NORTHEAST DISTRICT DENTAL ASSOCIATION OF

THE PROJECT: DENTISTS CARE PROGRAM IS A VOLUNTEER FUNDED DENTAL ACCESS TO CARE NETWORK OPERATED AND COORDINATED BY THE NEDDA. UNDER THE PROGRAM, LOCAL DENTISTS IN NEDDA VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND SERVICES TO PROVIDE PREVENTIVE AND RESTORATIVE DENTAL CARE TO FLORIDIANS IN GREATEST NEED. PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE SERVICES UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE TYPICALLY LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BUT HAVE UNMET NEEDS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AT NO COST TO THEM, WITH LOCATING A PDC-AFFILIATED PROGRAM IN THE NEDDA OR LOCATING A REDUCED COST DENTAL CARE PROVIDERS IN THE NEDDA. EVERY YEAR, NEDDA MEMBERS PROVIDE DIRECT PATIENT CARE IN THEIR OWN DENTAL PRACTICES FOR FREE IN CONJUNCTION WITH PROJECT: DENTISTS CARE.

PEER REVIEW PATIENT RELATIONS PROGRAMS AND ETHICS RELATIONS PEER REVIEW PROGRAM: ESTABLISH, TRAIN AND MAINTAIN A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS/ARBITRATORS FOR PEER REVIEW PATIENT RELATIONS PROGRAM. PATIENT RELATIONS PEER REVIEW, IN ITS SIMPLEST TERMS, IS A MECHANISM BY WHICH THE DENTAL PROFESSION DEMONSTRATES THE APPROPRIATENESS AND QUALITY OF THE CARE IT RENDERS. IT PROVIDES AN EXPERT AND CREDIBLE SYSTEM FOR RESOLVING DISAGREEMENTS THAT CANNOT OTHERWISE BE RESOLVED REGARDING THE PUBLIC'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT CLINICAL CARE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY USE THIS SYSTEM TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DENTAL CARE. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT TO USE THIS SERVICE. THE NEDDA PATIENT RELATIONS PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF A CHAIR, WHO IS A VOLUNTEER MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT; A COMMITTEE OF EXAMINING DENTISTS, WHICH IS A POOL OF AT LEAST SIX VOLUNTEER MEMBERS; AND ANY NUMBER OF CONSULTANTS WITH EXPERTISE IN THE PARTICULAR AREA OF THE PATIENT-COMPLAINT. THUS, A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS VOLUNTEER SIGNIFICANT TIME TO PROVIDE THIS PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THIS SERVICE. ESTABLISH, TRAIN AND MAINTAIN A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS FOR ETHICS RELATIONS PEER REVIEW PROGRAM. ETHICS RELATIONS PEER REVIEW, IN ITS SIMPLEST TERMS, IS A MECHANISM BY WHICH THE DENTAL PROFESSION ENFORCES ITS CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THE NEDDA IS A PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF DENTISTS HAVING AS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE THE FURTHERANCE OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE. IT DOES SO IN PART BY REQUIRING MEMBERS TO ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS AND CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT ADOPTED BY THE FDA AND THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION (CODE OF ETHICS). THE NEDDA APPOINTS A SINGLE DENTIST TO THE FDA COUNCIL ON ETHICS, BYLAWS AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS. THIS INDIVIDUAL SERVES WITHOUT COMPENSATION AND DONATES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO THIS PUBLIC SERVICE. ALSO, THE NEDDA ETHICS RELATIONS PROGRAM INCLUDES A CHAIR, APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, WHO DEDICATES SIMILAR HOURS TO THIS CHARITABLE PROGRAM. THEY RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THIS SERVICE.