May 30, 2019

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and Dr. Paul Glassman were recognized for being instrumental to the establishment of the Virtual Dental Home (VDH) system on Maui, Hawaii, during a recent event at the Mayor’s Office County Building in Wailuku. 

The Mayor’s Proclamation ceremony on May 7 attracted over 60 community leaders, government officials and representatives of funding agencies from across the Hawaiian islands. Mayor Michael P. Victorino declared the day to be “Maui Teledentistry (Virtual Dental Home) Pilot Project Day” and a certificate was awarded to Dr. Glassman, professor of dental practice and director of the Dugoni School’s Pacific Center for Special Care.

Dr. Glassman and staff from the Pacific Center for Special Care provided training and technical assistance for the launch of the Virtual Dental Home system across Maui. The effort has been recognized as making a difference in the oral health of children enrolled in WIC, Early Head Start and Head Start programs, as well as adults in long-term care facilities.

Under Dr. Glassman’s direction, the Pacific Center for Special Care obtained grant funding from the Hawaii Dental Service Foundation (HDS) and the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Foundation to work with the Hui No Ke Ola Pono Native Hawaiian Health Care System and the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) to replicate the Center's successful VDH system on Maui. A previous project established a VDH system on the Island of Hawaii in conjunction with the West Hawaii Community Health Center. These projects have raised the awareness among many groups in Hawaii about using telehealth-connected teams to reach underserved community groups; provide diagnostic and early preventive services; and improve oral health. 

The Virtual Dental Home creates a community-based oral health delivery system in which people receive preventive and simple therapeutic services in community settings where they live or receive educational, social or general health services. It utilizes the latest technology to link practitioners in the community with dentists at remote office sites. 

Mayoral Proclamation from the County of Maui

This Proclamation recognizes Hui No Ke Ola Pono Community Health Center, Hawaii Dental Service Foundation, Hawaii Medical Service Association Foundation, and Dr. Paul Glassman DDS, MA,  MBA  for their service and generous support of the MAUI TELE-DENTISTRY (VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME) PILOT PROJECT. 

WHEREAS, Hawaii has the highest prevalence of tooth decay in the United States; and  

WHEREAS, seven (7) out of every ten (10) Hawaii third graders (71%) are affected by tooth decay; substantially higher than the national average of about 5 out of every 10 (52%); and 

WHEREAS, the Hui No Ke Ola Pono (HNKOP) Community Health Center has implemented a tele-dentistry pilot project (via the Virtual Dental Home delivery of care model) to address the oral health disparities that adversely affect Maui residents; and

WHEREAS, the HNKOP Community Health Center’s virtual dental home clinical team, Dr. Emi Eno-Orikasa, DDS and Kellyn Fuller, RDH (dental hygienist) have been essential to the implementation, growth, and success of this tele-dentistry project; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Dental Service Foundation and Hawaii Medical Service Association Foundation have generously provided funding and support for this project; and 

WHEREAS, Dr. Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA the developer of the Virtual Dental Home delivery of care model and consultant on this project; and 

WHEREAS, Dr. Andrew W. L. Tseu, DDS, JD Chief of the Hospital & Community Dental Services Branch of the Hawaii State Department of Health, Liaison DOH Officer and public health consultant on this project; and 

WHEREAS, this tele-dentistry pilot project’s primary objective is to provide dental care at community sites for the underserved and vulnerable populations that are not currently receiving dental care;

WHEREAS, this project has been shown to be effective in providing dental treatment at community sites to children and the elderly and improving access to dental care; and 

WHEREAS, this project also provides oral health awareness, education, and instructions for patients, their families and community site programs; and  

WHEREAS, HNKOP is partnering with the University of Hawaii, Maui College, Dental Hygiene School to provide virtual dental home clinic rotations for the dental hygiene students. The focus is to educate and introduce the dental hygiene students to tele-dentistry and providing dental care in the community; and

WHEREAS, Rosie Vierra, BS, RDH, MS of the University of Hawaii, Maui College, Dental Hygiene School is the program coordinator for the virtual dental home clinic rotations for the dental hygiene students and tele-dentistry didactic curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Maui Tele-Dentistry (Virtual Dental Home) clinic sites are WIC Program-Family Health Services Division-Maui District Health Office, Head Start-Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Early Head Start-Maui Family Support Services, Inc., Hale Makua Health Services, and Kula Hospital.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL P. VICTORINO, Mayor of the City and County of Maui, have the distinct honor of recognizing the success and ongoing positive impact on improving access to dental care that the Maui Tele-Dentistry Pilot Project has brought upon the Maui County children and elderly, and proclaim May 07, 2019 as

MAUI TELE-DENTISTRY (VIRTUAL DENTAL HOME) PILOT PROJECT DAY.

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu

Categories: Awards, Community Impact, Faculty, Featured, Honors, 2019

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu