Free dental clinics!!! (vision and auditory links too!)

[OneGrassRoot]

I've been envisioning a free clinic tour (similar to the one Keith O. promoted in the last six months), but this tour would focus on dental, vision and hearing needs. We've seen firsthand how many without our own DU community have gone without dental care, with often devastating results for one's physical and emotional health.

Well, look what I just found via The Google:

DENTISTRY FROM THE HEART

Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to those who need it. Every year, individual dentists and practices across the country donate their time and resources to host their own DFTH events. In support our of DFTH partners, the organization serves to recruit, unify, and promote events on a national level.

http://dentistryfromtheheart.org/


UNITE FOR SIGHT

Free clinics provide free and low-cost health services to the medically underserved and uninsured. Unite For Sight compiles information about free clinics located throughout the United States. Included are the locations of free clinics in addition to phone numbers and a list of free services provided. This list is provided as a resource only, and the free clinics listed have no affiliation or relationship with Unite For Sight.

http://www.uniteforsight.org/freeclinics.php


HEARING AIDS AND OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES; WHERE TO GET ASSISTANCE

http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Information_and_Resources/Info_to_Go/Hearing_and_Communication_Technology/Hearing_Technology/Hearing_Aids/Hearing_Aids_and_Other_Ass_Dev_Where_to_Get_Asst.html


I hope this helps!!!

:hi:

Edit to add link to blog post in case you want to share elsewhere: http://wishadoo.com/wp-free-dental-and-vision-clinics-hearing-resources-too

[Stand and Fight]

1. This is so awesome!

Recommended!

[w8liftinglady]

2. thank you SO MUCH for posting.

i can't tell you how many patients would have had much better outcomes had it been for dental treatment,hearing aids.

[Lisa0825]

3. What a great resource!!!

They are on FB too!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/DentistryFromTheHeart?v=wall

[Melinda]

4. Bless your heart!

Thank you for your research, but most especially thank you for caring about others. This is the best part about DU. Bookmarked and saved in my favorites so I may pass it on to others needing assistance in my community. You are rockawesome. :hug:

[Dyler Turden]

5. Wonderful post.

Kicking and recommending.

[Celebration]

6. great resources!

Thank you so much.

[Kali]

7. Awesome post and resources - thanks

also an awesome potential way to give for those fortunate enough to not need these things

think about it, people!

[OneGrassRoot]

8. kick. n/t

[sueh]

9. Thank you!

[davsand]

10. Awesome links! Thanks for putting these up!

Doesn't the Lion's Club do something with eyeglasses for those in need, too? For some reason I'm thinking they do...



Laura

[me b zola]

11. K&R

[Kind of Blue]

12. You are beyond belief, OGR!!!

Thank you. :loveya: I dance in your honor.


KnR

[fizzgig]

13. k&r

[truedelphi]

14. Will check out the dental links tomorrow and a big thank you!

[mfcorey1]

15. It is so sad that I have dental insurance and still cannot afford the cost of dental care. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

16. Indeed it is. :(

I haven't had health or dental coverage in a decade, but I also stopped lamenting that when it became more and more evident that so many WITH coverage still can't get care.

It's pathetic. We all know what we need in this country. Hopefully these free clinic resources can, however little, fill in the gap until we become a more humane society with a more equitable healthcare system.

:hug:

[blondeatlast]

25. I know the feeling. :( nt

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Morning bump to top for visibility. :) n/t

[muffin1]

18. Wednesday morning

'kickadoo'! :kick:

[Mika]

19. Interesting premise. Problem is that too many don't have insurance?

Wrong. Blaming the victims.

The problem is that the USA has no universal health care system, and has allowed a parasitic for-profit insurance industry to dominate health care.
The problem is that far too many US dentists have built their practices upon insurance billings.
The problem is that Americans do not view public health and wellbeing as part of our national commons.

Aside from above, I vigorously applaud the efforts of the Drs and staff involved in OP works. :applause:

---

[OneGrassRoot]

20. I realize this is a simplistic statement, and the insurance companies...

employ people, but I think the world would be MUCH better if insurance companies didn't exist. Profiting off of death, injury, illness, damage, and destruction...what an awful concept.

:(

[Kind of Blue]

21. Kicking! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Wow! What a great and helpful post!!!!

WOW!!

:pals: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[uppityperson]

23. k&r. I'm not a kid, not on soc.sec, need hearing aids. Here is another thought on them

I got refurbished digital aid for $400. They take donations (yes from estates, dead people) and will resell them at a third of new cost. Check with your local audiologist and see if they can do a similar thing. I got a mold taken and it's in the shop getting refit for me.

Thanks for the links, appreciate it. k&r and will try to cont to kick as healthcare is much more than simply doctor visits.

[blondeatlast]

24. OneGrassRoot, you are a treasure. For WishaDoo and for finding this.

I need some dental work and will look into this!

k/r

[earth mom]

26. Sorry but ONE DAY a year free dental care? That is simply not enough. There needs to be more. nt

[Mika]

27. Then, become a dentist. We need more Drs who think like you.

I do clinic work a week a month. Can't afford much more.

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[earth mom]

28. My point is that there needs to be MORE doctors and dentists doing this work MORE often.

Are you telling me you disagree?

[Mika]

29. I am telling you that I'm a DDS, and we need more people who think like you!

Not so easy to pay staff and related overhead of an office doing much more than a week a month.

Its hard to ask the Drs and staffers doing it to do more.

As you say, we need more people willing to do it. People who think like you! :hug:

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[OneGrassRoot]

31. After speaking with the director at that organization....

I was really encouraged.

I've been a social entrepreneur my entire adult life, so I've always worked from the premise that "we can do well while doing good"; the social mission comes before any other measure of "success."

I've been trying to get other businesses to realize it really is in their best interest to give back to the community, especially during times such as these.

Doing something like these free clinic events equates to thousands and thousands of marketing and promotional dollars, but with a MUCH more rewarding outcome on all levels.

And, there's also the potential to get some of the suppliers and such to sponsor the event on behalf of the clinics themselves, so that the staff isn't out any money for the service and supplies required to perform said services.

What's fascinating about this is that if this can be done more across the board, it could remove the need for insurance in many cases.

Let those who are TRULY performing a service and providing a product do what they do...take it directly to the consumer and DO GOOD. Remove money going to corporate advertising, remove insurance, and let the practitioners and product suppliers truly invest in the community. It will come back to them.

I'm brainstorming how to work with the great template this organization has set up (but only for dentists) and expand it to optometry, audiology, podiatry, veterinary services, chiropractic and many other services that people end up not receiving in this economy.

I want to work WITH them to do this, not usurp their idea, but their charter is focused on dentistry, so I'm pondering how to create a partnership with them to provide such community health events.

Walgreen's -- on nearly every corner -- would be an AWESOME sponsor for such events nationwide and truly establish themselves at a grassroots level in the communities.

[earth mom]

34. I'm glad there are some Docs like you doing this.

:applause:

[OneGrassRoot]

30. I spoke with the director at Dentistry from the Heart....

and he said they get an average of 40 applications a day of dentists around the country enrolling in their clinic events.

As they see their clientele diminish, they realize it's the smart thing to do to give back to the community...free marketing, don'tcha know.

When they do it, however, they realize how good it feels to SIMPLY DO THE RIGHT THING.

Then they do it repeatedly. He said they haven't had someone do it once and not sign up to do it again.

I'm going to try to work with him on someone engaging other professionals with the framework they have set up for dentists: optometrists, audiologists, veterinarians, podiatrists, chiropractors, etc.

Have community gatherings around healthcare events...promoting and helping the actual local communities.

[earth mom]

35. So the idea IS spreading-very good news!

:thumbsup:

:kick:

[asdjrocky]

32. This is huge, and I should know, based on personal reasons.

I've heard people say they don't want to ask for help, or they are embarrassed by the situation they find themselves in, to that rational, I say fuck no.

We're in this because the rich have too much of our money, and it's time we get it back. If you're poor, if you're in a bad situation, if you find your life if not where you dreamed or hoped it would be, then you are in good company. There's a lot more of us, then there is of them.

Thanks for bringing this OGR, knr!

[OneGrassRoot]

33. Kick n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

36. Friday kick for visibility. :) n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

37. kicking several threads for the Saturday morning crowd. :) n/t