Appears as though things are not changing much at Small Smiles, in Ohio anyway. In the last month, one clinic lost three employees, hire three replacements, and quickly lost 2 of those.
Wooo Hoooo
Appears as though things are not changing much at Small Smiles, in Ohio anyway. In the last month, one clinic lost three employees, hire three replacements, and quickly lost 2 of those.
Wooo Hoooo
One day before FORBA’s Michael Lindley signed the 5 year Corporate Integrity Agreement his other associated company, Ameris sent out a press release announcing it was “shifting it’s focus to management”. !!
Nashville Post talks about this and the “unloading” of all but one of it’s hospitals.
Read it here.
Michael Lindley bought his Florida condo from Ameris Realty of Florida, he is up to his eyeballs in Ameris.
Ameris Health Systems
1114 17th Avenue South
Suite 205
Nashville, TN 37212
From the Ameris Health Website
History:
In 1992, Sam Lewis founded Consolidated Health Corporation ( CHC ). CHC was the predecessor of Ameris Health Systems, LLC (Ameris). Ameris, a Tennessee limited liability company, was formed on June 26, 1998 for purposes of developing, owning and managing hospitals and geriatric psychiatric units.
The first project undertaken by CHC was the reopening of Morton Medical Center in Morton, Mississippi. The hospital had been closed for 4 years prior to the involvement of CHC . Ameris recruited physicians and managed this facility until 1998, when management was returned to the local hospital authority. The facility is still open and serving the needs of the community.
In 1993, CHC reopened Newton Regional Hospital, originally a 50-bed acute care facility in Newton, Mississippi. The hospital had been closed for 9 months when CHC reopened it. Over the years, Ameris had added physicians to the medical staff, implemented a 12-bed geriatric psychiatric unit and a swing bed program increasing the services provided to the community and Income for the hospital. In 2003, management was returned to the local hospital authority.
In 1996, Ameris was engaged to manage Prentiss Regional Hospital & Nursing Home in Prentiss, Mississippi. Ameris added a 14-bed geriatric psychiatric unit and a swing bed program. New physicians were attracted to the community. The facility was renovated via grant money obtained by Ameris management. In 2004, management was returned to the local hospital authority.
In 1997, Ameris purchased CareNet Health Systems, Inc. (an owner and manager of residential adolescent treatment facilities), developed and opened 2 additional facilities in Birmingham and Philadelphia, and sold CareNet to Children's Comprehensive Services, Inc. In 1998.
In 1997, Ameris purchased Smith Hospital in Hahira, Georgia. Following a bitterly contested Certificate of Need (CON) application process, Smith received approval to build a new facility In Valdosta, eight miles away. Ameris syndicated the facility to local physicians and other Investors. The new facility opened in June 2002. Ameris partners individually own approximately 30% of Smith Hospital and Ameris manages this facility. Smith Northview Hospital is very successful as an Ameris-managed facility. The hospital has undergone four expansions in its new location since opening and has a bed capacity of 54. A fifth expansion is currently underway to increase the capacity of the Women's Center and Nursery.
In 1998, Ameris took over management of a geriatric-psychiatric unit for Winston Medical Center in Louisville , MS . Ameris recruited physicians and increased the marketing efforts of the unit. Ameris continues to manage this unit.
In 2001, Ameris' founder, Sam Lewis led a group of investors who acquired Children's Comprehensive Services, Inc., a NASDAQ listed public company with annual revenues of approximately $140 million, and took the company private.
[ He tried to hide the company from scrutiny by taking it private is what he’s really saying. Twiford Rainer, Al Smith (“Smith”), Mike White, Rodney Cawood (“Cawood”), Buddy Turner, Jeff Cross, Gail Debiec, Brad Gardner, Brad Williams, Don Wert, Rob Minor, Mike McCulla, Jim Shaheen, and Rod Gaeta were the group of investors - Smith, Cawood, Lindley, Gardner, Williams, McCulla are the crooks who own the illegal dental clinics-Small Smiles]
The company then operated as KEYS Group Holdings, LLC ( KEYS ). Mr. Lewis was on the board of KEYS and Ameris partners owned more than 10% of the company. KEYS ' audited financials for 2004 reflected shareholder equity of $42.7 million, net revenues of $118 million and pretax income of $6.5 million from continuing operations and a $40.6 million gain on sale of discontinued operations. KEYS was sold to Universal Health Systems in 2005.
In 2003, Ameris obtained a CON to build a 70 bed replacement medical/surgical hospital in Phenix City , Alabama . Ameris contributed the CON with an appraised value of $3 million to Russell County Community Hospital , LLC ( Summit Hospital ), raised over $22 million of additional equity and obtained a HUD insured mortgage loan, which closed on May 19, 2005 , for $33.6 million needed to develop, construct and equip Summit Hospital . Summit Hospital was sold to Houghston Orthopedic Clinic in February 2008.
In late 2004, Ameris acquired the operations of two acute care hospitals ( Blytheville and Osceola Arkansas ) from Baptist Health Systems of Memphis and entered into leases for each of the two facilities with Mississippi County Arkansas. Ameris and Ameris partners own approximately 66% of the Arkansas operation and Ameris was contracted to manage each facility. Ameris returned the management of the facilities back to the County in March2009.
In April 2007, Ameris received approval from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for a Certificate of Need to develop a 60 bed general acute care hospital in Levy County , Chiefland , Florida . Plan developments and financing activities are currently underway.
In September 2008, Ameris assumed the management contract for Barrien County Hospital and Georgia Home Health Services in Nashville , GA. Berrien County Hospital is a JCAHO accredited facility with a licensed capacity of 63 beds. Ameris added a 12-bed geriatric psychiatric service to the hospital in January 2010. Georgia Home Health Services operates three offices – Nashville , GA ; Valdosta , GA ; and Tifton , Georgia . Ameris returned operations of the facilities back to the owners in August 2010.
In January 2010, Ameris began a management engagement and turnaround of the 50-bed acute care hospital in Montezuma , GA. A financial turnaround is currently underway, as well as plans to sell the facility’s assets to a newly formed 501( c ) 3 corporation under an Ameris management agreement.
Ameris Health Systems and Ameris Management Services continue to explore new opportunities for management, development, and consulting for general acute and psychiatric health care entities. Please contact us for more information at (615) 327-4440 .
Ameris of Georgia -
CEO – Sam J. Lewis
CFO – Michael G. Lindley
Sec – Luther Ramsay
It's been a few days since I've posted anything. I injured my wrist. But make no mistake, I'm still on this issue. If the doors of these places are still open you can count on the fact I'm still on it.
The aftermath of yesterday’s post, that was supposed to be in your face shocking, has generated some of the longest emails I’ve received in a long time. All from people who are frustrated nothing is being done to stop these needless deaths. Some believe there is a cover-up by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Probably more like "turn that light off", don't shine it over this way. Many expect the number to rise because of the Medicaid dental mills spreading faster than I can list them across the US.
The carelessness that caused these deaths happens in just about every operatory room all day every day, with each child that is separated from their parent and taken back to that dreaded room and the dreaded papoose board.
This is to every dentist who continues to over treat, mistreat and abuse children in the name of a dollar and to meet production goals.
This is to every support staff that quietly sits back day by day and says nothing.
This is to every office manager, corporate fat head, and investment banker behind any and all corporate dental mills and Medicaid dental facilities.
This is to each and every person along the chain from top to bottom; Patient coordinators, IT staff, recruiters, etc.
This is to every member of any state's dental board who are turning their heads, some even in collusion with the criminals who call themselves dentist. Your chosen profession is being disgraced.
If you are paid directly or indirectly from these substandard dental facilities you are just as guilty of killing the next child as the dentist in the seat next to you, in my opinion.
I understand the need to hang on to a job. But you can refuse to participate in these acts…things you know are just wrong.
Imagine the number of children sitting in waiting rooms right this second in all the dental mills such as Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, Smile Starters, Dream Dental and others.
Which child will die or almost die today...what about tomorrow?
Now, on with today's programming.
"It's a rare event, but when it occurs it's a tragic event and we certainly don't want it to Inoccur," said Dr. Milton Houpt, chairman of pediatric dentistry at the New Jersey Dental School, who says he has been studying the issue.I have serious doubt in some of Houpt's statements. Didn't that last sentence sound familiar? Almost word for word from Dr. John Rutkauskas'.
Dr. Houpt said there are no national statistics on the number of children who die while being sedated in dental offices. The available information is anecdotal, said Houpt, who is conducting a survey with a colleague that includes questions about whether dentists have experienced deaths in their offices.
"In a sample of 2,000 practitioners, you may have one or two" deaths, Houpt said. But that estimate also is anecdotal.
"There has, over the years, been increasing attention to this issue in order to make sedation as safe as possible," he said. "That attention led to the development of guidelines and the review of those guidelines on an ongoing basis.
"I think it's important to recognize there are literally hundreds of thousands of sedations each year and they're almost always performed in a safe fashion," Houpt said.
Do you see the name of the dentist who could be practicing in this Aspen Dental? I don’t. Nor is it on the huge signage on the building.
Update:
I called the number and spent about 10 minutes wading through the phone system, pushing 1 for this and 2 for that. Finally was able to speak with someone at the local office. I asked what the name of the dentist was who would treat me if I made an appointment. The person said, Dr. Jackson. Upon searching the dental board website to verify a dentist with the last name Jackson, I did find a name… FINALLY!
Dr. Robert A. Jackson, Aspen Dental, 5051 Frederica Street, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301. License issued 6-2-2008. Expires 12-31-2011. License number 8609 and he’s a General Dentist.
KRS 313.240
Professional service corporations, professional limited liability companies, and partnerships -- Use of names -- Places of practice -- Limitation on number of practices per person.
(1) (a) No person shall practice or offer to practice dentistry or dental surgery under the name of any company, association, or corporation except the name of a professional service corporation, established under KRS Chapter 274, a professional limited liability company established under KRS Chapter 275, a partnership established under the Kentucky Uniform Partnership Act, or a partnership established under the Kentucky Revised Uniform Partnership Act, or as provided under KRS 313.197. Any person practicing or offering to practice dentistry or dental surgery shall practice under his or her own name; the name of a professional service corporation, professional limited liability company, or partnership, which includes his or her name; or the name of a deceased or incapacitated dentist for whom the person practicing dentistry has contracted to perform continuing operations.
(b) No such person shall conduct a dental office in his or her name nor advertise his or her name in connection with any dental office unless he or she personally performs services as a dentist or dental surgeon in such office or personally supervises such services as are performed in such office during a portion of the time such office is operated by him or her only, and shall not use his or her name in connection with that of any other dentist, except as provided for deceased or incapacitated dentists in KRS 313.197.
(2) No person shall be an incorporator, director, officer, member, manager, or shareholder in more than three (3) professional service corporations, three (3) professional limited liability companies, or three (3) partnerships, or any three (3) of these business entities, rendering dental or dental surgery services. No dentist or dental surgeon or group of dentists or dental surgeons shall practice in more than three (3) locations.
Effective: June 26, 2007
History: Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 53, sec. 1, effective June 26, 2007; and ch. 137, sec. 139, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 220, sec. 1; and ch. 269, sec. 1. -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 12, sec. 15. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2636-14.
Legislative Research Commission Note (6/26/2007). This section was amended by 2007 Ky. Acts chs. 53 and 137. Where these Acts are not in conflict, they have been codified together. Where a conflict exists, Acts. ch. 137, which was last enacted by the General Assembly, prevails under KRS 446.250.
I’m never disappointed when it comes to government agencies and their complicity in abuse, fraud and opening allowing criminal to operate with in their states.
As it’s happened once again, this time in Northern Indian. Gary to be precise.
Early last fall the regional manager for Kool Smiles was sent to the Statehouse to sell her snake oil in the name of quality dental care to the “underserved”.
Being not as well informed as one might think he should be, Rep. Charlie Brown (the name could explain it) bought every drop she had and ordered more. He asked her to bring Kool Smiles to his hometown, Gary. Now we know Dr. Polly Bucky didn’t just happen to show up at the Statehouse, nor did one little speech set the ball rolling for this clinic. It was already a done deal, this was just the dog and pony show that has to be made for the benefit of the public and, well, news outlets.
I wonder if Dr. Polly showed Rep. Charlie Brown the papoose boards. Were they hidden away in the closet during the open house? I wonder if he ever asked just how they deliver that ‘quality care’.
(Of course it was already planned to bring the clinic there, what do we think Dr. Polly was there for in the first place, but it does make for great theater)
So yesterday, the clinic was open and is located in the Gary Community Health Center, 1021 W. 5th Ave.
This is being touted as a public-private partnership. We know what that means. Taxpayers are not only footing the bill for the clinic, they will be paying the dentist, hygienist and other staff via Medicaid dollars.
I don’t understand why the taxpayers of Indiana even need Kool Smiles as more or less the middle man. Just hire some dentist and put them to work.
When Rep. Charlie Brown (sorry, can hardly not giggle when I write that) said, “From start to finish, Kool Smiles has had Gary’s best interest at heart,” I puked in my mouth. As will the children who go there for their version of “Quality Care”.
I wonder if Rep. Brown and whoever he got to ok the HRSA $$’s to put Kool Smiles there has access to the Internet?
You would think by they way this was presented, there was nothing like it in Gary and that just would not be true.
FORBA’s facility, Children’s Dental Clinic of Gary is open every day.
Amazingly just a few weeks ago, April and May, the founder of Kool Smile’s, Dr. Tu Minh
Tran, license status at the board’s website was “under review” but still allowed to practice. (Not that he’s ever seen a patient in Indiana)
It’s Dr. Tran’s license that keeps the clinics close to legally operating. They are clean as a whistle today. However in Georgia, where Kool Smiles (NCDR, LLC) is headquartered, his dental license expired 12-31-2009 and the renewal is “pending”.
I wish I could be there to see the faces of the other medical personnel who will share the building with Kool Smiles when they begin to hear the screams of pain and see the children as they walk out of Kool Smiles’ area. I am glad there are other facilities there to offer medical care because those children will need it, if thing happen there as they do at every other Kool Smiles office.
I hope Rep. Charlie Brown cares enough about his district to make unannounced visits to check on things, his future political career now hinges on Kool Smiles. Isn’t that scary! I don’t know how many times I have to tell people to be very careful what you ask for, because you just may get it!
Oh and if there is any person in Lake County who would like to challenge Rep. Charlie Brown during the next election, keep a close eye on Kool Smiles. It will give you all the ammo you need. Below is Dr. Polly’s latest on camera video. Wonder if she’s ever been through the Dale Carnegie program, I’m guessing no. Actually, I’m guessing by the dumb look on her face she’s never hear of it.
Just a small example of horror stories from Kool Smiles:
My name is XXX BXXXXX and I have taken my kids to Kool smiles and our experience about 2 months ago was horrible. I refuse to take my children back to this dentist office. My son who is six years old was told that he could not go to the bath room while in the chair and that he needed to hold it, while screaming and hurting he peed on himself. In the event to cover it up or to make it not as noticeable they tried to dry him with a hand dryer. When I was informed about the incident I was mortified and more so hurt. To know that my son was made to sit there and use the bathroom on himself was painful to me and to him. When I questioned them I was told that he waited to the last minute to tell them and they were at a point where they couldn’t stop. I informed them that, that was not acceptable and I was very unhappy, they offered to put his clothes in a dryer, I refused. I called their corporate office the following day and left a message to file a complaint and I never heard back from anyone. After several attempts to file a complaint with them and no response I gave up. When I saw this article it gave me some relief that I am not the only one that is going through the pain caused by Kool Smiles.
Things must be going to crap at Heartland Dental. I can’t tell how many people have been to this blog using the term: Heartland Dental Complaints, including the State of Tennessee.
Heartland, whatever you’re doing, you better get it lined out, and fast.
On June 2, 2010 NY Attorney General announced the arrest and indictment of four people and three corporations for stealing 5.7 million through a Medicaid fraud scheme originating out of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
The complaint says from January 1, 2006 to April 7, 2010 David Ibragimov, Arthur Ibragimov and Kew Gardens as well as his son-in-law Mikhail Isakov.
These characters operated three dental clinics and were NOT dentist, so they were not permitted to own those dental clinics.
It’s alleged these men had an “arrangement” with dentists they hired. In the deal the dentists had to pay the crook’s companies two-thirds of the revenues received through billing Medicaid.
There guys took it a step farther than FORBA Small Smiles, Kool Smiles, and other. They actually hired people to head into neighborhoods and homeless areas, offer the prospective clients a few buck to come to the clinics for “service”.
Dr. Bruce Speiser is currently the only dentist indicted but other dentists are being investigated.
The name of the office is "The Smilezone." He apparently was one of the dentists working under Tish Balance in Charlotte.
**************************************************has told horror stories of the treatment given to kids at the office. They are a medicaid billing office. ***************they do pulpectomies and silver caps on small kids 'all the time' even when the x-rays would suggest that the cavities could be filled without difficulties. They do 2 hour procedures on little kids that are crying and struggling and also do 5 and 6 crowns in one sitting. The dentist 'darkens' the x-rays to make it appear that the cavities are worse than they actually are.
Patients are as young as 1 year old. Kids vomit during procedures ************ told, 'use the high suction and keep going.' There is office talk about 'production' and billing to increase payments. One of the dentist routinely pushes for removal of wisdom teeth even when kids aren't bothered by them because "they'll cause you problems some day if you don't go ahead and get them out." He then told my daughter that he likes removing wisdom teeth cause they bring in a lot more money.
*********not sure about the laws or whether or not there is enough evidence to do anything. Whom ******** talk to?
I can't thank you enough for your response! ********* not doing well. **********to quit but unable to find another job and with bills ******can't afford to quit. ********* keep a diary. ********just started to do this. *********************. *********scared to death; being *************************************. Thanks again for the info. We'll look forward to further info regarding possible attorneys *********************** If not,*************would like to report him although he seems to be pretty savvy at covering tracks. It sickens my stomach to **************what the kids are going through and knowing that ************** helping carry out his orders.
I have been a regular on your blog checking it out everyday. Good stuff, up until tonight.I just read your recent post about Dr. Lyons, and I have to completely "disagree" 100% with it. From what I was told from present and past employees was that he left Smile Starters to start his own private practice that sees children and adults up to 40 years old to do things totally differently from Smile Starters.
I have been to his practice to check it out, and I saw that he even let the parents go back to be with their children while they were being worked on for cleanings and their operative appointments. I was pleasantly surprised!! He welcomed parental involvement, and nothing was hidden like Smile Starters that I saw. This is what you and I and everyone else has been preaching for years. Very refreshing. I never saw the papoose board used.
I will be the first to call a spade a spade, but I will also will be the first to speak up when someone is wrong. When I read your post it really looked quite defamatory/wrong without knowing the correct facts of this guy and the practice. I have learned over the years to be really careful of what you hear/post from a possible disgruntled employee. I know nothing scares you or bothers you (LOL--taking on Small Smiles ), but you seem like a very fair and honest person from my conversations with you over the years. Someone mentioned to me that the practice even see more adults than children and more private insurance. I am all for shutting down these mills, but from what I saw his practice is not one of them. People around the community that I have spoken too have said that the practice has made a difference in a good way. I think they do a free clinics to treat people that are in pain for the adults every couple of months .
Might not want to be so harsh on this one, and change/delete that write up. I would have a feeling knowing what I know about him and the practice that they might have a good case for slander and defamation on this one, so just be careful, but heck what do I know.You know way more about that stuff than me with what you went through with Small Smiles. LOL Just trying to help as always:)
Mary