Any Community Health Dentists?

[EtchNRinse]

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I was wondering if there are any community health dentists out there who have begun to feel a lack of appreciation from patients, ie missing appointments, late appointments, a sense of entitlement?

My background...4 years working as a GP in a community health clinic setting. The pay is good (with loan repayment), the clinic is top notch, and my coworkers are generally decent people to work with. Its very much what I wanted to do post graduation, but have begun to feel maybe the grass is greener in a private practice setting. I understand both settings has its pros and cons, but when you begin to lose empathy for patients, then maybe its time to move on?

Anyone else with similar experiences/feelings?

 

[coolslugs]

I was wondering if there are any community health dentists out there who have begun to feel a lack of appreciation from patients, ie missing appointments, late appointments, a sense of entitlement?

My background...4 years working as a GP in a community health clinic setting. The pay is good (with loan repayment), the clinic is top notch, and my coworkers are generally decent people to work with. Its very much what I wanted to do post graduation, but have begun to feel maybe the grass is greener in a private practice setting. I understand both settings has its pros and cons, but when you begin to lose empathy for patients, then maybe its time to move on?

Anyone else with similar experiences/feelings?

Why do you think private practice would be different?

 

[EtchNRinse]

I would hope that private practice wouldnt have a 34% no show rate, 68% late rate, and limited services offered.

 

[Daurang]

I worked for a community health center in the ghetto for 3 months. Most days only 3-6 patients showed up, 50% no shows, and no walkin allowed. Why you should even care if patients appreciate you when they're getting it for free? It's an easy decent career but you'll never be super wealthy to retire early.

 

[diasIItema]

I would hope that private practice wouldnt have a 34% no show rate, 68% late rate, and limited services offered.

I'm an NHSC scholar so I'll be working most likely in a community clinic after graduation. I don't know much about how practice operates being only a second year student, but is the care free or reduced price? Is there no way to penalize or offer incentive for being on time to appointments? Are you sure most people are not showing b/c of lack of personal initiative, or is there a barrier to access like child care, transportation, work scheduling? Just curious so I can know what to expect.

 

[charlestweed]

I would hope that private practice wouldnt have a 34% no show rate, 68% late rate, and limited services offered.

When you said limited services offered, does this mean that you do mostly fillings, dentures, and extractions? Very few endos and crowns? and zero esthetic case such as veneer, bridge and implant?

Here in CA, medicaid no longer covers adults' dental treatments except for dental extractions. So if a person, who is 18 or older and has medicaid, has a severe toothache on #14 due to a deep cavity, the only free treatment option for his/her tooth is extraction. Can't save the tooth by doing endo and crown (the combined cost would be around $1200-1500) because the state won't pay for it.

 

[proxbox]

D2 and NHSC scholar here too!
To the OP,
Where do you work? (as much as you are willing to say anyway...city, state, or region).
Do the clinics you know of typically have multiple dentists? In other words an environment where a new grad could learn some things? And like above....what procedures do you usually see. I have previously heard 90% extract and 10% fill.

 

[EtchNRinse]

D2 and NHSC scholar here too!
To the OP,
Where do you work? (as much as you are willing to say anyway...city, state, or region).
Do the clinics you know of typically have multiple dentists? In other words an environment where a new grad could learn some things? And like above....what procedures do you usually see. I have previously heard 90% extract and 10% fill.

Sorry, Ive been away from the forum for a bit. Here where I work, we have 5 full time dentists (in RI). Theres a great range of knowledge in our office which makes it a great learning experience for someone right out of school. However, after a few years theres very limited growth in terms of clinical skills but wonderful for new grads (ie treating more complex type 2 cases).

Covered medicaid services for adults include, anterior endo, 2x/year prophy, posterior amalgams, anterior comps, exos (including 3rd molar), acrylic RPDs, and complete dentures. Complete services are offered for patients under 21. Our state is very fortunate to have decent coverage.

My apologies if it sounded like I was complaining (which I was haha). I really am blessed to be doing service work, but it does get frustrating when I know theres not an access to care problem (the area we serve is very walkable (city bus available), and patients are welcome to bring their children along). We do our best to accomodate our patients. I just wish there was more ownership and responsibility.