Wednesday, July 17, 2013

MobileSmiles Announces “Share the Care” Contest Winner

What does it take to win the inaugural MobileSmiles Oklahoma (MSO) “Share the Care” contest? Apparently, it takes the notion that you might have to completely embarrass yourself to shamelessly promote a cause you feel deeply about! That’s exactly how Extreme Worship and Outreach in Glenpool, a congregation of about 120, became the first winner of this contest.

A two-week nomination period to gather entries began May 20, followed by a two-week voting period open to the public on the MSO Facebook page. The winner would be awarded one day of mobile unit services with the $600 community investment fee waived. Nine worthy groups were selected and all made huge pleas to family, Facebook friends, and community in promoting their cause.

Glenpool pulled ahead of the pack in the last few days and won the contest with 435 votes. More than 100 votes separated them and the second place finisher!
Glenpool resident, Gina Ferman, not only
nominated the winning group,
but promoted it at a local community
event

“Not only does Extreme Worship and Outreach do great things in their community with food, clothing and outreach to underserved populations, but they are serving people from three counties,” said Gina Ferman who nominated the group and is a member of the congregation.

The church serves approximately 130 families a month through their food pantry connected to the Northeastern Oklahoma Food Bank, has a clothes closet and assists with utility bills.

Ferman is a registered nurse and has work with Extreme’s medical outreach efforts inside the Good Samaritan mobile health clinic. This church has tried to find a way to address the dental eneds in the area for some time. She explained that for many of the communities the church serves, this will be their first access to dental care for a long time, some ever.

As a nurse, I know the direct tie with preventative dental care and hygiene with overall health and disease prevention,” Ferman said. “Poor oral health directly impacts self-esteem, performance in school, obtaining a job and staying in the workforce. I hope this visit plans a seed in many to encourage lifelong care of their teeth.”

During the two week voting period, the church members stayed on top of the MSO Facebook page making sure their friends were voting. The last two days of voting were “Black Gold Days,” an annual festival in Glenpool. Extreme Worship and Outreach had a booth ready and waiting for passersby.

“To get people’s attention, I walked around wearing a sign with a picture of the MobileSmiles unit, information on how to vote, toothbrushes in my hair and asked for votes,” Ferman said. “If I had to look a little silly to get people’s attention, I didn’t mind. I felt it was a very worthwhile cause to be able to meet the needs of those in the area.” 

Their dental day will be coordinated by church member Gayla Seaton.  She believes the “mobile” aspect program will be the greatest benefit to the community.

“Many here don’t have transportation or ways to get to a dentist – a lot of our food pantry clients walk here to feed their families.” Seaton said.

MobileSmiles is scheduled to visit Extreme Worship and Outreach August 9.

Friday, June 21, 2013

"Share the Care" Nominee Spotlight: Rogers County Adult Day Care

This adult day care center located in Claremore serves adults who have disabilities and the elderly. They have everyday obstacles in life they face, and access to dental care is one of them. They can be often overlooked by health care providers because their physical limitations. Many of these individuals cannot physically get to a dental office, so services must come to them. Not many programs like that exist in Oklahoma, unfortunately. One nominee who previously volunteered with the day care told us about her experience there and the needs of those individuals.

How do you think dental service would benefit this organization?

"The dental services that MobileSmiles Oklahoma provides would benefit the clients greatly. I am nominating this program because while attending the University of Oklahoma Dental Hygiene program, I was able to construct a community health program and chose to work with RCDAC because it was an often overlooked population. While implementing my project and conducting oral screenings, more than half of the clients had suspicious areas of decay and root tips remaining. The MobileSmiles "Share the Care" contest would further help the clients of RCADC, because my classmate and I were limited on what we could provide these individuals."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"I think the clients at RCADC should win this because their overall oral health would improve significantly. At RCADC, the aides do a great job with the care they provide their clients, however, many of the clients' oral health is lacking. This is an opportunity they might not be able to receive anywhere else."

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

"Share the Care" Nominee Spotlight: Extreme Worship & Outreach in Glenpool

Extreme Worship and Outreach Center is a church residing in Glenpool, who works in many capacities in their community and across Oklahoma when needed. They work with the homeless, those in need of medical services, food and clothing in Tulsa, Creek and Okmulgee counties.


Read what their nominee said about them:

How do you think dental services would benefit the church?

"They do community outreach to children, youth and uninsured adults. They see many who need dental care and currently are trying to raise funds to bring a dental clinic to the area because the need is so great."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"The organization has a caring heart for people in need."

"Share the Care" Nominee Spotlight: Enid

Enid's Health Planning Committee is a group that meets monthly to discuss the health and well-being of the Enid community, and helps identify areas the community is lacking services.

It ranges from fitness, mental health, medical, dental and many other projects looking to better the community. Many social service and health groups make this committee run and ensure it succeeds.

This committee brought MobileSmiles to Enid last April, and had a successful day treating 18 patients, thanks to several volunteer dental professionals in Enid and the organization of the health clinic hosting us, coordinated by a member of this committee. They are aware that there is a large population in Enid who needs to receive dental services, but are unable to do so at this time, and working for ways to bridge this gap.

Hear from the nominator:

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"For several years, this group has struggled with availability of dental services for the under served in the community. Efforts have been made to improve access to dental care for low-income individuals. The health department has a dentist for an hour or two each month, but the needs are much greater than that."

"We were able to serve 18 people last April, but the waiting list had more than 50 people on it, and more have been added since then."

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

"Share the Care" Contest Nominee Spotlight: Geary Schools



Geary is a town of about 1,200, located in Blaine County in western Oklahoma. It is a rural community with medical and dental services at minimum 15 - 30 miles away in each direction. The distance to and from a dental or health professional has forced the public school system look for ways health services can integrate into their schools and serve the population.

They currently have a strong partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Van program, which provides immunizations two times a year free of charge to students. The mobile unit has also visited these schools several times since it's creation, providing dental care to many students.

Read why a nominee all the way from OKC nominated them:

How do you think dental services would benefit this group?

"Time away from work, school, lost wages and transportation (are a barrier in receiving services). Dental services available on site will mean less time away from school for the children, as well as more attentive children throughout the school year."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"With the school's organization, a high number of children are able to be seen quickly and as efficiently as possible. They have a reputation for strong advocacy for healthy lifestyle and participation in school based services are the reason they should win this competition."

Monday, June 17, 2013

Realities from the Road: Burns Flat (Washita County)

Site Partner: 
Burns Flat Church of Christ
May 31, 2013

Patient Stats:
35 patients pre-screened – total value of $1,293
10 patients treated at a value of $2,556
Teeth extracted – 26
Volunteers – Pre-screeners Julie Nabors, RDH and Kelly Pease, RDH both from Weatherford, RDH; Dr. Adam Cohlmia of OKC provided treatment

MobileSmiles visited Burns Flat church of Christ for the first time at the end of May. We were originally scheduled for two days, but had to cancel one due to lack of available volunteers. Thankfully, Dr. Adam Cohlmia was available the second day and volunteered his time with us. 

Here’s how he summed up the day:
Dr. Adam Cohlmia
“Patients seemed to be pretty underserved or completely underserved populations. I don’t know how important oral hygiene is or how important dental education is in that community. As far as the cities I’ve volunteered with in this program, it was definitely one in most need. Patients (including children) had decayed teeth below the gum and some to the nerve.”

However, the patients and people of Burns Flat made a lasting impression.

“These patients were some of the most thankful people I’ve seen on the mobile unit. They were very friendly to us.”

Dr. Cohlmia considers this group’s barrier to dental care to be financial. The patients were very low incomes – most household incomes for 4-5 people were less than $20,000 annually. Of the 10 patients seen that day, only one person had insurance. 

From the Mouths of Patients:
 “One little girl seemed terrified the whole time during her treatment, then when it was over, she thanked us and asked us to come over to her house to hang out afterwards! She ended up being really happy she got her tooth pulled and took a liking to us.”

Other Notes:
“Driving home was kinda fun. I was headed to Norman on Highway 152 and saw all the tornadoes form north of me and listened to it on the radio.” 

Thankfully, the mobile unit also made it home safety, albeit very late, but drove through El Reno after the tornado passed though. Our Community Coordinator Steve Hudson took this photo as he was headed east on I-40. Our thoughts and prayers are again with those who were affected by the largest tornado ever recorded. As you can see from this photo, destruction

"Share the Care" Nominee Spotlight: First Baptist Church in Lawton

First Baptist Church is a congregation that puts great emphasis on community outreach. They host various events throughout the year, but their biggest event is "Mission Lawton," held every June. MobileSmiles had the opportunity to provide services during this event last year and we were so surprised by the magnitude of the event!

While many local dentists provided dental treatment, the church also offered clothes, haircuts, car washes and a food pantry to the community free of charge. Last June was our largest day of patients treated with our program - 37 patients seen in ONE day! If First Baptist wins this contest, they would use the funds for the same event this year.

Read what a nominator had to say about them:

How do you think dental services would help this population?

"It will help out ministry fair reach out to our surrounding neighborhoods by providing much needed dental care."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"The event will probably set a record for number of patients treated in the shortest number of hours!"