The Elephant in the Room and Being at Ground Zero!

It’s happening! Being connected has its privileges - and opportunities!

In the middle of ‘life-in-the-healthcare-fast-lane’ sits the proverbial ‘elephant-in-the-room’, with its many imponderables, namely “healthcare reform”. Some pretend it isn’t real; others are trying to not think about it; and others are embracing it. No answers here – except maybe one….

Einstein is quoted as saying that “within every difficulty, lies opportunity”. Certainly, healthcare reform with its uncertainties and challenges is giving us a new and as yet unresolved set of “difficulties” to deal with. Regardless of how it settles out, there is a ‘silver-lining’ - and that is it’s too expensive to be sick!

Have you noticed? The much malingering “wellness” movement is being born again – right before our eyes! Pushed forward by very large and significant and global market forces that reach down into ever life and every pocketbook.

Have you determined yet to be part of this movement? Do you know how? Do you even see it! Will you take advantage of the rising tide – this new wave of opportunity – to position your practice and professional career and your skill-sets to be a beneficiary? It’s not too late! In fact – it’s perfect timing.

While some worry that there is no money or career or opportunity in wellness, those who “get it” see otherwise. The bottom-line, the key, is to recognize that one has to “get well” before they can “be” well – let alone “stay” well. Contrary to the ‘wellness doomsayers’, nothing has changed in the amount of disease that needs to be “fixed”. If anything, it’s getting worse with every fast-food store and with every soda-pop and donut pastry consumed, and with every TV show sat through and every mile not walked and every tooth not flossed. (Getting the picture?)

What has changed is the growing swell of people who recognize (or can and will be shown how/why - by you, the media, insurance companies, and their physicians) that becoming healthy is better and less expensive than staying diseased. Think of all the work to be done to get them there. It will take a few generations. We are at the precipice of a new age, the dawn of a new era – where healthcare requires new products, new skillsets and new mindsets.

Question: Does this describe you? Will it include you?

Of particular note is an exciting development in Eastern Washington that will no doubt affect the oral-systemic health movement throughout North America and beyond. AAOSH will be hosting its first Regional meeting in the Tri-Cities area of Eastern Washington. A combined Health VIP reception and full-day of continuing education for physicians and dentists together, mark the beginning of what promises to be a new page in the oral-systemic healthcare playbook.

Four area hospitals, health departments, a major health insurance company, local medical and dental societies, community leaders and state/local policy makers, and media are coming together to talk about oral health and medicine – with CME credits provided by the medical society for physicians.

A regional “CHIP” (Community Health Improvement Plan) plan is being utilized and which features a focus on oral and dental health as a part of general community health. To be clear - this is an existing community health plan that has existing “buy-in” from the regional health administrators and directors – and which now is elevating all things “oral health” to a higher pedestal in the community’s health action plan - including the creation and implementation of oral screening assessments in all medical clinics, along with more public and patient education. The reasons are clear for them – healthcare costs go down for all stakeholders when oral health improves. That’s the essence of the intent behind “healthcare reform” regardless of the shape it takes, and is why this is becoming a national imperative (did we say “rising tide”).

A documentary film will be created at and from this event showing how to mobilize medical and dental together in a community – which will be rolled out and introduced as one of the highlights of the September 2014 meeting in St. Louis. (To learn more about the regional event itself, go to www.TCHealth.net). Keep in mind, that this is something that can happen in your community! Dr. Omer Reed once said - “If it’s been done – it’s probably possible!”

While Eastern Washington might be having its moment in the sun and can claim to be the Oral-Systemic Health “ground-zero” for now, any community (including yours) can also be “ground-zero” as like-minded dental/medical colleagues work together and “tool-up” and model what’s already starting to happen across North America.

If you’re anywhere near the great Northwest– come be with us in April in Eastern Washington and witness history in the making. Program details at www.TCHealth.net.

Most of all - don’t miss out! Come to St. Louis. Be a contributing part of the growing AAOSH community and get involved in your future! Make St. Louis your “Gateway to Health” this year!

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