Project Grant P0649849

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - PROJECT TITLE: FY 2023 RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: START CORPORATION (START) ADDRESS: 235 CIVIC CENTER BLVD, HOUMA, LA 70360-4374 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: MRS. TRUDY FRANKS CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS VOICE: 985-333-2020? FAX: 985-851-0162 EMAIL ADDRESS: TRUDY.FRANKS@STARTCORP.ORG WEBSITE ADDRESS: HTTPS://WWW.STARTCORP.ORG IDENTIFICATION OF CATEGORY: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: DENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR EXPANDING DENTAL SERVICE CAPACITY PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED: $150,000.00 FUNDING PREFERENCE REQUESTED: QUALIFICATION 1: RURAL AREAS START IS REQUESTING FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTIVITY OF PURCHASING OFFICE DENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR EXPANDING DENTAL CAPACITY. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGING HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE AND INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY DENTAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED PEOPLE WITH HIV. THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE: - WITHIN 45 DAYS OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF FUNDING, EXPAND DENTAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV BY ESTABLISHING AN ADDITIONAL DENTAL ROOM AT THE START COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER DENTAL CLINIC - INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DENTAL APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE OVER THE ONE-YEAR FUNDING PERIOD BY 600 ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS - DECREASE THE WAIT TIME FOR APPOINTMENTS TO 60 DAYS FROM CURRENT AVERAGE BASELINE OF 105 DAYS - WORK WITH PROGRAM PARTNERS TO INCREASE REFERRALS TO EXPANDED DENTAL SERVICES BY AT LEAST 30 REFERRALS OVER THE ONE-YEAR FUNDING PERIOD - MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL HRSA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS DURING THE ONE-YEAR FUNDING PERIOD THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH START'S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER DENTAL CLINIC - A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC). THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE AN 11-PARISH SERVICE AREA THAT INCLUDES BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN LOUISIANA. THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDES ASSUMPTION, JEFFERSON, LAFOURCHE, ORLEANS, ST. CHARLES, ST. JAMES, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, ST. MARY, ST. TAMMANY, TANGIPAHOA, AND TERREBONNE PARISHES. THE PURCHASE OF DENTAL EQUIPMENT WILL ALLOW START TO EXPAND ORAL HEALTH CARE ACTIVITIES IN LINE WITH RYAN WHITE GUIDELINES THAT INCLUDE OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND THERAPY PROVIDED BY DENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A NEW DENTAL ROOM. START WILL ALSO HIRE A NEW DENTAL HYGIENIST WITH EXISTING FUNDS TO STAFF THE NEW ROOM AND FURTHER INCREASE CAPACITY FOR THE DENTAL CLINIC. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DENTAL CLINIC. CURRENTLY, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IS 105 DAYS AND THERE IS A STANDING WAITING LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE NEEDING A DENTAL APPOINTMENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SEVERAL PATIENTS HAVE REPORTED THE WAIT TIMES HAVE FORCED THEM TO USE URGENT CARE OR EMERGENCY ROOM FACILITIES. SOME PATIENTS WHO PRESENT AT THE DENTAL CLINIC WITH DENTAL EMERGENCIES ARE REFERRED TO ON-SITE PRIMARY CARE TO TEND TO NEEDS SUCH AS MOUTH/TOOTH PAIN OR MOUNT INFECTION. THE PRIMARY PROVIDER IS ONLY ABLE TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATION IN AN EFFORT TO TREAT THE PAIN WHILE THEY WAIT FOR A FOLLOW-UP DENTAL APPOINTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING LONG WAIT TIMES. THIS IS NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION OR REMEDY FOR EITHER THE CLIENT OR THE PROVIDER. ALTHOUGH START'S DENTAL CLINIC HAS APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR EXPANSION, THE CLINIC DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A DENTAL HYGIENIST NOR A PROPERLY EQUIPPED ROOM TO PROVIDE SERVICES. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE DEFINED NEED AND MEET PROJECT OBJECTIVES, START WILL PROCURE THE REQUESTED DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES OUTLINED IN THE BUDGET WITHIN 45 DAYS OF NOTICE OF FUNDING. START WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY BEGIN RECRUITING A DENTAL HYGIENIST (SUPPORTED THROUGH EXISTING FUNDS) SO THAT HIRING AND TRAINING CAN ALSO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 45 DAYS. THESE TWO ACTIVITIES WILL ALLOW EXPANDED DENTAL SERVICES TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL WITHIN 45 DAYS OF NOTICE OF FUNDING.