two consecutive years at a highly acclaimed NYU Dental organization. Being a leader allowed him to be what he is great at, which is the ability to help others and motivate his colleagues.
After gaining world class education from NYU Dental, he pursued interest in treating children. With his knowledge and experience in treating anxious pediatric patients, he has acquired the ability to give them a healthy and beautiful smile. Dr. Patel’s charismatic personality allows his patients to feel comfortable and relaxed. His focus is to provide the best quality of dental treatment.
Professional Organizations: American Dental Association Academy of General Dentistry Georgia Dental Society Northwestern District Dental Society Georgia Dental Association
In his spare time, Dr. Patel enjoys playing volleyball, golf, painting, playing with his nephew and nieces, and supporting the Atlanta Falcons. On the weekends you can find him barbequing with his friends and family
December 3, 2012 -- A dental office in Rome, GA, has been searched after numerous complaints were filed about the practice's alleged overuse of child restraints and the performance of unnecessary dental work on children, according to a press release sent to media outlets by Lt. Gary Clayton of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Rome Police Department (RPD).
Police investigators, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, executed a search warrant on Children's Dentistry of Rome, under the management of MCG Management, to obtain dental records pertaining to a criminal investigation. No charges have been filed.
According to an article in the Rome News-Tribune, there are more than 300 Medicaid patients named on the search warrant affidavit filed in Floyd County Superior Court. The affidavit also contains 11 reports of unnecessary treatment being performed, sometimes with the use of papoose boards, on 14 children in which trauma resulted.
As a result, authorities believe there is probable cause for investigating the practice's dentists, hygienists, and owners (if I could make these three words flash in neon, I would) for cruelty to children and payments that they were not entitled to, the article stated.
In May 2011, RPD Detective Joe Costolnick received a complaint from the parent of a 3-year-old allegedly injured during treatment at the practice and an investigation was launched. Shortly thereafter, Costolnick learned of other police reports containing abuse allegations going back to 2008.
So Mr. or Ms. Dentist, how did you decide to treat your patient this morning?
We all love speedy service. But we shouldn't when it comes to our dental care. In tough times, all service industries are forced to watch expenses and get the most out of staff. Dental offices, unfortunately, are no exception. But a quick cleaning could mean cut corners and oral health problems down the road.
John Hunt, attorney for the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, has seen firsthand how the economy has affected dental offices. Unnecessary dental work is at a "rampant" level in the valley, he says. It's the primary concern he deals with among the thousands of annual complaints that come into the board of dental examiners either as phone calls or in writing.
Hunt notes there are far fewer complaints about hygienists than dentists. But that's not to say they don't exist. And many patients may not realize the care they received wasn't satisfactory until long after it happened, usually after trying a new dental office some six months later.
"That's how you hear about it," he says. "They (patients) go to someone else and it's a case of 'They did what?' "
Hunt highlighted a recent case in which a hygienist had a license taken away after admitting to doing 36 root paling and scaling procedures in a day. The standard, per the board of dental examiners, is 45 minutes to 60 minutes for one paling and scaling procedure.
Georgia, being the “Capitol” of corrupt and child abusing dental clinics, the “shit is on” as they say, when officials start raiding clinics in that state. (Yes, I realize Texas and Colorado are alternate choices, but I choose Georgia.)
To each and every dentist working for these dental clinics, such as Kool Smiles, Small Smiles, and a whole host of other “Smiles”, here is the deal:
1. If you spent last week tied children up in papoose boards for dental care, you should drop to your knees in prayer. This is no longer going unnoticed and unreported.
2. There are people out here who are determined to see that you pay dearly for your crimes against children.
Personally, I’d like to see each and everyone of you dentists UNDER the jail – each corporate head, like Al Smiles and Michael Lindley of Small Smiles, Michael and Dan DeRose as well. Jeff Lane and Dale Mayfield, of Kool Smiles - Drs. Tran and Pham too. Each and every “regional manger” should be horse whipped in my opinion.
3. Monday, when you head in to work, you better think long and hard before you try to meet those production goals - really long and really hard. This is just a wild guess, but I bet you are someone’s “list”, and it’s not Santa’s “Nice” list either. In case you need a refresher on the AAPD guidelines here they are – AAPD Guideline on Behavior Guidance (yeah, I realize the some of the folks who wrote these are up to their eyeballs in breaking every one of them)
ROME, Ga. - Federal agents and police raided a northwest Georgia dentist office, saying they were responding to complaints about the improper use of restraints and concerns about dental procedures on children.
Rome police said in a statement that they executed a search warrant at the children's dentistry practice in Rome on Thursday to obtain records in an ongoing criminal investigation. Police say the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was also involved in the search.
A search warrant affidavit in Floyd County Superior Court says the probe began in May 2011, when the mother of a 3-year-old girl told police her daughter was tied down and injured during an appointment.
The Rome News-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/X8kjMd) that the case involves several other families and children.
Restraining children for dental treatment guidelines from the AAPD were drastically changed in 2006, to warn dental professionals it is dangerous and risky, to say the least. If you have been doing it other than by these guidelines, I hope you… well never mind.
