Dentistry students help Medicaid patients

While the Michigan football team establishes itself as a legend throughout America, another part of the University is making a name for itself closer to home.

Each week, Dental graduate students represent the maize and blue in Battle Creek as part of a team designed to help those who rely on Medicaid for their oral health care needs.

The students travel in pairs to Battle Creek's Family Health Center, where they are able to work with dentists to perform procedures on patients. Jed Jacobson, School of Dentistry assistant dean for community and outreach, said the students provide basic services that could save patients from decayed teeth or infected jaw bones.

The project started to take shape about two years ago, Jacobson said, when a nonprofit agency in Calhoun County called to request aid. The caller mentioned complaints about students missing school in the Battle Creek area due to simple dental problems. The School of Dentistry began sending seniors to Battle Creek on a regular basis in September.

Jacobson said the program has been successful because of the willingness of the dentists and employees at Battle Creek's Family Health Center to work with the students.

But Cindy Cooley, director of integrated services at the Family Health Center, said the students are responsible for the success and positive reception of the program.

"The students are a pleasure to have around," Cooley said. "They conduct themselves very professionally."

After making the 90-minute trip to Battle Creek, students spend a day working one-on-one with Health Center patients.

Cooley said the Health Center treats a high number of Medicaid recipients. Sixty percent of the center's patients receive some form of Medicaid assistance.

But the program is not just a benefit to the patients. The program permits students to "gain an understanding of the role and functions of community health organizations," said School of Dentistry Dean William Kotowicz.

Emily Shwedel, a Dental student who participated in the program, said she enjoyed working on her own through all the disciplines of dentistry.

Dental student Lori Thomas said working with the patients one-on-one was beneficial, and added that it was a good experience to see a "wide range of procedures" and establishing contact with various patients throughout the day.

Students said they perform much more than dental procedures.

Dental student Jeannie Driscoll said her experience in Battle Creek helped her gain confidence in herself and her abilities as a dentist. She added that she would "beg to go back" if it were possible.

In an effort to expand student-patient interactions, students this term will be sent to Battle Creek in one week rotations, allowing them more time with the patients and to interact in the Battle Creek community. The students will stay in Battle Creek during this one-week period, Cooley said.

Cooley said that while the program has been extremely successful, it can never be extensive enough.

"Medicaid dental care is a problem throughout the entire state of Michigan," she said. "We are lucky enough to be able to participate with the University of Michigan and provide dental care to those who need it." Cooley said she hopes the program will continue to grow.

The program is funded by the School of Dentistry and a University community-outreach grant. Jacobson said a long-term goal is to purchase equipment that allows students to live in rural environments while assisting patients.

Jacobson said the Battle Creek initiative is beginning to "publicize the University in a more community outreach light." He added that "too often, the University is chastised for not reaching out into the community when in fact we really do reach out - it is just not broadcast."

Meanwhile, the Dental students continue to give the program rave reviews. Shwedel said the worst part of her experience in Battle Creek was "going back to school on Tuesday."

01-15-98