Presentation Category
Community Oral Health
Introduction/Context/Diagnosis
Objective The 2024 clinic held in Indio marked a pivotal moment in UOP's involvement in California Careforce's 13-year legacy of offering free medical, dental, and vision services at numerous clinics throughout the state. Following approval from the Dental Board of California, Dugoni students seized the chance to volunteer at the Coachella Valley Clinic. Operating under a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, our team provided care from March 8 to March 10, 2024. Summary In collaboration with the California Careforce team, composed of 5 third-year students and 2 supervising faculty members, our involvement primarily centered on oral surgery and restorative clinics. However, given the novelty of our partnership with this organization, logistical hurdles necessitated clearance for both participants and faculty members, leveraging the recently enacted legislation, Assembly Bill 936. This bill extended eligibility for dental students in their clinical training years to administer free dental services. Beyond logistical preparations, including establishing the clinical infrastructure, securing essential supplies and instruments, and enlisting patients in need of care, California Careforce generously provided accommodations for our student and faculty volunteers. Over the span of three days, beginning on Friday, the clinic at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, catered to the entire Coachella Valley. Volunteers assumed various roles such as triage, radiography, assistance, and direct patient care. Our team's primary responsibilities revolved around delivering restorative and oral surgery services, encompassing tasks like composite fillings and simple and complex surgical extractions. Over the course of the clinic, 425 patients received dental care, including 303 extractions, 189 fillings, 28 stay plates, and 89 cleanings. In addition to dental services, 1178 patients received medical and vision treatments from other volunteers. While our UOP students primarily focused on surgical extractions, future trips aim to involve more students in providing restorative procedures for patients. Sponsored contributions facilitated the procurement of essential supplies such as handpieces,
Location
Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry, 155 5th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
Format
Presentation
Indio Trip: California Careforce
Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry, 155 5th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
Objective The 2024 clinic held in Indio marked a pivotal moment in UOP's involvement in California Careforce's 13-year legacy of offering free medical, dental, and vision services at numerous clinics throughout the state. Following approval from the Dental Board of California, Dugoni students seized the chance to volunteer at the Coachella Valley Clinic. Operating under a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, our team provided care from March 8 to March 10, 2024. Summary In collaboration with the California Careforce team, composed of 5 third-year students and 2 supervising faculty members, our involvement primarily centered on oral surgery and restorative clinics. However, given the novelty of our partnership with this organization, logistical hurdles necessitated clearance for both participants and faculty members, leveraging the recently enacted legislation, Assembly Bill 936. This bill extended eligibility for dental students in their clinical training years to administer free dental services. Beyond logistical preparations, including establishing the clinical infrastructure, securing essential supplies and instruments, and enlisting patients in need of care, California Careforce generously provided accommodations for our student and faculty volunteers. Over the span of three days, beginning on Friday, the clinic at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, catered to the entire Coachella Valley. Volunteers assumed various roles such as triage, radiography, assistance, and direct patient care. Our team's primary responsibilities revolved around delivering restorative and oral surgery services, encompassing tasks like composite fillings and simple and complex surgical extractions. Over the course of the clinic, 425 patients received dental care, including 303 extractions, 189 fillings, 28 stay plates, and 89 cleanings. In addition to dental services, 1178 patients received medical and vision treatments from other volunteers. While our UOP students primarily focused on surgical extractions, future trips aim to involve more students in providing restorative procedures for patients. Sponsored contributions facilitated the procurement of essential supplies such as handpieces,
Comments/Acknowledgements
Presentation Category: PIP: Community Health Service & Health Promotion