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Save the Date - 2016 Virginia Oral Health Summit
"Oral Health is Health: Breaking through Barriers & Influencing Change" - will be held on Thursday, November 10th in Richmond. The 2016 Virginia Oral Health Summit will unveil the Virginia Oral Health Report Card and explore measures, trends, research and activities in Virginia to gauge population health and identify opportunities for improvement. Attendees will have the opportunity to enhance their skills in crafting oral health messages and leading change amidst challenge, while meeting new partners in oral health advocacy. Continuing education credit provided for dental professionals, family physicians/PAs, nurses, and social workers. Preview the agenda, and register for the summit here. Please direct questions to Samantha Dorr at (804) 269-8722 or [email protected].
VHCF will underwrite registration fees at the "early-bird" rate ($95) for two attendees from each safety net organization that provides both medical and dental services on site. Reimbursement will be provided after the Summit. Attendees must register and pay for the Summit and attend the event on November 10th for reimbursement. Click here for details about the VHCF reimbursement offer. If you have questions about the reimbursement, please contact Rachel Rees at [email protected].
Share This Date With Your Patients
Saturday, October 2 is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. This is a Drug Enforcement Administration initiative to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Anyone can take expired, unneeded, or unwanted prescription drugs to any one of the thousands of collection sites across the country between 10 am and 2 pm local time. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Click here to search for collection sites near you or call 1-800-882-9539 for more information.
New!!! TPC Web App: Search for available medicines anytime, anywhere!
Wouldn't it be great to be able to easily determine which medicines are free by quickly consulting your mobile device anytime, anywhere?
Now you can! TPC Mobile Rx is a brand new web app, with which you can search all the free medicines in The Pharmacy Connection (TPC), Launched this month, it works on any mobile device, and will enable providers, volunteers, and clinic staff to search for needed medicines while in the exam room, with the click of a button. Search functions will sort by brandname, generic, class and subclass. It will also indicate if a medicine is available for free or a fee. No more paper lists needed! To learn more about TPC and TPC Mobile Rx, contact Lisa Hueston at [email protected].
Blink Health - Low Price Prescriptions for the Uninsured and Insured
Blink Health is the first company to allow patients to purchase their medications online and pick them up at their local pharmacy with a written prescription. Locate your medication via the website and pay online. You'll get a digital Blink voucher that you can print, email or SMS to your phone. Prescriptions can be filled at over 60,000 U.S. pharmacies. Show the Blink voucher to your pharmacist and pick-up the medicine. If you have insurance and find Blink savings to be cheaper, ask the pharmacist to use Blink instead of insurance. Blink has brandname medications when there is not a generic alternative available. If there is a generic alternative, Blink only covers the generic version. Sign up on the website to receive $5 off your first purchase. Check out the recent NBC News clip !
Oral Health Integration Spotlight - Lackey Clinic
Lackey Clinic is working towards enhancing the integration between oral health and primary care. One of the ways staff has approached this is by checking blood pressures when patients come in for dental appointments. It's a small thing, but it has already made a big difference in the life of one patient.
Recently, a new dental patient came in for a dental appointment. When the dental hygienist checked his blood pressure, it was high enough to warrant immediate medical attention. The hygienist walked him right over to the medical side of the clinic where he was evaluated by medical providers. After examining him, the providers determined that his blood pressure medication needed to be re-evaluated. Ultimately, a new medication was added to his regimen and his blood pressure is now controlled. With that crisis addressed, the patient is now working to complete his oral health treatment plan - and feeling better than ever!
Does your clinic have any innovative programs or creative solutions to share? We'd love to hear from you! Please contact Cat Hulburt or Andrea Lancaster to learn more.
2016 Profile of Virginia's Uninsured Now Available
The Virginia Health Care Foundation annually contracts with the Urban Institute to develop a Profile of Virginia's Uninsured using data from an analytical approach it has developed. The report utilizes the most recent in-depth data available (2014/2015). Highlights from the newly released report include:
- Over 12.5% of Virginians under age 65 are without medical insurance - equaling 874,000 uninsured Virginians, down from 995,000 in 2015.
- The vast majority (75.8%) of non-elderly uninsured are part of working families.
- By far, the greatest percentage of uninsured Virginians are U.S. citizens (77%).
For more information about the study and its findings, as well as the full report, tables, maps, and PowerPoint presentation of key findings, visit our website .
Don't Forget!
Are you (or a staff member) considering taking advantage of learning opportunities in the community? VHCF has a variety of informational resources to help you and your staff meet your goals. Check out some of our resources for providers here! Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know!
VHCF also offers funding for capacity building, including:
- Up to $3,500 to underwrite the development of a new strategic plan
- Up to $650 per organization per year to pay for professional development opportunities that enhance the skills or knowledge of health safety net staff or board members
Contact a Program Officer at (804) 828-5804 to learn more.
Upcoming trainings/meetings
- Free Clinic Nurse Practitioner Roundtable (October 6th) register here
- Health Safety Net Concept Papers due (January 20th). More info on how to apply can be found here.
- TPC Trainings
For additional training dates or more information contact Lisa Hueston, TPC Coordinator, at (804) 828-5803.
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