ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this descriptive study is to outline the Roseman University of Health Sciences (RUHS) College of Dental Medicines' Patient Assistance Fund development, organization and outcomes. The description and reported results provide insight to others considering similar health professions programs. METHODS: The Patient Assistance Fund (PAF) affords dental students an opportunity to petition for and obtain financial assistance for their most disadvantaged patients. In this study, two sources of data were collected and used with a quantitative analysis for data collected as part of the PAFs operation and a qualitative analysis to evaluate the patient experiences. RESULTS: A total of 16 student advocates, consisting of 6 males and 10 females from the D3 and D4 classes made 26 presentations to the PAF board committee. The combined amount requested from the PAF was $47,428.00 ("Cost of Treatment Plan") representing an average request per patient of $1824.15 (range $324.00 to $4070.00). The approved procedures and treatment plans totaled $21,278.36 ("Cost of Approved Procedures") with an average of $818.40 (range $204.00 to $2434.00) per patient. Patients and students expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the program. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an overview of the structure, funding sources, expenditures and patient services supported by a dental student managed patient assistance fund. The experiences at RUHS College of Dental Medicine (CODM) suggest that other healthcare professions schools can develop similar type programs that yield benefit both to students and to patients in need.
Subject(s)
Financial Management , Health Expenditures , Female , Humans , Male , Students , Vulnerable PopulationsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Electronic cigarettes have given rise to a new, largely unregulated market within the smoking industry. While generally supposed to be less harmful than traditional tobacco smoke, awareness of the biological effects of electronic cigarette liquid is still scarce. Our objective was to determine the impact of electronic cigarette flavoring and nicotine on gingival squamous cell carcinoma invasion, RAGE expression, and the elaboration of pro-inflammatory molecules. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Gingival and tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells were exposed to Red Hot or Green Apple flavored electronic cigarette flavoring with or without nicotine. Immunofluorescence determined RAGE expression. Real-time cellular invasion was assessed using a RTCA DP instrument. Culture medium was assayed for cytokine secretion. RESULTS: Compared to controls we observed: increased cell invasion in gingival cells with Red Hot electronic cigarette flavoring and decreased cell invasion with Green Apple; decreased cell invasion in tongue cells treated with Red Hot electronic cigarette flavoring and no differences in invasion with Green Apple; flavor and nicotine dependent increases in RAGE expression; and differential expression of IL-1α, IL-8, and MMP-13. CONCLUSION: We conclude that electronic cigarette flavoring and nicotine orchestrate differential regulation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell invasion and inflammatory effects. This study provides an important initial step in dissecting RAGE-mediated mechanisms of cancerous invasion and molecular avenues employed by OSCC.
