NH oral health programs receive grants: Seacoast health news

Northeast Delta Dental Foundation awards more than $91,000 in grants to NH oral health programs

CONCORD — The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation recently awarded more than $91,000 to 12 oral health programs throughout New Hampshire. The Foundation supports organizations and initiatives in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that provide oral health education and dental care to uninsured and underserved communities.

In support of dental clinics and care, the Foundation provided numerous grants including: $5,000 to the Friends of NH Drug Courts towards a dental care fund for program participants; $10,000 to Greater Seacoast Community Health for dental centers, a mobile health clinic and school-based oral health programs; $3,000 to Lakes Region Community Developers for their Adult Dental Care program; $38,300 to the Mid-State Health Center for a mobile dental van; and $5,000 to the Tri County Oral Health Care Initiative to support patients of a non-profit community dental center.

Grants awarded for in-school oral health programs included: $1,500 to Greater Derry Oral Health Collaborative for a preventive oral health care program; $5,000 to Concord Dental Sealant Coalition for a school-based dental sealant program; $5,000 to the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health for preventive dental health care and education; and $5,000 to Milford School Dental Clinic for students’ restorative care.

The Foundation also awarded $1,000 to NH Children’s Trust for their Strengthening Families Summit; $5,000 to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire for their Children’s Dental Health Month exhibit; and $7,500 to the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability for their NH Leadership Series – Increasing Access to Oral Health for Disabled Individuals.

“We are grateful to these organizations for promoting good oral health through dental care and educational programs,” explained Jennifer McGrath, Manager, Foundation & Marketing Initiatives, Northeast Delta Dental. “They enable the Foundation to put into practice its belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile.”

Wentworth-Douglass wins multiple excellence, specialty awards

DOVER — Wentworth-Douglass Hospital remains among the best hospitals in the nation for patientexperience and has been named a five-star recipient in four separate specialty categories, according to rankingsreleased recently by Healthgrades, a healthcare data company.

For the 9th consecutive year, Wentworth-Douglass has been named the recipient of the Outstanding PatientExperience Award and has been ranked among the top 5% in the nation in that category

In addition, Healthgrades named Wentworth-Douglass a five-star recipient for treatment of heart failure for thesecond consecutive year, and for pneumonia for the 9th year in-a-row. The hospital also garnered five-starhonors for upper gastrointestinal surgeries and for treatment of sepsis.

“These awards are an incredible organizational achievement that serve as a reflection of our unwaveringcommitment to the health and wellness of our Seacoast community,” said Jeff Hughes, President and CEO ofWentworth-Douglass Hospital.

“It’s also a reflection, and reaffirmation, of the amazing work of our incredible staff. It highlights their continueddedication to quality care, innovation, and patient-centered care,” he added.

For the annual analysis, Healthgrades independently analyzed each short-term acute care hospital in the country– roughly 4,500. The company used three years of Medicare patient data (2019-2021) and a risk-adjustedstatistical model that considered patient acuity. The star ratings are determined by actual, not predicted,performance.

Healthgrades’ ratings are publicly available on their website: www.healthgrades.com.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital signs on with SEED

DOVER — Seacoast Education Endowment of Dover (SEED), a non-profit organization that promotes academic excellence by providing innovative learning grants to Dover educators, recently accepted a $5,000 donation from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham.

This donation will help underwrite the fall grant cycle currently underway. In previous grant cycles, SEED has funded curriculum and equipment proposals such as mental health training for students and teachers at Dover High School, the installation of fitness and training equipment at Dover Middle School, and creating learning environments for neurodiverse students in Dover elementary schools. “We are so excited to kick off our 2022-2023 grant year with this generous donation from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital,” said Toby Arkwell, President of the SEED Board of Directors. “Their commitment to our Dover community is just outstanding.”

The donation highlights Wentworth-Douglass’ continued commitment to its local community. The hospital also conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years and provides grants to organizations assisting in identified areas of concern. The funds donated are not raised through any public or private donations.

“We are proud to support SEED and its mission to achieve academic excellence in Dover public schools,” said Jeff Hughes, MPH, FACHE, President & CEO. “Like SEED, the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Mission is to elevate the health and wellness of our community and to seek opportunities to improve quality of life for everyone in the Seacoast. We are honored to support their outstanding work.”

Through philanthropic donations, business support, and its annual fundraiser, SEED has contributed more than $300,000 to Dover public schools while simultaneously building an endowment fund to perpetuate giving for years to come. In its tenth year, SEED is entirely funded by community giving to provide Dover educators access to tools, training, and curriculum not otherwise available through traditional school budgets. For more information, visit www.DoverSEED.org.

Dartmouth Health Workforce Readiness Institute now enrolling for new phlebotomist training program

LEBANON — Dartmouth Health’s Workforce Readiness Institute (WRI) has launched a new phlebotomist training program to train professionals who will work in hospitals and clinics throughout the Dartmouth Health system. The first cohort of 10 students will begin the six-week training program on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, and about 21,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Selected participants in the WRI phlebotomist training program will be hired by Dartmouth Health and receive employee pay and benefits while training. Trainees will spend time both in the virtual classroom and in person in the clinic. The program will prepare trainees to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Phlebotomy Technician exam.

“We are excited to introduce this new training program through our Workforce Readiness Institute,” said Michael T. Harhen, MBA, MT (ASCP), System Vice President Laboratory. “Phlebotomists perform a critical function within our system, and Dartmouth Health also offers tremendous career growth opportunities. In addition to a competency-based career ladder that supports advancement for phlebotomists, Dartmouth Health offers additional training opportunities in the laboratory setting, leading to roles such as medical laboratory technician, histotechnician, and cytotechnician that can be an excellent next career step.”

WRI will hold two virtual phlebotomist training program information sessions, the first on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. and the next on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.

Upon successful completion of the phlebotomist training program and the ASCP Phlebotomy Technician exam, graduates will become certified phlebotomists at one of Dartmouth Health’s clinical locations, including Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Alice Peck Day Hospital in Lebanon, NH; Dartmouth Health Clinics in Manchester, Nashua and Concord, NH; Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, NH; and Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, VT.

“This program is a great way to start a career in healthcare, and we look forward to welcoming our first cohort in January,” said Harhen.

For information about the Dartmouth Health Workforce Readiness Institute and its new phlebotomy program, to register for an upcoming information session, and to apply, visit www.dhwri.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH oral health programs receive grants: Seacoast health news