The headline read: Rogue Tulsa Dentist May Have Exposed Patients to HIV Hepatitis C
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via wikipedia
While I was at a seminar in a city outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma today, we heard the breaking news story about a local dentist who used poor sterilization practices and put his patients at risk of contracting Hepatitis C and HIV. The whistle was blown when one of his patients contracted the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). It was traced back to a visit in his dental chair.
The topic of the seminar, hosted by the Oklahoma Health Department was how to reduce the transmission of HCV. The attendees were health care workers from Northeastern Oklahoma who gathered to gain insights regarding the new treatments offered to HCV patients. While we listened to a presentation by Alan Franciscus, a leading HCV advocate, the nation was discussing the fiasco that had occurred right in our backyard. Maybe it is time for another Alanis Morrisette song: Isn’t it Ironic?
The Tulsa and Oklahoma City Health Department are working hard to support the medical community as the numbers of those who are diagnosed with this silent disease continue to climb. We sat in a large conference room developing a plan of action to increase awareness and provide education for Oklahoman’s who have what is called a silent disease that attacks the liver. The Center for Disease Control called for increased testing aimed at Baby Boomers in an attempt to provide newly Food and Drug Administration approved medical treatment that can cure the virus. In my home state, we took that as a call to circle the wagons and take care of our neighbors.
It was an awesome presentation that filled the attendees with renewed hope that all Oklahoman’s would have access to testing. Ideas were exchanged in round table discussions and networks were formed as empathetic nurses and clinicians drilled down the areas that needed the most urgent help.
I attended the meeting as a patient advocate. It was my first time to speak in a large group about my experience with an HCV diagnosis and treatment. I talked about my nurse Terry at the Oklahoma University Transplant Center and about Dr. Elbeshybeshy at Nazih Zuhdi Transplant as I thanked the caring audience for the hard work they do daily in helping those with HCV. Yes, you know me, I cried. We parted with hugs and smiles after signing up on an email list that would keep us connected as a task force is formed. This news does not put a damper on the Oklahoma Spirit that we shared. It may have even strengthened it, causing us to increase our efforts.
It was awesome to finally meet Alan, the head of Hepcadvocate. His website provides so much information worldwide. We learned more about the sites improvements such as language interpretation being provided through read aloud text. I wanted to share it with my best friends and encourage you to continue to educate yourself regarding diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. While bad news goes on all around us, we do not have to look far to see that good news is there also. We are surrounded by informed and caring health care professionals who have our physical, mental, and emotional health at the forefront of their minds. The chances of a cure are higher than ever and improving rapidly. I discovered new Best Friends in Oklahoma. I’ll bet you have many BFF’s like them in your home state. You and I (and many others) are best friends in the battle, Karen:)
