gator dentist today - College of Dentistry - University of Florida

annual report
Service Mission
The University of Florida College of Dentistry has a multi-faceted service mission encompassing patient
care, community outreach and education, and clinical efficiencies.
Through its Statewide Network for Community Oral Health, the college improves access to dental
care for Florida’s residents, focusing on vulnerable and indigent populations and special needs patients.
The college has become one of the largest providers of low-cost dental care in Florida, providing nearly
10 percent of all indigent care to Florida’s residents through state-of-the-art clinical services. Our students
and faculty also give of themselves in providing free dental treatment to underserved populations during
service missions abroad and at home.
We are a top-tier dental school in terms of the quality of our academic programs and clinical
service, however, our greatest service challenge is the college’s aging physical plant and outdated
equipment. Since 1994, the college’s dean’s office has funded $4,242,009 in renovations and clinic or
audiovisual equipment. Departments have funded an additional $772,368 for a total of $5,014,377. The university recently allocated
$700,000 to support the renovation of the college’s D3-3 classroom and the Craniofacial Center. We estimate that it would cost $4.5
million to complete the renovation of the Dental Sciences Building’s clinical facilities. Of immediate need is $600,000 to complete
the equipment replacement in our student teaching clinics.
By January 1, the college will have renovated and equipped more than 90 operatories in four clinics at the Gainesville
location. Another 92 operatories are scheduled to be renovated and re-equipped over the next few years, at a cost of roughly $1.5
million. The college also plans to invest in digital radiography in the next three to five years, at a total cost for Gainesville and
remote clinic sites estimated at $350,000. Digital radiography will substantially reduce the radiographic exposure to patients, and
will also allow for the quick and easy sharing of radiographic data and images via computer and the Internet.
36 Gator Dentist Today Fall/Winter 2003
Robert Bates, D.D.S., M.S.
Senior Associate Dean for
Clinical Affairs and Operations
Quick Recovery Chairside Computerized Patient Charting and Billing System
Dr. Glenn Turner enters patient charting information into his chairside
Quick Recovery station. (Photo - Sam Brill)
In mid-June 2003, the college purchased and installed the
Quick Recovery computerized clinic management system from
General Systems Design. Quick Recovery is a software package
designed specifically for dental schools, and it is in use at 18
other U.S. dental schools. In addition to the software package,
more than 300 computers were purchased and installed in the
Gainesville and remote-site clinic operatories.
This new management system is the first step toward
an “electronic patient chart.” All active patient treatment plans
and student schedules are in the system, and more modules will
soon be added to facilitate electronic tooth and perio charting;
medical and physical histories; competency and grade forms;
sterilization tracking; and digital radiography. Also, in addition
to accessing the Quick Recovery system, the clinic computers
will soon be used for student and patient teaching aids (such as
educational video tapes).
Quick Recovery computer system is a major investment
in the future of the college’s clinical management, and it will
be continuously expanded to meet the goal of the complete
“electronic patient chart.”