DentaQuest Institute

January 31, 2011 - DentaQuest Institute Executive Director Mark Doherty, DMD, MPH, CCHP was recognized as Best Practice Management Consultant in Dr.Bicuspid's 2011 Dental Excellence Awards.  Dr. Doherty, a founder of the DentaQuest Institute's Safety net Solutions consulting program, is a passionate advocate for oral health with a strong background in public health dentistry.

DentaQuest Institute's Safety Net Solutions

The Safety Net Solutions program is unique among dental management consultants because it is focused on the urgent need to preserve and strengthen the oral health safety net which serves 16 million+ uninsured and medically underserved Americans every day.  Oral health safety net providers are the dentists who work at the local community health center.  They are critical to good individual and community health.  But they are very challenged by poor reimbursement, operational difficulties, and limited resources.  Historically, these programs struggle to maintain financial viability.

The DentaQuest Institute's Safety Net Solutions (SNS) program works collaboratively with program administrators, dental directors, and staff.  Its advisors provide customized technical assistance to enhance the business infrastructure behind the delivery of care - with an appreciation for the uniqueness of safety net clients and their care needs.  The SNS Improvement Model is especially helpful for programs in environments with low levels of public reimbursement because it teaches programs to operate more efficiently.

Since the program began in 2006, SNS has worked with more than 90 safety net dental programs in 19 states.  They are now advising the growing number of community health centers that are starting new or expanding existing dental programs, using critical resources mandated in health reform.

Safety Net Solutions is making a difference.  Within one year of receiving SNS technical assistance, a dental care safety net program is stronger.  Overall, through technical assistance, a site experienced on average, per site:

• 35, 063 more dental visits in the past year
• An increase of 1,594 visits
• Gross productivity increased by $752,006
• Net revenue of dental services increased by $5,475,937

Learn more about the Safety Net Solutions program at dentaquestinstitute.org/safetynetsolutions

Dr.Bicuspid Dental Excellence Awards

The Dr.Bicuspid Dental Excellence Awards provide a forum for dental professionals to acknowledge the contributions of their peers to the field of dentistry and to acknowledge products and services that they value most.  Award candidates are nominated by DrBicuspid.com members and then voted on by members in two subsequent rounds of voting.  The award is recognition of Dr. Doherty's hard work and the DentaQuest Institute's leadership in strengthening America's dental safety net and innovating improvements to the care delivery system.

About DentaQuest Institute

The DentaQuest Institute is a not-for-profit organization focused on research and supported by the DentaQuest family of oral health companies.  The DentaQuest Institute works with clinical partners across the country to develop and implement more effective approaches to preventing and managing oral disease.

About DrBicuspid.com

DrBicuspid.com is a division of IMV, Ltd.  IMV Publishing operates websites targeted at vertical markets within the healthcare industry.  DrBicuspid.com offers original feature articles, daily news, and educational information designed for today's dental professional and dental team members.  The company's AuntMinnie.com site is the premier online information, transaction, and education site for the medical imaging industry.