Kaiser Permanente Volunteers Participate in Virginia Dental Association Foundation's Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic

Over 700 Northern Virginia residents received dental services during the two-day clinic

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On March 11 and 12, 2011, employees and physicians from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States Latino Association (KPLA) volunteered at a Mission of Mercy dental clinic in Springfield, Virginia.  

In addition to volunteering at the clinic, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was one of the sponsors of the event, donating over $24,000 to Mission of Mercy.  Kaiser Permanente's support of Mission of Mercy dates back to its inception.

More than 740 underserved residents from all five Northern Virginia jurisdictions – Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William – benefited from the two-day clinic held at Northern Virginia Community College's Medical Education Campus in Springfield.  A wide range of dental services were provided, including preventive dentistry, cavity fillings, and oral surgery.

"I enjoyed volunteering at this event – the community was very grateful to receive the dental services provided to them," said Isolina Pistolessi, BSN, RN, BC at Kaiser Permanente's Falls Church Medical Center.  "This was a very rewarding experience and I look forward to participating in Mission of Mercy events in the future."

Kaiser Permanente volunteers were tasked with assisting in the registration process for the individuals being served, and Kaiser Permanente nurses volunteered at the blood pressure clinic, where they screened patients prior to being treated by a dentist.  

"At Kaiser Permanente, improving health care access for those with limited incomes and resources is fundamental to our mission," said Carrie Harris-Muller, chief administrative officer for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States.  "By partnering with Mission of Mercy, we are able to help provide hundreds of Northern Virginia residents with access to essential dental care services that they would not otherwise receive, so they can thrive."  

Mission of Mercy is a collaboration between the Virginia Dental Association Foundation and local Health Departments and Social Service Agencies and was established in 2000 to address the lack of access to dental care, which results in poor oral health, in underserved areas throughout Virginia.  

About Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, provides and coordinates complete health care services for almost 500,000 members through 30 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1980, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization comprised of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features approximately 900 physicians who provide or arrange care for patients throughout the area.  Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is considered one of Maryland's "Top HMOs," according to the Maryland Health Care Commission.  The Health Plan was ranked in the nation's 100 top commercial health plans and 20 top Medicare health plans – and the #1 Medicare plan for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. – by "NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2010-2011 Private."  For more information about Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, visit www.kp.org.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States