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Recording Transcript |
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At Loma Linda University we took seriously the twin goals of the Community Based Dental Partnership Program. That is to increase access to dental care for low income persons with HIV, and to increase the number of dental professionals capable of managing the oral health needs of patients with this disease. The nearby Social Action Community Health System, known as SACHS, has a dental clinic devoted to treating persons with HIV. The SACHS Clinic became one of our community based partners. We rotate all senior level Dental and Dental Hygiene students through this clinic in small groups on a weekly basis throughout the entire academic year. During this rotation, the students receive didactic training, interview patients in the clinic, engage in role playing to learn how dental providers can respond to different situations, and treat patients in the clinic. All students complete pre session and post session surveys. Patients also complete post treatment surveys. After five full years of this program, the survey data clearly indicates the students feel better prepared and more comfortable in treating people with this stigmatizing disease. Many students have expressed that the patient interview was the best part of the training and was a powerful emotional experience. The patients also clearly expressed that they appreciate and support the goals of the program and enjoy interaction with the students. |