Bridge between medicine and dentistry at Penn Dental, relieves pressure on emergency rooms
In a significant stride towards holistic healthcare, Penn Dental Medicine's Morton Amsterdam Dean, Mark S. Wolff, underscores the importance of maintaining optimal oral health for overall well-being.
Located within the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar, Penn Dental at Cedar is making a tangible difference in the West and Southwest Philadelphia community. The dental care centre, a collaboration between Penn Dental Medicine and PHMC, is staffed by a mix of third- and fourth-year Penn Dental Medicine students, residents from the School’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, faculty, and hygienists.
The co-location of medical and dental services at Cedar offers numerous benefits. For instance, dental examinations can be offered to patients during physical visits or while waiting for a doctor, particularly for those with dental emergencies or who may not have a history with dentists. This integration of dental care within a collaborative-care centre, such as Cedar, supports improved health outcomes.
Moreover, the dental and medical electronic health records of Cedar patients are integrated, ensuring seamless communication between healthcare providers. This integration is crucial in delivering comprehensive care to patients.
Jackie Cuccurullo, a fourth-year student at Penn Dental Medicine, has rotated in and out of Cedar for a year. She finds the experience helpful in making patients who may not have a history with dentists more comfortable. Cuccurullo, who specifically chose Penn Dental Medicine to work in community sites like Penn Dental on Cedar, believes that it's a contrast to have the dental school come to the neighbourhood, rather than the other way around.
Shelley Henderson, an assistant professor of clinical family medicine and community health, has served as a provider at PHMC on Cedar since 2022. Henderson notes that the collaboration with Penn Dental Medicine has "changed the game" for her, enabling patients to receive optional dental examinations during physical visits.
The Cedar care centre serves as a bridge between Penn Dental Medicine and the West and Southwest Philadelphia community, and between types of care. Gafford, a representative from Penn Dental Medicine, has emphasised that the care centre at Cedar is part of Penn’s goal of being a good neighbour to West Philadelphia.
Gafford also highlights that care centres like the one at Cedar showcase to students that community dentistry is a viable alternative to private practices. The mission-driven department, clinic, and site at Cedar inspire students to treat everyone with dignity and respect and understand that community dentistry is a real career path.
In its first year, Penn Dental on Cedar completed 8,350 dental procedures. The centre's success is a testament to its commitment to providing quality dental care to the community it serves.
The collaboration between Penn Dental Medicine and PHMC on Cedar is more than just a partnership; it's a step towards a more integrated, accessible, and comprehensive healthcare system.
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