Dental Director receives prestigious Oral Health Kansas Award
By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach
Emily C. Day, DDS, of Olathe, Kan., Dental Director for Health Partnership Clinic (HPC), recently received the Outstanding Dentist Award from Oral Health Kansas. Oral Health Kansas is the statewide advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the importance of lifelong dental health by shaping policy and educating the public, so Kansans know that all mouths matter. The award was presented virtually during its Oral Health Conference on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6.
Outstanding Dentist Award from Oral Health Kansas
Each year Oral Health Kansas recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations who contribute significantly to improving the oral health of all Kansans and are awarded the Excellence in Oral Health Award. “Oral Health Kansas recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations who contribute significantly to improving the oral health of all Kansans. Dr. Emily Day certainly personifies those contributions,” says Tanya Dorf Brunner, Executive Director for Oral Health Kansas.
According to Amy Falk, Health Partnership’s CEO, Dr. Day has made a sustainable impact to the clinic, exemplifies the mission of the clinic and has positively impacted the people of Kansas. “It’s a wonderful tribute to Dr. Day’s many achievements and her steady presence here at HPC. The staff, board and patients join in congratulating her on this award.”
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Day has shown exceptional leadership. She advocated for capital improvements for the Dental department to protect patients and staff. This included numerous hours researching the proper air purification units that would improve the air exchange rate in the Dental clinic to help mitigate virus transmission, procurement of chairside extraoral suction devices to minimize the aerosols generated by dental procedures and the addition of more intraoral suction devices to further diminish aerosol production.
Dr. Day has been our Dental Director since 2019
Dr. Day, specialty trained in pediatric dentistry at Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, Mo., has served as the clinic’s Dental Director since 2019. Since beginning her career in 2002, she has devoted herself to providing high quality oral health care to area children in the state of Kansas and abroad. Today she advocates and ensures affordable and accessible dental homes to those who are low income or underinsured, particularly our youngest Kansans. She brings an immense amount of knowledge and best practices from a private practice perspective as well as years working and volunteering in dental outreach.
“Since joining the clinic, I’ve developed and implemented protocols and policies to protect patients and staff, which included a procedural risk analysis based on aerosol generation, COVID-19 pre-procedural modifications, COVID-19 procedural modifications, operatory terminal cleaning procedures and a dental emergency triage worksheet to gather information over the phone prior to the appointment,” Dr. Day says.
Thoughts from Dr. Mourad
“Although Dr. Day has only been with the clinic for 14 short months, she has made extraordinary progress,” says Wael S. Mourad, MD, the clinic’s Chief Health Officer. “This has impacted operations, culture and best practices. She is passionate about establishing relationships with families and young patients by offering a warm, welcoming and safe environment and listening and being responsive to their needs. Beyond this and during times of transition, Dr. Day maintains clear communications and leads by example. She is an excellent ambassador of the clinic ensuring her professional colleagues and personal friends are aware of the mission of the clinic.”
Dr. Mourad adds, “The Dental department was without a director for several months when Dr. Day joined the clinic. She was quick to recognize an environment that was originally resistant to change but took her time empathizing with staff and learning how best to earn their trust. Her high standards of care, both for dentistry and for the care of people, helped develop a culture where the staff is proud to come to work and comfortable expressing concerns, all for the betterment of our patients.”
Private Practice Experience
Her private practice experience is an invaluable resource for the Dental department. Dr. Day implemented a comprehensive medical/dental history into the patient visit and developed a workflow in the electronic health record to ensure this was updated annually. She has revised multiple treatment consent forms to maintain best practices and simplify content for understanding.
“Dr. Day brings a strong sense of standardization not only to the dental area, but to the entire clinic, regarding sterilization processing and monitoring, infection control and inventory management,” Dr. Mourad adds.
“I would not be here today without some very important people in my life,” Dr. Day reflects. “I want to thank my dental team, senior leaders and my family for all their support! This award is an exceptional honor.”
Outside the Clinic
Outside the clinic, Dr. Day, who is a wife and mother of two daughters, is actively involved in her church and cochairs the Strategic Planning Committee of the Ladies of Peace Board. She is a founding and current member of this women’s ministry that provides, social, spiritual and service to the parish and community through sisterhood.
Congratulations Dr. Day!
