The Youngstown Vindicator recently ran an article entitled "Say Cheese!" The article shows how the caregivers at Small Smiles of Youngstown are helping to keep kids smiling in their community!
To read the article, please click here.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Children "Say Cheese!" in Youngstown, Ohio!
The Youngstown Vindicator recently ran an article entitled "Say Cheese!" The article shows how the caregivers at Small Smiles of Youngstown are helping to keep kids smiling in their community!
To read the article, please click here.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Small Smiles of Florence Offers Free Dental Screenings
Dr. Medrina Gilliam, Lead Dentist of Small Smiles of Florence, appeared on NBC in Myrtle Beach to discuss her center's "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day." Watch the clip to see what she says about the importance of oral health for children.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston Hosts Free Dental Screenings
Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston hosted free dental screenings for Low Country children. To hear how Dr. Trish and the caregivers at Children's Dental Clinic are helping keep Charleston's children smiling, watch the clip!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Small Smiles of Atlanta Hosts Free Screenings for "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day"
Small Smiles of Atlanta hosted "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day" to celebrate Children's Dental Health Month. Watch the clip to see Dr. Edwards from Small Smiles of Atlanta offer a free screening to a child.
FORBA Appoints Patient Advocate
FORBA today announced that Angela Newberry has joined the company as Patient Advocate.
The company said that Newberry will act as an important liaison for dental center patients and their parents. The advocate receives comments and concerns from parents and helps ensure that parents are informed of the dental center’s care and quality initiatives. The Patient Advocate is also a key member of the FORBA compliance department and a member of FORBA’s compliance committee.
Newberry joins FORBA from Universal Health Services of Nashville where she was Tennessee Continuum Director and served on various policy committees established by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Previously, Newberry was Director of Teen Trax and Assistant Administrator of the Rutherford County Teen Learning Center, where she supervised a juvenile probation program and court-ordered alternative school for at-risk students. Newberry’s experience also includes positions with student counseling groups and behavioral health services for teens.
Newberry is a member of the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American and Tennessee Bar associations. She holds a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from Murray State University in Kentucky.
The appointment of a Patient Advocate is the latest in a series of quality initiatives launched after FORBA’s ownership change in 2006. Since then, the company has appointed a Chief Dental Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a four-member Pediatric Dental Advisory Board comprised of oral health experts from across the country.
The company said that Newberry will act as an important liaison for dental center patients and their parents. The advocate receives comments and concerns from parents and helps ensure that parents are informed of the dental center’s care and quality initiatives. The Patient Advocate is also a key member of the FORBA compliance department and a member of FORBA’s compliance committee.
Newberry joins FORBA from Universal Health Services of Nashville where she was Tennessee Continuum Director and served on various policy committees established by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Previously, Newberry was Director of Teen Trax and Assistant Administrator of the Rutherford County Teen Learning Center, where she supervised a juvenile probation program and court-ordered alternative school for at-risk students. Newberry’s experience also includes positions with student counseling groups and behavioral health services for teens.
Newberry is a member of the Health Care Compliance Association, and the American and Tennessee Bar associations. She holds a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from Murray State University in Kentucky.
The appointment of a Patient Advocate is the latest in a series of quality initiatives launched after FORBA’s ownership change in 2006. Since then, the company has appointed a Chief Dental Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and a four-member Pediatric Dental Advisory Board comprised of oral health experts from across the country.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Small Smiles of Atlanta and Dr. Steve Adair Featured on Good Day Atlanta
To kick off National Children's Dental Health Month, Dr. Steve Adair appeared on Good Day Atlanta Xtra. Dr. Adair discussed the free screenings that were being held at Small Smiles of Atlanta and the importance of good dental health for children. To hear what Dr. Adair had to say, see the clip below!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Quality Initiatives Front & Center at FORBA and Small Smiles
Since an ownership change in 2006, wide-ranging initiatives have been launched to ensure that FORBA-associated dental centers provide children with the highest quality dental care. While the following includes a snapshot of current and ongoing policies and improvements, FORBA continues to work with employees, its Pediatric Dental Advisory Board, independent experts in pediatric dentistry, and parents to identify new and innovative ways to monitor and improve care.
Initiatives to Ensure Quality Care
√ Chief Dental Officer. We created the position of Chief Dental Officer and hired Dr. Steven Adair, a nationally recognized expert in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Adair is a former professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry; has served as editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Journal and is a member of the AAPD Board of Trustees. Dr. Adair is leading initiatives to ensure high-quality patient care; overseeing efforts to improve the care experience for children and parents at our dental centers nationwide; and is enhancing the educational component of a dental visit.
√ Pediatric Dental Advisory Board. We established a Pediatric Dental Advisory Board that assists our Chief Dental Officer and focuses on quality of care initiatives. The board members are:
• Dr. Joe Bernat, Chair, Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry at the State University of New York-Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
• Dr. Paul Casamassimo, Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University and Chief of Dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
• Dr. Arthur Nowak, Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine.
• Dr. Anupama Tate, Director, Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Assistant Professor at The George Washington University.
√ Clinical Guidelines. Formulated by our Chief Dental Officer and Pediatric Dental Advisory Board, our clinical guidelines were developed in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry with regard to treatment for high-risk populations.
√ Enhanced Training. We have undertaken several steps to ensure that Small Smiles Dentists and Assistants benefit from the latest training in pediatric dental care, including:
• Continuing Education. FORBA-associated dentists regularly attended continuing education courses to learn about the latest in treatment techniques and care. Our continuing education sessions offer the latest information and guidance on topics such as preventative dentistry, behavior management, trauma patients, and specific dental procedures.
• High-Risk Population Training. Dentists are required to take a four-part series of webinars, developed by pediatric dentists, on guidelines for treating the “high risk” pediatric dental population. The series covered topics such as correct oral hygiene instruction, risk assessment, treatment planning, guidelines for high quality dental care, continuity of care and compliance.
• Tuition Assistance. For dentists with more than two years of service, FORBA sponsors a competitive program to help support their education goals. Each year, we offer tuition assistance for up to three dentists who apply to a pediatric or orthodontic dental school program.
Ongoing Communication With Parents
√ Feedback and Communication with Parents. Several initiatives ensure that parents are involved with their child’s care, including:
• 800 Number. We established a feedback line -- 1-877-302-KIDS -- for parents to share experiences directly with the management company, and have posted the number in our dental centers. We investigate any concerns raised by parents and take appropriate action immediately.
• Parent Feedback. Parent satisfaction with care is monitored through comment cards and an automated survey system called NPS. We follow up on specific survey comments, as appropriate, and also analyze the survey results for each dental center and across the company to identify trends and opportunities to improve care company-wide.
• Patient Advocate. Our appointed patient advocate is an important liaison for dental center patients and their parents. The advocate receives comments and concerns from parents and in turn helps ensure that parents are informed of the dental center’s care and quality initiatives. The patient advocate is also a key member of the FORBA compliance department and a member of FORBA’s compliance committee.
• "Pledge to Patients, Families, and Communities." A pledge is clearly posted in our centers to ensure that Small Smiles’ practices and standards are clear and understood by parents and employees alike.
High Standards for Employees
√ Quality and Compliance Training. Employees are required to participate in orientation and training programs that ensure adherence to Quality Assurance Protocols and Compliance Guidelines across all FORBA-associated dental centers. FORBA’s quality assurance protocols address issues such as chart documentation, X-ray guidelines, treatment planning, time management, patient accompaniment, treatment time limits, same- day treatments and anesthesia. Protocols are examined through regular internal audits, and are reviewed by an independent organization and monitor.
√ Employee Code of Conduct. We require all employees to sign a new code of ethics and business conduct that emphasizes quality of care, professionalism and the duty of every employee to report any type of wrongdoing observed in the workplace.
√ Employee feedback. We provide employees with feedback cards and an employee hotline that enables us to quickly identify potential concerns.
These and other steps will help ensure that the children and parents who visit Small Smiles dental centers continue to have a positive experience that improves oral health.
Initiatives to Ensure Quality Care
√ Chief Dental Officer. We created the position of Chief Dental Officer and hired Dr. Steven Adair, a nationally recognized expert in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Adair is a former professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry; has served as editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Journal and is a member of the AAPD Board of Trustees. Dr. Adair is leading initiatives to ensure high-quality patient care; overseeing efforts to improve the care experience for children and parents at our dental centers nationwide; and is enhancing the educational component of a dental visit.
√ Pediatric Dental Advisory Board. We established a Pediatric Dental Advisory Board that assists our Chief Dental Officer and focuses on quality of care initiatives. The board members are:
• Dr. Joe Bernat, Chair, Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry at the State University of New York-Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
• Dr. Paul Casamassimo, Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University and Chief of Dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
• Dr. Arthur Nowak, Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine.
• Dr. Anupama Tate, Director, Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Assistant Professor at The George Washington University.
√ Clinical Guidelines. Formulated by our Chief Dental Officer and Pediatric Dental Advisory Board, our clinical guidelines were developed in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry with regard to treatment for high-risk populations.
√ Enhanced Training. We have undertaken several steps to ensure that Small Smiles Dentists and Assistants benefit from the latest training in pediatric dental care, including:
• Continuing Education. FORBA-associated dentists regularly attended continuing education courses to learn about the latest in treatment techniques and care. Our continuing education sessions offer the latest information and guidance on topics such as preventative dentistry, behavior management, trauma patients, and specific dental procedures.
• High-Risk Population Training. Dentists are required to take a four-part series of webinars, developed by pediatric dentists, on guidelines for treating the “high risk” pediatric dental population. The series covered topics such as correct oral hygiene instruction, risk assessment, treatment planning, guidelines for high quality dental care, continuity of care and compliance.
• Tuition Assistance. For dentists with more than two years of service, FORBA sponsors a competitive program to help support their education goals. Each year, we offer tuition assistance for up to three dentists who apply to a pediatric or orthodontic dental school program.
Ongoing Communication With Parents
√ Feedback and Communication with Parents. Several initiatives ensure that parents are involved with their child’s care, including:
• 800 Number. We established a feedback line -- 1-877-302-KIDS -- for parents to share experiences directly with the management company, and have posted the number in our dental centers. We investigate any concerns raised by parents and take appropriate action immediately.
• Parent Feedback. Parent satisfaction with care is monitored through comment cards and an automated survey system called NPS. We follow up on specific survey comments, as appropriate, and also analyze the survey results for each dental center and across the company to identify trends and opportunities to improve care company-wide.
• Patient Advocate. Our appointed patient advocate is an important liaison for dental center patients and their parents. The advocate receives comments and concerns from parents and in turn helps ensure that parents are informed of the dental center’s care and quality initiatives. The patient advocate is also a key member of the FORBA compliance department and a member of FORBA’s compliance committee.
• "Pledge to Patients, Families, and Communities." A pledge is clearly posted in our centers to ensure that Small Smiles’ practices and standards are clear and understood by parents and employees alike.
High Standards for Employees
√ Quality and Compliance Training. Employees are required to participate in orientation and training programs that ensure adherence to Quality Assurance Protocols and Compliance Guidelines across all FORBA-associated dental centers. FORBA’s quality assurance protocols address issues such as chart documentation, X-ray guidelines, treatment planning, time management, patient accompaniment, treatment time limits, same- day treatments and anesthesia. Protocols are examined through regular internal audits, and are reviewed by an independent organization and monitor.
√ Employee Code of Conduct. We require all employees to sign a new code of ethics and business conduct that emphasizes quality of care, professionalism and the duty of every employee to report any type of wrongdoing observed in the workplace.
√ Employee feedback. We provide employees with feedback cards and an employee hotline that enables us to quickly identify potential concerns.
These and other steps will help ensure that the children and parents who visit Small Smiles dental centers continue to have a positive experience that improves oral health.
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