To commemorate World Oral Health Day, Monash Health Dental Services ran an employee drive-through dental clinic last Saturday 19 March.
Utilising the COVID-19 screening model, the clinic offered Monash Health employees free dental screening and oral health advice from the convenience of their car.
Dr Ramini Shankumar, Unit Head Monash Health Dental Services, shared how providing this service to Monash Health employees was a rewarding experience for the Monash Health Dental Services team.
“The clinic was a great success, with over 90 employees receiving a free dental screening. We are grateful that we were able to help our Monash Health colleagues prioritise their oral health. All employees who attended the clinic were very appreciative of the service we offered them.”
Emilio Pozo, Executive Director, Digital Health, attended the clinic on the day and described his experience as ‘excellent’ after receiving a dental screening from the team!
The Monash Health Dental Services team were commended by employees for this innovative delivery of care, and for their professionalism, expertise and organisation on the day.
For many employees, they have faced barriers to getting their oral health checked due to the challenges of the pandemic or experiencing anxiety around visiting the dentist.
The clinic offered employees the convenience of receiving dental screening from the comfort of their car, whilst providing them with oral health advice and friendly encouragement to seek further dental care and treatment if it was required.
Dr Shankumar encouraged employees to prioritise their oral health every day and expressed the importance of commemorating World Oral Health Day.
“The clinic allowed us to assist our colleagues to look after their oral health and provide oral health screening in a time when regular health checkups have been disrupted due to the pandemic.
“World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year globally to create awareness about better oral hygiene and health. The day also highlights the tools and knowledge people need to prioritise their oral health.”
All employees who attended the clinic received a gift bag and went in the draw to win some great prizes. If your name was drawn on the day, you’ll be contacted by the Monash Health Dental Services team to claim your prize.
Thank you to Monash Health Dental Services for encouraging employees to prioritise their oral health and for facilitating the drive through dental clinic. Please join us in celebrating the success of the clinic by enjoying some images from the day below!
This initiative is supported by the Victorian Government’s Department of Health Be Well Be Safe Program, providing increased health and wellbeing support for healthcare workers during COVID-19. For further details and to stay informed about the latest initiatives, visit the Be Well Be Safe Program webpage.
Approved by Dr Anand Ponniraivan.