Wednesday, August 13, 2014

DentaQuest Celebrates Safety Net Centers of Excellence During National Health Center Week


This week, National Health Center Week, we celebrate the important work of America’s health centers. They are local engines for healthier communities. Learn more about community health centers here.

There are 44 million uninsured people in this nation and another 56 million who, although they may have health insurance, live in areas without access to doctors and basic health services. Federally qualified community health centers fill this need for over 22 million people at more than 9,000 sites located in all 50 states and U.S. territories. 3,000 of  those sites include dental services. National Health Center Week raises awareness of the access to care needs that exist in our communities and the importance of providing coordinated primary and preventive health care.

Community health centers truly represent the patient-centered health home: over 80 percent of community health centers provide primary medical, dental and behavioral health services under one roof, integrating and coordinating care of the whole patient.

DentaQuest is committed to the success of dental programs at community health centers, many of whom face significant financial challenges in their efforts to meet the mission of providing quality care to those in need. Our Safety Net Solutions (SNS) program has established relationships with over 300 community health center dental programs, working with health center staff and administration and providing technical expertise and assistance that is helping them balance access and capacity so they can provide quality care for more people.

This is challenging work. So, each year at the National Primary Oral Health Conference, the DentaQuest Institute celebrates the work of exemplary safety net dental programs. This year, we will honor five organizations as a John Rossetti Center of Excellence. Each has made significant contributions to high-quality oral health care. We congratulate these 2014 award winners:

The awards also honor the legacy of Dr. John Rossetti, a man who dedicated his career in the U.S. Public Health Service to the oral health needs of underserved people. Dr. Rossetti spent the later years of his career working as an Expert Advisor for the DentaQuest Institute’s Safety Net Solutions program, sharing his wisdom and expertise in the form of technical assistance related to safety net practice management for dental programs. The DentaQuest Institute named its annual Centers for Excellence Award after Dr. John Rossetti to honor safety net dental programs that continue his spirit of excellence in public health leadership. These are programs where leadership and excellence in oral health practice management has led to sustained improvement in access to care and the oral health of their patients.

This year, the John Rosetti Centers of Excellence awards will be presented on Tuesday, August 19th at the National Primary Oral Health Conference during the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) and DentaQuest Institute awards luncheon.

We extend our gratitude to all who are working toward the common goal of helping community health centers succeed.