Siletz news /, January 01, 1999, Page 9, Image 9

Siletz
Community
“Cha-may weeya”
Medicine Talk
TOOTH TALK (Continued)
5. DON’T SCRUB! Better to brush gently, using
small circles. Remember you are using a
toothbrush not a scrub brush.
6. Brush your teeth at least TWICE a day!
7. ALWAYS use a toothpaste with FLUORIDE!
Children need only a small ‘pea-sized’ portion
of toothpaste on their brush
8. Before going to bed is the most important time
to brush. Don’t let the bacteria in plaque go to
bed with you!
Toothbrushing doesn’t have to be boring. A few
minutes twice a day can do wonders at keeping
your teeth and gums healthy and free from tooth
decay and gum disease
AND DON”T FORGET TO FLOSS, TOO!
ONLY FLOSS THE TEETH YOU WANT
TO KEEP!!
Quality Improvement Activities
by Marlene Van Noy,
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Perhaps you have heard that your Siletz
Community Health Clinic is planning to become
accredited? What does this mean anyway? Let
me compare it to a 16 year old preparing to get
their driver’s license. Just like a 16 year old has to
first learn the rules of the road, there are guidelines
that have been written out and well tested by many
health care facilities over the years that, if followed,
help the organization provide quality health care.
One of these rules is that we have to check to see
that a new provider has the education and
experience to do the job and present the list of
what he can do (privileges) to the governing body
(Tribal Council) for approval. While this doesn’t
guarantee that a provider will be “a good driver”,
we are assured that the provider has received the
education and practice to treat patients. Providing
health care is a privilege, similar to driving. In order
to continue driving you have to maintain a good
driving record. Each year the governing body of
an accredited facility reviews the “privileges” of its
providers and recertifies them for another year. If
there have been any complaints during the year,
these are reviewed at this time.
Every accredited health care facility goes
through the same process. This does not mean
that a non-accredited facility is not putting in the
same effort. During the accreditation process
outside professionals come into the facility, review
the files and talk to clinic staff to check that
everything is in order. It is impossible to “fake it”.
Would you want to have drivers on the road that
had not had to first pass a driver’s test?
the highest standards of cleanliness are strictly
followed. We provide quality dental care we are all
proud of.
To make an appointment, call (541) 444-1030.
If you are experiencing dental pain, it’s best to call
before coming in. This would eliminate a possible
long wait for you.
Again, thank you for your patience during the
“growing pains” of our dental clinic.
New Optometrist at the Siletz Clinic
By Kathryn Dick, Clinic Programs Assistant
RICK LETHERER is the new optometrist at
the clinic. He has been with the clinic since August
1998. Dr. Letherer comes from a family of
Optometrists --his father, grandfather and a cousin
are Optometrists. After graduating from Pacific
University College with honors, he worked in
Aberdeen, South Dakota at Letherer Vision Clinic,
alongside his father. He, also, worked as an
independent consultant for the Indian Health Service
at the Eagle Butte Indian Reservation in South
Dakota. While there, he provided optometry care
to the reservation population. Dr. Letherer has the
unique background of being an Optometrist with a
residency. After leaving South Dakota, he worked
at a Veterans Hospital and care facility in Vancouver,
Washington. While there, he worked with
gerontology patients — which is the elderly. There
he learned and studied eye disease management.
He has worked the last 12 years in Newport, OR
at, “ The Eye Care Center”. He will be available at
our clinic on Mondays from 8:30 to 4:30. He is also
involved with our Diabetes Clinic held quarterly.
When asked what changes he would like to see at
our clinic, his reply was, “I would like to see more
patients 50 yrs and older. That is the time when
visual changes start to escalate. So far I haven’t
seen many adults.” Dr. Letherer is a state-licensed
Optometrist and has full Medicare Access. Dr.
Letherer lives in Newport with his wife, Cathy, and
his daughter, Nichole.
WOMEN S TALKING CIRCLE
1999 Schedule
5:30 p.m. at the Cultural Office on:
January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 10
June 14
July 12
August 9
September 13
October 11
November 8
December 13
Contact Selene at (541) 444-8246 — or—
Sunshine at (541) 444-1030 for more information.
WATER AEROBICS -
IMPROVE HEALTH & LOSE
WEIGHT!!
A water aerobics class is being held at the
Toledo Swimming Pool on Monday, Tuesday
and Thursday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is
$2.00 per evening on a drop-in basis, or $40 for
about 2.75 months. For more information, call
________ the Toledo Pool at 336-3181,________
HEALTH ALERT!!!
FROM THE DENTAL
DEPARTMENT:
The Dental Department staff would like to thank
all of our patrons for being patient during the last
few months. We realize it has recently been difficult
to obtain a dental appointment. The long waits are
over, and with the new year, it is now possible to
see a dentist here at the clinic with only a 2 to 3
week waiting period. A receptionist will be hired
soon, eliminating the need for our patients to
sometimes leave messages. We have tried our best
to return all calls within the hour that they are
received.
We have two full-time dentists, one full-time
hygienist, and three assistants. We have two visiting
specialists that come to the Siletz Clinic on a monthly
basis, including an Oral Surgeon and an Orthodontist.
Our facility has completely modem equipment and
The Oregon Health Division has issued a health
advisory warning consumers that some terra cotta
pottery imported from Mexico and other Central
or South American countries may release
dangerously high levels of lead. This glazed terra
cotta pottery should not be used for preparing,
serving or storing foods or beverages. For more
information, contact the ODHR - Health Division
at (503) 731-4025__________________________
Mission Statement of Siletz
Community Health Clinic:
Dedicated to the health and well­
being of the members of the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians and to the community of
Siletz, Oregon
-9-