Dignity Health Foundation Gila River Indian Community Grant Briefing.docx

Tribal Gaming Community Application Briefing
Non-Profit Submission
Tribal Gaming Community Applying To
Gila River Indian Community
Name of the Non-profit Organization
Dignity Health Foundation East Valley
Does the Non-profit Organization have IRS Tax-Exempt Status?
Yes
Contact Information
Laurel Vetsch
laurel.vetsch@commonspirit.org
(480) 728-3130
Application Priority Areas
Health Care
Title of the Project
Oral Health Connect: Bridging Care from Hospital to Home
Amount Intended to Request
$100,000
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of Dignity Health East Valley's Oral Health Connect: Bridging Care from
Hospital to Home is to expand oral health services to hospital patients and to link
patients who have oral systemic disease with dental services upon hospital discharge.
The goal of the program is to connect patients who are uninsured or receiving Medicare
or Medicaid to affordable dental homes in the community for their ongoing oral health
care. Certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) will be utilized to serve as the bridge
for patients to access services by assessing and addressing individuals barriers to care.
With the use of the Unite Us referral platform, this program will form a collaboration
between hospital departments and CHWs. Available low cost dental providers will be
added to the platform for an oral health referral care network.
Project Summary
Dignity Health East Valley's Oral Health Connect: Bridging Care from Hospital to Home
addresses social drivers of health (SDOH) to promote health equity by targeting the root
causes of oral health disparities. The vision is to provide oral exams and care for
hospitalized patients and to link patients who have oral systemic disease with dental
services upon hospital discharge. At the bedside, a dental hygienist will connect
patients who are uninsured or receiving Medicare or Medicaid benefits to the Pathways
to Wellness (PTW) program via the Unite Us electronic platform. The program will

connect patients to affordable dental care in the community for establishment of a
dental home to address their immediate and subsequent oral care needs. Post-
discharge, the PTWs certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) will serve as a vital
bridge, helping patients navigate the oral care system, connect to local resources, and
obtain dental care.
Our partners are community dental providers at dental practice offices, dental schools,
federally qualified health centers, and charitable dental clinics. These relationships are
largely well-formed due to our nearly 20 years of the Dignity Health Chandler and
Gilbert Childrens Dental Clinics serving the community. Outcomes we intend to achieve
include 1.) infection prevention and improved healing through bedside oral exams and
care for patients in the hospital, and 2.) enabling long-term management of oral health
and chronic disease by connecting patients to dental resources in the community after
discharge. Integration of dental hygienists and collaboration with CHWs and care
coordinators is vital to improving patient health outcomes, uniquely bridging the gap
from hospital to home. Through oral exams and strategic collaboration with community
partners, patients can be connected with a dental home; a crucial step in managing
chronic diseases associated with oral health.
Impact on the City of Chandler
According to Chandler Regional Medical Center's 2025 Community Health Needs
Assessment (CHNA), chronic disease is indicated as one of our community’s, Prioritized
Significant Health Needs. Oral Health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being, and
quality of life under the chronic disease pillar, Oral diseases ranging from dental cavities
to oral cancers cause pain and disability for many. A growing body of evidence has
linked oral health to several chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and
stroke. Our CHNA goes on to state that some racial-ethnic and socioeconomic groups
face poor oral health as a result of the social determinants of health. For instance, some
individuals and communities can’t afford to pay out of pocket for dental care, do not
have private or public dental insurance, or can’t get time off from work to get dental
care. The Arizona Oral Health Action Plan 2019-2022 documents that Arizonans
continue to experience needless pain and suffering from oral diseases because of oral
health disparities. It is disappointing, since oral disease is nearly 100% preventable.
This program will help to provide Chandler residents with the oral health care they need
to heal more quickly during their hospital stay and maintain better health outcomes by
being connected to oral health care in the community after their hospital stay.
Address of Non-profit Organization the City of Chandler will Send the Tribal
Community Grant Payment
Dignity Health Foundation East Valley
1727 W. Frye Road
Suite 230
Chandler, Arizona. 85224
Contact Name for Receipt of Payment

Laurel Vetsch