MONROE, La. – “The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an obvious infection control issue for those in the dental field and healthcare setting,” said Anderson, who has a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from ULM and an M.A. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Tennessee in Memphis.
Anderson said the PPE would provide additional protection for students, faculty, and patients in the dental hygiene clinics, and help the program comply with new guidelines established for the pandemic by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and American Dental Association, as well as state regulations.
“These funds can secure personal protective equipment such as N95 (respirator) masks, ASTM Level 3 (high barrier) masks, face shields, disposable gowns, goggles, plexiglass panels, disinfectants, sterilizers, thermometers, and disinfecting treatments for water lines,” she said.
Some of the grant funds may be used for air purifiers and new technology to maintain social distancing mandates.
“With these funds, we can sustain and improve infection control procedures in our ULM Dental Hygiene Program clinics. These funds will also be utilized to improve technology capabilities in our clinic and classroom to comply with state regulations due to COVID 19,” Anderson said.
Anderson said that with 30 juniors and 29 seniors enrolled in the program for Fall 2020, every available protective precaution is being taken.
“As a university and a professional healthcare program, it is our duty to protect our students, faculty, and patients,” she said.
The program has received two previous grants from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. In 2018, a grant funded radiology equipment, including digital sensors, phosphor plates, and scanners. A 2019 grant purchased patient treatment equipment, patient education supplies, and iPads and computer equipment for the campus clinic. With this grant, the total grant funding from Delta Dental is $60,000.
